We are now in the time of winter, where snow is beginning to be upon us, but the folk are safe indoors happily enjoying the fruits of their fall harvest. For the peoples of Scandanavia, this time not only was full of darkness, cold, and snow, but also marked the beginning of the sacred year and a celebration that life had not left this world. It is for this reason that evergreens and holly become common decorations in our homes and in our rites.
This is our biggest Norse rite of the year, and heathen folk are of course welcome along with the rest of the general public. Come anytime after 2 PM for fellowship, discussions, and helping out with setup.
Some specific customs that you might want to plan for in advance:
– Oaths: There will be an opportunity to make personal oaths on a boar’s head. Consider what vow – if any – you would like to make.
– Gift exchange: $5-10 value. Specify an appropriate age for the gift: Under-12, 12+, or if it is a 21+ beverage label it as such. Children’s gifts are distributed separately from adult and teen gifts.
– Feasting: As usual, we hold a potluck feast after the rite. Please bring a dish for 8-10 people to share.
– Group singing: The Stone Creed caroling and wassailing songbooks come out for musical fun led by our bards.
– More group singing: We include in the rite a choral version of The Boar’s Head Carol. If you’re interested in singing it, download the
sheet music.
