During a Feast on New Year sometime in the early 6th century, King Arthur and his nobles are interrupted while exchanging gifts by a most unusual figure. A giant of a man entered the hall, riding a horse, carrying the ‘Mother of all Axes’ and a holly bough. The man’s stature was by far the least remarkable thing about him, as his was green from head to foot. He wore no armour, but his hair, skin, tunic, and hose were all green. The giant is not there for a fight, for he finds that no one amongst Arthur’s court to be a match for him, but instead proposes a friendly Christmas game: The verdant colossus would take a blow with the axe from any man, as long as that man would take the same stroke in a years time. As a reward the man to join in the game would get the enormous axe.
My John is very much enjoying the colouring book which I bought him for.Xmas!
Reading this was an excellent start to my Boxing Day
A great story for the festive season. Merry Christmas!
Another great quote showing Gawain's resolve (from Tolkien's translation):
"The knight ever made good cheer, saying,
‘Why should I be dismayed?
Of doom the fair or drear
by a man must be assayed.’"
I have a theory that GatGK is a treatise on Medieval contracts and notarization. Thank you for this beautiful summary of the myth and its sources.