Thruðheim Kindred Yule Blót

Yule is a time of endings and beginnings. It is the time in-between. Fortunately for the kindred it was the end of the rainy weather its blóts had been plagued with all year. The day was bright and clear with temperatures in the 50's. The good weather brought out most of the kindred as well as several new faces. In all about 27 adults showed up and a handful of kids.

Most folks arrived by 1:00 and the feast was ready at 3:00. A glazed ham was the centerpiece surrounded by all sorts of delicious sides - homemade potato salad, vegetables, sweet potato casserole, other salads, etc. Many people must have had a real sweet tooth because the dessert table was larger than the main table!

As people recovered from the feast, small slips of paper were passed around. Everyone wrote their wishes for the new year in runes and wove these into the Yule wreath which was later burned during the blót so that the smoke could carry the wishes aloft.

Sumbel was held outdoors due to the nice weather. The gods and goddesses were praised, as were the ancestors. Brags, hopes, and toasts were heard during the third round. It was a time of building frith.

At twilight, the Yule blót was started with the traditional three calls on the horn. Galdr was sung and the site was hallowed with the hammer. As the drinking horn was passed the Aesir and Vanir were hailed. The bread boar came next. Each person placed their hand on the sacrifice to infuse it with their hopes, desires, thanks, and prayers. During kindred rites, Talon took his Companion oath while Carl became an Initiate. Little Rowan, the daughter of Elise and goði Cliff, was named and sprinkled with water in the old custom of the ancestors. At the end of the blót a circle of candles was lit as a hope for Sunna to return to Midgard after the longest night of the year.

View Some Photos

• Carl and Suzanne sit one out.
• Cliff and Beth in deep discourse.
• Elise and her little Yule present Rowan.
• Herb, Johnny, Julia, and Jade milling about while Ed sits in "time out".
• Phoenix and his "some assembly required" folding chairs.
• Shari and Bernhard smile bravely in the midst of chaos.
• Talon lost in reading while Felecia stands watch.
• Susan raids the dessert table.
• Kim swoops in next.
• Brian warms up with wassail.
• Jada and Laurel sittin' on the stoop.
• Tracy savors the last bite.
• The Yule class of '02.