#manorialism

Gideon is very specifically described as living in a feudal system in the Ninth house. She is a Serf. She lives and serves under a ruler, she has specific legal, social, and economic obligations to the House and its ruler as a result of this system.

Feudalism exists within a specific sociopolitical context. It’s not equivalent to slavery, though it can appear that way to a modern audience. Muir wouldn’t have picked the term “serf” to describe Gideon if she didn’t mean it, or if she meant something else (such as slavery or indentured servitude)

Serfdom is not ownership of an individual, like in slavery. It’s more like an intense landlord/employee relationship, if we’re looking for a modern touch point. A serf is bound to the land they live and work on because they are a valuable source of labor. They owe labor, goods, or a payment in equivalency to, the lord who runs the lands they are bound to. If they want to go elsewhere, they have to pay back the lord for what labor/goods they won’t be providing anymore, and the lord could refuse them.

Because this is also a reciprocal relationship, the lord also has certain responsibilities to the serfs, including protection, the maintenance of the law, and maintenance of the lands. The lord runs their holdings as ruler, but also can’t just do whatever they want. This is a social, economic, and political system, if people didn’t like it or benefit from it and had the capability to do so, they would rebel.

(Sorry for this long tangent. It’s important to set context and also discuss this history. Feudalism/Manorialism looked different in different places and times, and originally came from Roman villa systems, but this post is already long enough)

So what does this have to do with the locked tomb?

Gideon is a serf, very explicitly. She is also a ward, which puts her into an interesting spot when it comes to legal and financial responsibilities. This means she owes labor and fealty to the Ninth, essentially in repayment for raising her.

When she tries to head to the Cohort, she would otherwise be allowed to do that as a free citizen of the Ninth House. But, she has prior responsibilities to the House as a serf, so she would need the Lord’s (Harrow’s) permission to do so. Despite these obligations, she is not required to do any particular jobs in the Ninth. She is not forced to be a nun, or to do labor. From what is described, it seems like she’s relatively left to her own devices.

In a system of slavery, Gideon would be forced to enact specific labor, to learn a specific trade, and to generally do whatever the fuck Harrow or the Reverend family wanted. But she’s not.

Again, Gideon can train to join the cohort as much as she wants. She can lock herself in her room and avoid people as much as she wants. She can avoid prayers or choose to go to them. She can do what she wants, but she is not allowed to leave to take her labor elsewhere without authorization, because of her legal and financial obligations in this sociopolitical system.

Ortus puts it very well in Harrow: he must follow her orders and fulfill the responsibilities he socially is obligated to fulfill, but when he lays his head down at night he is allowed to feel however he wants about himself and his actions, he is still a free person. Ortus is in a slightly different situation as his position at birth obligates him to be Harrow’s Cavalier, as opposed to Gideon who is in a lower social position and is the only option left, but he still owes a large amount of loyalty and labor to the Ninth House.

Medieval Christmas: Twelve Days of Celebration

Medieval Christmas wasn't just a religious observance—it was the longest, most anticipated holiday of the year, a time when everyone from peasants to nobles stopped work, decorated their homes with greenery, and celebrated together with feasts, games, and gift-giving. For two full weeks, from Christmas Eve through January 5th, ordinary people experienced a break from grueling daily labor and enjoyed luxuries like meat and fish that rarely appeared on their tables.

Historical Context

The medieval Christian calendar was packed with holidays tied to seasonal celebrations, many of which had roots in older pagan traditions.[6] Christmas stood out as the ultimate winter break because it coincided with a natural lull in farm work, allowing lords to grant their peasants the entire two weeks off. This timing made the holiday accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy.

What Made Medieval Christmas Special

Decorations were elaborate by medieval standards. Homes and churches were adorned with holly, ivy, bay leaves, and mistletoe—plants chosen for their symbolic power. Holly, with its glossy leaves and bright berries, was believed by ancient Celtic druids to ward off evil spirits, while mistletoe was thought to bring fertility and protection. Mistletoe hung in doorways became the centerpiece of home decorations, and couples would kiss beneath it, plucking berries with each kiss.

Food and Feasting transformed the medieval diet. While most people ate bread and vegetables year-round, Christmas brought meat, fish, and for the wealthy, exotic dishes like roast peacock. These feasts weren't private affairs—they were communal celebrations where families gathered around tables laden with rarities.

Entertainment and Merrymaking filled the twelve days with songs, dancing, pantomimes, games, and gift exchanges. It was a time of genuine joy and social bonding in communities where daily life was often isolated and monotonous.

Key Facts

Christmas lasted from December 24th to January 5th (Twelfth Day)

Peasants received two full weeks off from work

Holly and mistletoe were the primary decorations

Feasts included meat and fish—luxuries for common people

Gift-giving and entertainment were central to celebrations

Historical Significance

Medieval Christmas reveals how communities found joy and relief in shared celebrations, breaking the monotony of medieval life. These traditions—decorated homes, gift-giving, festive meals, and holiday decorations—laid the groundwork for how we celebrate Christmas today. The holiday was equally important for rich and poor, making it a rare moment of social leveling in an otherwise hierarchical society.

I've actually written quite a bit about this: it was considered to be an important part of a noble's political education for them to learn how to "condescend" gracefully to the commons without either being overly "familiar" or "giving insult." It's a bit like how we expect modern politicians to be very good at surface level social interaction - shaking hands, kissing babies, remembering people's names, etc.

July, Les Tres Riches Heures

A medieval manuscript illustration depicting the work on an agricultural estate during the month of July. From 'Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry', c. 1412-1440 CE. (Condé Museum, Château de Chantilly, Oise, France)

Both.

The Butterwells would have owned cattle themselves, but only as many as they could run on the lands they owned directly. When it comes to land held in tenancy by their peasants, the cattle on those lands would most likely be owned by the tenants, although it wasn't unknown for peasants to rent livestock from their landlords.

Whether milk and cream were produced for market would have depended a lot on how close the farms were to towns and other commercial towns - if you were a day or less' travel away from a major population center, then selling milk and cream made economic sense.

Well, just like any manor house or city-state, there would be agricultural land around Winterfell that was the lord's land held outright and agricultural land around Winterfell that was leased to feudal tenants (who would also work on the lord's land on a paid or unpaid basis, depending on whether they were serfs) either on a cash or in-kind basis.