------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 December 2011, as the sun sets in the west, a celebration known as Mothers' Night will occur.
Usual setup of my household altar.
This is the beginning of the Yuletide Season within the modern reconstruction of the pre-Christian beliefs and practices that honor the Elder Holy Ones, our beloved Forebears and the spirits of the beautiful and wonderful World around us.
On Mothers Night, those of us who follow that faith-way will gather together and celebrate in 3 ways...here is my household practice.
First, there will be a formal ritual of thanks for the Mothers of our family lines. The women who gave birth to us, to our mothers, our fathers, our sisters, our brothers, our aunts, our uncles, our cousins...our kin, kith and friends... Each year (and this will be 20 years in a row I have celebrated Yuletide formally), I believe that my great grandmother Mary Burke (nee Brady) joins me. She stands just outside the doorway to the room in which my friends and I gather. I look up from my devotions, our eyes meet and she smiles. She's been gone 35 years, but her face is still so clear...
Second, we will sit to supper together, with a plate made up and a glass filled, for our Mothers who are there in our hearts.
Third, we will sit in a circle by the hearthfire and pass a drinking horn around for three toasts each: 1st to the Holy Ones, 2nd to our Mothers and 3rd a Boast of something we have done, an Oath to do something or a story, song, poem or gift we wish to share.
After the formal celebrations (known as Blót, Husel and Sumble) the night will then become one of general fellowship and enjoyment.
(In answer to a question from one of the Christians with whom I correspond about the above.)
The altar setup shown is the one I use as a baseline. The knife and chain necklace (lower center) are symbols meaningful to me in my relationship with Uller who is a god associated with archery, hunting, oaths, winter travel and other things. I Offer to him at the beginning and end of hunting season each year, and just after Veterans' Day, in his aspect as Judge of Oath-keepers.
For Mothers' Night the knife is replaced by a bouquet of flowers, I get chrysanthemums and irises, which gramma Burke liked, her memory represents the Mothers of my dad's side. The necklace is replaced by my nonnie D'Orazio's copy of Ada Boni's "The Talisman Italian Cook Book," the 1950 English edition. Her memory represents the Mothers of my mom's side.
The 3 cups are used to receive toasts to the Holy Powers, to Family and to the Spirits. The bowl in the middle represent the Well at the center of all things that receives our words and deeds. At the end of the ritual, all the toasts are poured into here, along with any drink remaining in the pitcher to be returned to the earth. The stone in the bowl represent the earth, the solidity of our every day lives, it will be wetted with some of the drink that is blessed in the course of the Offering.
Missing in the picture is a cup to pass and a bottle of wine, ale, cider or other such...milk, juice or water are suitable, too. The main idea is that the ritual is one of sharing, between yourself and That Which Is Holy.
Basically the form is thus: folks come together, the presiding man or woman (most usually the head of the house, called the Gothi or Gythia) will explain the purpose of the gathering, any points of house etiquette. and other "house keeping" words Then the holiness of the space is declared.
The sharing cup is filled and the Gothi makes three rounds of toasts to the: 1. Unseen Beings of this world thanking them for the liveliness they add and asking that they continue to oversee us with kindness, 2. Spirits of our Families, reflecting upon how we are here as the culmination of their lives, 3. Holy Powers, for Quickening and Shaping All, and sharing Blessings with us.
Then a poem or song is performed, which gives honor to our Mothers for everything they mean to us, in this life and in memory. Drink is poured into the bowl and a Blessing of it is asked. Then the Gothi will pour a little from it over the altar stone and then will walk to everyone, wets his finger and touches each participant's forehead saying, "Share in the Blessing."
A little of the blessed drink is ladled into the sharing cup, with is topped off from the pitcher. The Gothi will make an appropriate remark and take a sip. The cup is passed to each participant to do the same. The Gothi will close out this portion with another remark and sip. The balance of the drink is poured into the bowl.
The cup is filled once again and the Gothi will in turn thank the Gods, the Family Line and the Spirits (pouring another toast to each) in thanks and in farewell.
The balance of the drink is poured into the bowl. The offering is declared to be at an end, the folk go onto get supper ready. The Gothi will tidy up the altar area, and will return the remaining drink to earth. I have a spot in my yard where I stand offering in good weather, which has a little well into which I pour the drink.
The meal is basically a sit down affair, with an extra place set in honor of our Mothers. The food and drink form this place will be burnt in the hearthfire during the formal Toasting ceremony after dinner.
What we do is a modern reconstruction and adaptation of what we know from the remaining Mythological and Historical Lore.
This faith (the modern name is Asatru) speaks strongly to my worldview and my sense of family and community. It is a source of strength and happiness, especially when I am able to gather with friends who believe and practice as do I.
My dad thought that my holding these beliefs helped me become a better man.
(In answer to another question about if this is related to Druidry.)
The druids were the scholar-priests of the Celtic folk of mainland Europe and the British Isles. Very much more organized and hierarchical than the folkways I follow. Their power was such, that Julius Caesar saw them as something to be destroyed lest the Gauls and Gaels have a center around which to rally.
Asatru (aka Germanic Paganry, Heathenism, Odinism and so forth) is based upon what is known of the beliefs and practices of the pre-Christian Germanic and Nordic peoples. Each tribe had its own beliefs and customs, though they might call upon the same gods and goddesses.
We like to say that we are the religion with homework. As we have no one to whom we look as The Central Authority, it is up to each individual to gain knowledge. We read, write, think, converse...come to conclusions, present them to others for debate, refine them (or dig our heels in, as the case may be)...
I was raised Roman Catholic, suffice to say that doubts rose up to the extent that I left the Church in the spring of 1975. Later on that same year, Jesus and I "had a conversation," and parted company. I went through an anti-Christian period, but after a fairly short time discarded that as being discourteous and an insult to my ancestors who were devout believers.
After a lot of searching and study, I had an epiphany during a sweat lodge ceremony in July 1988, which spurred me to follow up on a suggestion made by one of my dad's cousins, a full-blood Mohawk who had counseled me to look to my "Grandmothers of Europe" for the answers I was seeking.
I thought I had found a key to who I had seen in the vision by reading the copies of the "Poetic Edda" and "Kalevala" that cousin John had given me years before. During another sweat in November, 1988, I believe I had a confirmation that Uller (who I mentioned above) was indeed the Holy Being welcoming me home to the Northern Way.
As the internet was much less than it is today, it took me almost 5 years to find other who believed and practiced as did I have been in community ever since.
(In answer to a question about more detail...)
Here is my explanation of how I celebrate (as is practicable) the 12 Nights of Yuletide.
My celebrations and/or meditations are normally in the evening, after the hustle and bustle of the day is over, especially this time of year.
Except for Mothers' Night and 12th Night, which are generally recognized by the rest of my faith community, these celebrations are my own interpretation. Others do recognize all 12 Nights, but have their way of noting evenings 2 - 11.
1st Night - Mother's Night is the beginning of Yuletide and is devoted to remembering the importance our mothers and other female ancestors have to us. I will usually sit quietly by the fireside, if celebrating alone, and look through a picture album I have of my mom, my grammas, and other women of my family. I will then offer Words and Drink to the Holy Powers in thanks for these women of my line and will have a Mothers' Plate on the table while my wife and I eat dinner. Nothing in one's worship needs to be elaborate, so long as you offer with honesty of intent and are sharing something of yourself.
The ritual I described earlier in this journal would be held if I am celebrating with others. On the evening before Summer Solstice, I celebrate Fathers' Night, my own take on honoring my male forebears.
2nd Night - Sunna's Night: this is the evening of the Winter Solstice, a time to think of the return of sunshine and kindle hope for that which is to come.
3rd Night - Winter's Edge: reflection upon the need to be wise about, and prepared for, getting through the storms and cold that lay ahead. As I feel closest to Uller, a winter god, I will also have an Offering to him on this evening.
4th Night - Kitchen Night, time to bake bread and cookies for sharing. Food should be prepared with thankfulness and shared with love; think of the others for whom you prepare.
5th Night - Family Fest, a night to gather with Kin and Kith, to rebuild and celebrate the ties that bind us together, to catch up on the news of the year, to remember those who are no longer with us...
6th Night - Children's' Night - This is the night that the children receive gifts and the importance of Gifting as a virtue in tying the community together is discussed. This is a principle, which many in Heathenry look to, termed "Gift for Gain." When we offer to the Holy Powers, it is a Gift to them for the Gain of Their Blessing. The children are Gifted (as are the adults ,-) because we have Gained from their love and companionship throughout the year.
7th Night - Lore Night, wherein one of the ancient stories from one's family of cultural ancestry is told and discussed. We try to see what we can learn from those who went before us.
8th Night - Skald Night, where the focus is on poetry and song, in entertaining each other, gathered by the family hearth. A look at how telling tales in our own words is important.
9th Night - Craft Night, to either make something useful or learn the skill to do so. A look at how we need to earn our keep in life.
10th Night - Art Night, to just express oneself by drawing, painting, working with clay to make a sculpture and so forth. A look at the beauty of life.
11th Night - Thanksgiving, when an Offering is made to the Holy Powers for the Blessings that one has received in the previous year, again the concept of Gift for Gain is recalled.
12th Night - Yules End, Year's End, More reflection upon the past and looking to that which may happen. A formal round of toasts will be held amongst the adults, where boasting of past achievements and oaths of future endeavors will be made. (Others do celebrate 12th Night, this is my method.)
(Finally, in answer to a query about food associated with my celebrations...)
On Mothers' Night I will usually make slow-roasted corned beef with cabbage, potatoes and carrots, which was great grandma Burke's Christmas time special. I also make brown mustard from scratch, Anita make sourdough bread and whips up honey butter. We'll accompany the meal with home made wine.
For Family Fest I will make a baked macaroni casserole (3 kinds of pasta, pepperoni, eggs and 3 kinds of Italian cheese), baked cod and a mix of spinach, escarole, endive and leeks, which have been steamed. Again, home made wine. These were the dishes made by my nonnie D'Orazio every Christmas eve.
Otherwise, we'll plan a day or so in advance, save 12th Night, which is always roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, accompanied by buttered turnips and parsnips...drink will be home made ale.
This is the recipe for the baked pasta dish mentioned above.
Chronne (sha-doan) - baked pasta casserole.
Ingredients; 1 pound each dry capellini, thick spaghetti and perciatelli - cook al dente per package and drain well - keep in pasta pot, 18 lg eggs - beaten, 1 c each Asiago, Romano and Parmesan cheese - finely grated, 1 1/2# pepperoni - diced (abt 1/4" pcs), 1/2 c Mozzarella - medium shred, 1/2 t black pepper - freshly cracked, Olive oil - quant suff
Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly oil a baking pan of sufficient size (mine is 18" x 14" x 3"). Mix the grated cheeses into the beaten eggs and then add in the pepperoni; do this while the pasta is cooking. In the large boiling pot, mix the egg-cheese-pepperoni into the cooked pasta and then pour the whole mess into the baking pan. Mix the Mozzarella and black pepper ; spread this evenly over the pasta mix. Bake the pasta mix covered for 30 minutes and then uncovered for 10 - 20 minutes (until the top is fully melty and lightly browned).
I like to serve this with a steamed mix of escarole, endive, spinach and leeks - dressed with crushed garlic, olive oil and lemon juice -- lightly boiled mix of onion, turnip and carrot dressed with butter and parsley -- beef meatballs in a light marinara sauce
No comments:
Post a Comment