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Issue #2 June 1998-5101 BRYGG-DAG CEREMONY by RG VolundR Lars Agnarsson 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. This Ceremony is written to take place in our Hópr, Skergards sacred ceremonial site, the participants should visualize (if they wish) our Hópr to the best of their ability. 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 following prayer to Delling isoffered: Hail to thee, oh Delling,
hail Dawn-Bringer of day, If the Ceremony is performed at sunset, the following prayer to Billing is offered: Hail to thee, oh Billing,
hail Varn's forest warder, It is at this point that the Hallowing Ceremony is performed: Facing North, extend the right arm out in front of you, with ceremonial Hammer in hand. The Hammer "head" should be "flat" in that the hammer is horizontal (side to side, east and west on hammer blunts) as opposed to vertical (above and below on blunt sides). Recite: Hammer of the North, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn to the right, facing East, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. Recite: Hammer of the East, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn to the right, facing South, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. Recite: Hammer of the South, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn to the right, facing West, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. Recite: Hammer of the West, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn to the right, facing North and Above, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. While trace a spiral Clockwise Recite: Odin above, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn around, facing South and Below, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. While tracing a spiral Clockwise Recite: Holde below, Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead. Turn the Hammer head "vertical", turn back around, facing North, return Hammer to the "horizontal" position. Hold hammer over head and wave 3 times on a Clockwise circle while reciting: This Stead is Hallowed in the Name of the Aesir and Vanir. Return Hammer to the Altar and begin ceremony. The Godhi or Gydhja sings the following invocation: Hail to thee, oh Byggvir,
hail to Freyr's kind
servant, 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, 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. |
