Mother-Night (Winter Solstice)

The First Night of the 12 days of Yule

Mother Night (evening, December 21th), is the first of the 12 days of Yule. Traditionally this Night is sacred to Frigga. 

The ceremony begins with the horn being sounded three times (optional); during this time all the participants prepare for the ceremony.

Since this is an evening ceremony, the Prayer to Billing is offered.

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

     Hail to thee, both Aesir and Van,
     we celebrate with thee and all the wights withall;
     Hail to thee, Frigg, Great-Spinner,
     your gifts are ever with us, we see this.

     All hail the givers of gifts, in kindness,
     gifts to be returned with gifts, in kindness;
     just as the gods ward our ways, we give back,
     and so the gods grant givings, we give back.

     Each has  brought food this day,

     These gifts are for all;

     A plate we serve and set for thee,

     Our to Frigg, may she bless us this Yule.

The Godhi or Gydhja then sets a plate for Frigg and places it on the table in offering. Then pours the mead from the decanter into the blessing bowl, blesses the mead, and holding the bowl high sings: 

     The gods and goddesses have blessed us, we learn,
     from the learnèd we teach, others learn;
     these gifts aid others, as gods aid ourselves,
     may each one come forward, the gods to bless. 

Each family comes forward, those that wish to be blessed are blessed (the yew twig is then wet in the Ale and each one is then sprinkled with the sacrèd mead). The food being previously blessed.

The twig is then consumed on the recels (with adequate ventilation of course), and the mead is offered to the wights.

Everyone feasts, afterwhich the plate set to Frigg is offered to the wights.

So ends the Ceremony of Mother Night.

Sumbel follows the ceremony. It is also traditional to conduct Seidh Ceremoies.

Needed Items:
Godhi or Gydhja (or volunteer member)
Food (similar to a “pot luck”
Plate for the gods, goddesses and wights

One yew twig
Recels
One blessing bowl
One drinking horn or cup
Ceremonial Hammer
Decanter or container for the mead
Various offerings for land-wights for before the Ceremony
Mead for the Ceremony

Glossary

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