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Thruðheim Kindred Winter Nights Blót 2009
October 17-18 2009
Beth led the blót |
A brisk Autumn chill was in the air as the folk gathered at Beth and Ted's homestead to celebrate Thrudheim Kindred's Winter Nights 2009. The attendees arrived throughout the evening, each bringing a tasty snack or beverage to share as they conversed and caught up on the goings on of the past month.
As darkness fell, candles were lit and everyone gathered for Sumbel. Sumbel certainly had its high spots, and ran the spectrum from somber to jocular and back again. Gods, ancestors and other loved ones were honored with words of praise, and boasts and hopes for the future were made. A few also made a point to express their marked displeasure at the History Channel's "mishandled, and just plain wrong", portrayals of Beowulf and Thor in their "Clash of the Gods" program.
When all and more that need be said was said, Sumbel came to a close the folk wended their way home.
Sunday morning dawned crisp and cold, a perfect day for a hot bowl of soup. Which was fortunate because Winter Nights blot is the Kindred's traditional Stone Soup feast. Guests returned to Beth and Ted's place, around mid-morning, each bringing an ingredient to add to the soup pot or some other item to share for the feast. The various ingrediants were added to the mixture along with a special stone, etched with the Thurisaz rune.
While the soup cooked, the Vei was set up and the Folk assembled for blót. Beth served as Gythia, and led the Kindred in a blót to the Disir, during which she also recounted the legend of Stone Soup and explained its symbolic importance to what we as a Kindred do today.
When the blót concluded and the offering was poured upon the roots of a tree in the yard, the folk returned inside to find a delicious stone soup feast waiting. Everyone gladly ate their fill and enjoyed each other's company, until once again it was time for the bittersweet parting of ways until the next meeting.
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