A blót is an offering — historically animal sacrifice, now usually mead, food, or crafted objects — shared with the gods, with the offering poured out or burned and the rest consumed by the gathering. A sumbel is the drinking ritual that often follows: a horn passed in rounds, with each person speaking a toast, a boast, or an oath. Words spoken over the horn are held to be binding and witnessed, which is why oaths made there are taken very seriously.