July 15-16 , 2006

Bernhard performs the hammer warding

Kindred members and friends gathered together at Big South Fork on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the eighth Founding Day of Thruðheim Kindred. We were honored to have as guests our friends from Vidarshof of the Highland Rim kindred, and Bodi who traveled all the way from Savannah, Georgia to celebrate this special event with us.

There were intermittent showers on Saturday, but it kept the temperature from getting too hot, and the campground had a nice covered pavilion that helped to keep us dry. Once the rain stopped, everyone set up camp, visited, and caught up with one another.

As the sun set, Johnny, from Vidarshof, led a blót to honor the three temple gods from Uppsala -- Thor, Odin and Frey. As always with one of Johnny's blóts, the rite was electric and extremely powerful.

Following the blót, we gathered around the fire for sumbel, which went well past the three formal rounds and deep into the open rounds. Sumbel is always special for us, but when we gather together with great friends like Bodi and those from Vidarshof, the experience becomes even more meaningful.

Thruðheim's post-sumbel KipperTimeR was the next item on the agenda for the evening. Green chile kippers, burgundy sauce kippers, mustard sauce kippers, and plain ol' smoked kipper steaks were on the menu and devoured by the hungry participants. Several folks found their way to their tents shortly after the kippers, others stayed up well into the wee hours of the morning conversing.

Sunday morning arrived with a light rain -- just enough to make us wait a bit to break camp -- nothing too horrible. After some coffee, breakfast, showers, and a little time to wake up it was just about time for the Founding Day blót.

Bernhard, one of the three founding members of the kindred, officiated the blót and did a wonderful job leading the group. A bit of kindred history was recalled, each participant then hailed a God/Goddes of their choice, and finally the oathed members of the kindred were called to the vei. Gathered at the vei, each oathed member grasped the kindred oath ring and pledged their troth, in their own words, to not only the kindred, but to each and every member of the kindred. It was an extremely powerful and very moving rite. One could feel the energy coursing through the oath ring as we held it.

After the blót, it was time for feast. We had beenie-weenies, corned-beef and cabbage, asian salad, fruit salad, and several different desserts just to name a few things. As always, there was plenty to eat and all of it was quite tasty.

By 2:00 p.m. we had to be off the site to make room for the next group of campers, so we loaded up the vehicles, said our goodbyes and headed our separate ways after an amazing Founding Day weekend. Happy Birthday Thruðheim.

Click here to view some photos from the weekend