The disputed “third Vetrnætr” phrase

OLD NORSE

Já, segir Guðmundur, sé eg að þú þykist vel leikið hafa en svo segir mér hugur um að rautt mun sjá í skörina fyrir hinar þriðju veturnætur.

TRANSLATION

“Yes,” says Guðmundr, “I see that you think you have done well, but I have a feeling that red will be seen in the doorway before the third Vetrnætr.”

DIRECTLY ATTESTED:

The saga uses the construction fyrir hinar þriðju veturnætur.

CONTEXTUAL:

The same or closely comparable construction demonstrably counts annual Vetrnætr in Grágás and functions as a future deadline in Jómsvíkinga saga.

MY INTERPRETATION:

I do not think this phrase can responsibly be used by itself as proof that Vetrnætr lasted three nights. The comparative evidence makes an annual reading entirely viable.

NOT ESTABLISHED:

That Vetrnætr did not last three nights. The point is narrower: this passage does not prove that it did.

QUOTED FROM:

Valla-Ljóts saga, ch. 1 in the searchable Icelandic Saga Database text.

FIND IT YOURSELF:

Search: rautt mun sjá í skörina fyrir hinar þriðju veturnætur

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