Summer Sunstead (Summer Solstice)

The Summer Sunstead (June 21st), is the celebration of triumph of Summer over Winter. It is traditional for couples to be wed on this day.

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

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. Due to the late hour of sunset it is common for the ceremony to begin at 6:00pm.

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

     Hail to thee, Sol (Sunna), Sister of Mani,
     The sun is high, your might is strong;
     Hail to thee, Sunna (Sol), bright bringer of heat ,
     working with Svol, your gifts are well recieved.

      Hail to thee, Lady Sun!

     Art all the world’s delight.*

     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.

The Godhi or Gydhja then pours the mead from the decanter into the blessing bowl, blesses the mead, and holding the bowl high sings:

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

So ends the Ceremony of the Summer Sunstead. 

Sumbel follows the ceremony.

Needed Items:
Godhi or Gydhja (or volunteer member)
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

* part of a 13th century poem, Grimm, Teutonic Mythology vol 2 pg 705.

Glossary

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