| QUOTE (rosalie @ Apr 18 2006, 09:17 AM) |
| That is an Essential Cornerstone in any Successful Relationship . . . |
| QUOTE |
| The most important one is the marriage of Sigurdrífa and Sigurd [from Sigrdrífúmál (‘The Lay of Sigrdrífa’)], perhaps better known as Brunhild and Siegfried in Richard Wagner’s magnificent opera, The Ring of the Niebelungen. It contains most of the elements used, the Ring of Fire and the Sacred Mead given to the bridegroom by the bride. The marriage of Ódin or Wotan to Gunnlod in Hávamál mentions the second day of the marriage feast and the three drinks of the Sacred Mead. Then there is the marriage of Freyr to Gerd [in Skírnismál] which again mentions the Sacred Ring of Fire. The marriage ceremony preferably takes place outside, if possible under a tree and/or close to water, and there should be a Ring of Fire, “Vafurlogi” (‘surrounding flame’). The outdoors setting is carefully chosen to represent pagan reverence for nature and specific natural features of sacred import in the Eddic texts, particularly the tree echoing the World-Tree Yggdrasil, the water reflecting the Well of the Norn Urth and/or the Well of Mímir, the fire speaking of ancient sacrifice. The Gothi calls on a wide variety of gods to witness and bless the wedding, consecrating the occasion with the following formula from the Eddic poem Sigrdrífumál: Hail to the Day, hail to the sons of Day Hail to the Night and her Daughters Look upon us with kindly eyes And grant to us all victory Hail to the Gods, hail to the Goddesses Hail to the bountiful Earth Grant us speech and wisdom and healing hands As long as we shall live. This same formula is used in consecrating the funeral rite as well.The wedding proceeds with the Gothi reciting other selected passages from the the old mythological literature and also asks the blessing of gods and goddesses in a more straightforward manner. The Gothi invokes the world-tree Yggdrasil, the three Norns who rule mankind’s destiny, and the goddesses Frigg, “guardian of home and marriage”, Freyja, “Goddess of love and fertility”, and Vár, “protectress of all” pacts made between man and woman”. Turning to the groom, he quotes Hávamál 47: Young I was and traveled alone thus I lost my way. Rich I felt, when another I found man rejoices in man. And to the bride, the Gothi reads from Hávamál 50: Withers the fir that stands alone sheltered neither by needles nor bark So is the one that no one loves how long shall she live? The bride and groom each state their equal intentions and responsibilities to each other in the same words: “I call upon all gathered here to witness that I (name) take this man/woman (name) as my husband/wife and fully understand the responsibility and solemnity of this my decision.” The Gothi then gives the bride a drinking-horn filled with sacred mead, echoing the Eddic marriage scenes, and she then pours libations to Frigg, Freyja and Thor, “guardian of all humanity”. After drinking a single draught from the horn herself, she offers it to the groom, quoting once more from Sigrdrífumál (v. 5): Ale I bring you, you Oak-of-Battle, blent with strength and brightest honor mixed with charms and mighty songs, worthy magic and merry runes. The groom then pours libations to Thor, Freyja and Frigg, invoking the same deities as his bride but in the reverse order. He drinks three times from the horn, recites a verse from Skírnismál expressing Freyr’s longing for his future bride Gerth (v. 42), then returns the horn to the bride that she may drink twice. Having each drunk three times from the sacred horn, they return this to the Gothi. He directs them to place their hands together over a ring or arm-band which he offers to them, and then ends the ceremony with the formula, “In the name of Vár I proclaim you man and wife.” It is a simple ceremony that achieves a certain elegance and drama from its references to ancient literature and mythology, the use of medieval customs such as the drinking-horn and the arm-ring, and the beauty of the natural setting. The simplicity of the rite allows participants leeway to add or alter elements as they may desire. |
| QUOTE |
| 1) The wedding procession. Tee processed from the left of the altar with her bride's maids and family. Swain processed from the right with his groom's men and family. They met in front of the altar with the families lining up on either side. 2) Hallowing of the site. Gebedman Brian Smith then hallowed the site with the Wéonde Song in Old English, followed by Gebedman Thad Horrel in English: Fyr ic bere ymb friðgearde, Ond béode men frið fremman, Líeg ic bere tó belúcan, Béode ælwihta fléogan aweg. Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh þisne ealh. Fyr ic bere ymb friðgearde, Ond béode men frið fremman, Líeg ic bere tó belúcan, Béode utlaga féran aweg. Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh þisne ealh. Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh þisne ealh. Fire I bear around this sacred site, And bid all men make peace, Flame I bear to enclose, And bid evil spirits to flee Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred this holy site Fire I bear around this sacred site, And bid all men make peace, Flame I bear to enclose, And bid outlaws fare away. Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred this holy site. Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred this holy site. 3) Statement as to why we were gathered: Winifred then did then gave the opening Rede with the following words: We are gathered here today to witness and bless the wedding of Tee and Swain and to support their troth by our community of faith and family. We are witnessing the establishment of a new hearth of Heathen faith complete with one fine son, and another to come! Marriage is about love, but even more ir is about frith, trust, honor, and shared hamingja. Each of you holds in your hands, now, the trust, the honor, the hamingja, and luck of the other one. By combining them, in troth, you create a fertile gorund for family, frith, and luck to grow and strengthen through the years. Together, each of your pwers is more than doubled. So keep strong your honor and your trust in yourselves, in each other, an in your children. Honor fith and Heathen thew, and these powers will like the rune of Tiw, hold you fast on your course through the mists of night as well as through all your brightest days. Holy Ones, goddesses and gods! Ancestors both recent and ancient, especially kin of the bride and groom! Good wights of this place honor us now by your presence, your witness, and your blessings. Hail the Holy Ones! Now let us hear the boasts of worth from the wedding parties. 4) The family flytungs. Tee's bride's maids and family then challenged Swain's party as to why he was worthy to marry Tee, followed by Swain's party countering those challenges and issuing ones of their own. Many fine words were spoken of each, and the two families agreed that Swain and Tee should wed. Swain said: I, Swain Canote, son of Albert and Rosy Canote, take the to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and live for, until death do us depart. May our lives intertwine with these words in the same wyrd. Tee then said: I Tee Wyatt, daughter of Robert and Linda Bagwell, take thee to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to honour and love, until death do us depart. May Frige weave our threads in the same weave. Winifred then said a prayer to the goddess Wær bless the oaths: Hal Wær --- weardes weddas, Bidde áðas wæccan -- ond tréowð wíte gif brecan. And Thad translated: Hail Wær --- warder of vows, I bid you watch these oaths --- and if this troth is broken, punish. Swain and Tee then exchanged rings both saying: "With this ring I thee wed. 8) Prayers to Frige bless the wedding. Winifred then said a prayer to the goddess Frige: Hal Frige Módor---myge Wódnes, léof mid þín léodum---léohtmód bist, rúne hieldst---rúmheort bist, mearum ond máðmum---meduradenne, for gesiðmægen--- symle aghwar; eodor æþelinga---arest gegretest, forman fulle---to Fréan hond, ricence geracst--- ond rad witst mann, Frige eallcnáwestre ---fræfel gyden, Esageardes cwén--- cwémlic hláfidge. Biergst byrdum --- bearn weardst. blétse sinhiwan --- swa bliss habban. And translated it: Hail Frigga Mother--- Woden's mirth, dear to the folk ---you are light hearted, hold secrets---and generous are, with mares and treasures---when the mead is dealt out, for warriors---at symbel together; always the princes---you greet first, first the full---to the lord's hand, greatness you attain---and for Man counsel know, Frigga all knowing ---cunning goddess, Asgard's queen ---pleasing lady. You guard births---ward the young. Bless the couple --- so that bliss they will have. 9) Pronouncement Winifred then blessed Tee and Swain, and pronounced them man and wife with the following words: "May you each be bliss and blessing to one another, to your children and to your united kin. May your frith, luck, and hamingja grow ever stronger through the years. May the holy goddesses and gods smile upon your marriage and your family. And may your housewights always behave themselves reasonably well! You may kiss the bride." Swain and Tee then kissed and Winifred then said: "I now present to you Swain and Teresa Canote." The wedding was then followed by a short bride ale where Tee was blessed with the hammer, and they said their first toasts as a married couple. |