GOTTFRID KALLSTENIUS. Old Norse motifs - five scenes.

Oil on canvas, oval top, loosely attached to cardboard Each approx. 28 x 45 cm, image area approx. 23.5 x 45 cm.

Original frames PROVENANCE The artist's great-grandson's great-grandson until the year 2021 Probably models for an unrealized public decoration.

In pre-Christian times, the year was not divided into four different seasons as today, i.e., winter, spring, summer and autumn, but the year was divided into two halves, the summer half and the winter half. Each half-year was divided into two quarters, so in total the year consisted of four quarters. The first quarter lasted from winter nights in September/October to midwinter in January/February, the second quarter lasted from midwinter to sommermál in April, the third quarter lasted from sommermál to midsummer in July, and the fourth quarter lasted from midsummer to winter nights in September/October. The first quarter lasted from winter nights in September/October to midwinter in January/February, the second quarter lasted from midwinter to sommermál in April, the third quarter lasted from sommermál to midsummer in July, and the fourth quarter lasted from midsummer to winter nights in September/October. The holidays (blot) were 5 in number distributed over 1 year. The first blot is at the onset of winter which is for a good year, which is Winter Nights the second blot is at midwinter (not to be confused with the winter solstice) which is for good harvest, which is Midwinterblot/Yul/Hókunótt and the third blot is at the beginning of summer, the is for victory and success, which is the Victory Blot. In addition to these three blots, there are two more mentioned blots in the sources, one is Disting/Disablot and the other is Alvablot.