Ceremony of Brygg-Dag (Brewers' Day)

Brygg-dag is Brewers' Day (August 1st), it is about this time that the grains are harvested for making the various Ales for Yule;  it is also traditional to bake bread during this time.

Brygg-dag is the day when the barley is gathered to make Ale, and is sacred to Byggvir.  Byggvir is one of the Vanir, a servent of Freyr;  his twin sister is Beyla (Beyla is a maker of Mead, using honey, as opposed to Ale which uses barley). 

The ceremony begins with the horn being sounded three times (optional);  during this time all the participants prepare for the ceremony.  If there are fields to be harvested the Ceremony is performed at sunrise, otherwise sunset on August first.

If the Ceremony is performed at sunrise, the Prayer to Delling is offered, if the Ceremony is performed at sunset, the Prayer to Billing is offered.

It is at this point that the Hallowing Ceremony is performed, afterwhich the Godhi or Gydhja sings the following invocation:

Hail to thee, oh Byggvir,       hail to Freyr's kind servant,
bring bright blessings this day,     as barley brought from fields;
sacred grains well warded,             grains well warded by us,
yearly we harvest them,       yearly this day we reap.

Hail to thee, oh Byggvir,        hail to Ales kind brewer,
Byggvir and Beyla both,      brewing know both Vanir;
Brygg-dag your busy day,           Byggvir with barley-art,
Byggvir, Barley-Brewer,       old barley-art teach us.

The Drinking Horn or cup is now filled (preferably from Ale brewed the previous year) and blessed in the name of Byggvir.  Ale is offered to both Byggvir and the fields, then the Horn is passed to each member to praise Byggvir.  The horn is then emptied into the bowl.  The Godhi or Gydhja then blesses the Ale once more, and holding the bowl high sings:

Byggvir has blessed us, and old barley-art taught us,
this day we are thankful,       this day Byggvir has come,
of barley to harvest, of barley for Byggvir,
may each one come forward, each for Byggvir to bless.

The yew twig is then wet in the Ale and each member is then sprinkled with the sacred Ale.  The twig is then consumed on the recels (with adaquate ventilation of course).

A member then comes forward with a bowl containing barley, the barley is blessed by the Godhi or Gydhja in Byggvir's name, a handful is offered to the gods, the rest is poured into a spring or planted the next year.

So ends the Ceremony of Brygg-dag.

Sumbel follows the ceremony.

Needed Items:

Godhi or Gydhja (or volunteer member)
One bowl of barley
One yew twig
Recels
One blessing bowl
One drinking horn or cup
Ceremonial Hammer
Various offerings for land-wights for before the Ceremony
Ale (NOT MEAD) for the Ceremony

Glossary

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