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Heathenry Heathen Ásatrú Troth
Blot Blessings Hallowed Festivals
Moments of "Daily Blessings" happened during the day when time is taken for blessings: hallowing drink or food by making the Hammer sign; welcoming a guest with an offering of ritual drink; placing food out for the little brownie spirit who cares for the family and home; blessing the Sun at noon or at her four stations at dawn, noon, sunset, and midnight
The Sumbel was an offertory ceremony and a holy forum. The Sumbel was a formal drinking ritual of great power and purpose filled with binding communal oaths before the deities, toasts, hails, poetry, and song. There were many rounds where the horn was filled and passed around the circle and each person expressed themselves, drank from the horn filled with blesséd liquid (an embodiment of the Well of Wyrd where all fates are designed), and passed it on.
An average Sumbel might consist of several rounds where during the first round the gods and goddesses are hailed. During the second round the heroes and ancestors were honored. During the third round there were boasts of personal accomplishments and of oaths held; and during the fourth round there were song, poems, and oaths. A Sumbel usually ended by thanking the deities and pouring out the horn's remaining drink, in a manner similar to the ending of a Blót.
Seasonal Blóts such as Yule, Disfest, Ostara, May Eve, Midsummer, Loaf Fest, Harvest Moon, and Winternights are held on different dates in the Northern Hemisphere (N) and in the Southern Hemisphere (S).
Yule is held on 21 Dec (N) / June 21 (S). Winter Solstice, Jol-Tide, Winter Finding, The Wheel of the Sun Herself. The first night of Yule is called Mother Nights. This is a time of festival when the Heathen goddesses and gods are closest to Midgard and the elves and other magical beings roam freely and are invited as friends.
Hallowed Festivities of Tomte Children and Älvorna
Yule (Winter Solstice, Jol-Tide, Winter Finding, The Wheel of the Sun Herself) symbols are banquets of food, burning Yule logs, holly, evergreen boughs, pine cones, pot lucks with family and friends, Gebo (root force), Jera (cyclic completion) and Uruz (creative potentials)
Disfest is held on Feb 14 (N) / Aug 14 (S). This Festival of the Maiden, Imbolc, is a time of renewal, growth, and cleansing. It promises fertility after the rigidity of winter. The familial goddess is greeted and vegetation revived.
Disfest (Festival of the Maiden, Imbolc) symbols are dolls made from the last harvest, corn and rushes, ashes and flames. Candles are burned throughout the night for prosperity and well being.
Ostara is held on Mar 20 (N)/Sep 20 (S). The Spring Equinox, Spring Moon, Sacred Marriage, Summer Finding, this is the feast of awakening when light overtakes dark.
Ostara (The Spring Equinox,
Spring Moon, Sacred Marriage, Summer Finding) symbols are hot cross buns, eggs,
the hare, Berkana (growth), Wunjo (joy), and Pertho (birth)... Continue on Go back
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Ancient Roots of Heathenry,
Blot Blessings Hallowed Festivals,
Eddas Mythos and Way of Troth,
Glossary Terminology,
Heathen Deities Goddesses Gods Deities,
Heathen Shamanic Traditions,
Heathenry Ásatrú Spiritual Beliefs,
Nine Noble Virtues,
Hallowed Heathenry and Nature Spirits,
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Heathen Ásatrú Troth Copyright
© 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved. Public Domain Image Hallowed Festivities of Tomte Children and Älvorna from Children of the Forest (Tomtebobarnen, 1910) by
Elsa Beskow. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tomtebobarnen.jpg]. Accessed December 18, 2006.
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