As the Wheel of the Year came full circle again, the waining Sunna at her lowest stead, and the ancestral Mothers called upon by the folk, the weekend of January 13th – 15th, the Normannii gathered once again at Vinton's Inn, the private restaurant / resort in Shohola, PA that has hosted our Yule the past two years. The event was well attended, having near 70 Normans and their guests. As always, there was much merriment and feasting, and the weekend was packed with workshops and events. Notable guests included Everett, Dryhten of Osprey Bay, and Yngona Desmond, a well respected author and seidth expert.
The first evening was given over to informal talks and socializing about the bar in the cozy log-cabin Tavern. The third annual Friday night "Texas Hold `em" tournament was as usual a rousing good time. A shrine to the Lady was set up and deep in the Midnight the Vanic folk conducted their rites attendant to the season and to quite some success it seems.
On Saturday, Kasidy Thygen presented a well researched workshop on the clothing (most notably dressmaking) of our ancestors from a historical perspective. Featured during the workshop were Kasidy's own designs, modeled by many of the lovely ladies in attendance.
Lavrans Karl then presented a very thought provoking and informative presentation featuring his long-term project of recreating the bardic arts of our ancestors as told and sang through Norse poetry. His skill and scholarship in the arts of Nordic music and poetry, as well as his crafting of period instruments is well known in the heathen community. Meanwhile, Bob Sergens gave a martial workshop on weapons training.
William Thain had a structured discussion with the skalks of the Reik, aimed at digesting Culture of the Teutons, and guiding them in their path to the cultural mindset of our ancestors.
As the sun set, our Matron, Lady Cynthia and Halijathygen, Kasidy Thygen, led us to a Mother's Night rite to gather and protect the folk. The ritual was in the standard Normannii bifurcated format, with both public and Normannii only elements, and was, also spoken in ritual drama between Dan Eorl and Lou Thain in alternating Modern English and Old Danish. The rite was well received, having many good omens, and reaffirmed our connections in the web of oaths as well as to the cycle of gifting to our Gods as the Yule offerings burned brightly.
The Husel was grand and overbroad, if not a bit late in the evening, its preparation overseen by none other than Dan Eorl and Lady Cynthia, as well as Lady Ramona, the wife of Lou Thegn, with Marshall Skalk in the role of "head kitchen thrall". Afterwhich, the Hyrnboda called the folk together to the sound of his horn and High Symble began. In the usual fashion, three rounds were had by all, for our Gods, our ancestors and heroes, and finally beots and geilps of all kinds. With Yule being a season of gifting, our symble was filled with the exchange of gifts, and the bonds of frith were stronger for it, none outmatched by the coffers of our lord and lady, Dan Eorl and Lady Cynthia! The capbenc was full of the usual suspects, including Daniel Herros Flores and his Lady, Shelly, of the Oetheland Jutes, Lou Thane and his lady, Ramona, and Everett Dryhten and Yngona and the Hall adorned in traditional wares and tapestries.
During Symbel, Bob Sergens Hamlin did boast himself to be the master of the spear among the men of the Fyrhring. This boast was then quantified to consist of an open challenge for the term of one year. Should Bob fail to defend his title successfully, he will then subject himself to unspecified public humiliations at the hands of dryht. Many worthy gifts were exchanged, and powerful and worthy words were laid in the well, one gift of note was from a friend of Denise Skalk's, Joanna Ferrar, who is a concert violinist and prepared and played some traditional Scandinavian music for Lord Dan and his hall guests (she also plays a mean Irish fiddle). In the third round, Kendra Kelly, formerly Kendra Skalk did indeed place her head upon the knee of Conn Thain Hanson and arise as his ceorl under the bells of completing her embroidery project with all possible haste. Conn Thain did also sing in hall the spel of Dan Eorl and the Normannii, which he did himself compose in skaldic tradition of our ancestors. A guest in hall, Tanner Reed did sell himself into the service of the Reik being sold at auction to William Thain for 5 lucky pennies. But too soon the morning came, and dawn called us back to our beds!
Normannii held Thing on Sunday and issues of the Folk were discussed and mathel had. Notably, Jimmy Skalk was released from skalkdom at his request, citing freedom of conscience. Taylor Skalk was put on official notice that she had to be more attendant to her lord and duties to the Tribe, and Christina Skalk was declared runaway and released by Lou Thain. Dues were discussed, and changes are to come wherein the upper arrungs will bear a larger share of the financial burden as we come closer to our goal of realizing tribal lands. The skalks of the Reik gave exemplary service, most notably, Marshall and Joe Skalk in the organization of duties related to the kitchen, and Denise and Katie Skalk who facilitated keeping the freemen "free" to socialize and attend workshops. They were commended for their service.
This year marks the start of the Tenth anniversary of the founding of the Normannii Thiud aet Reik was toasted and yielped in hall numerous times, many of the Normannii being moved by the exponential growth from only three at the start, Thane, Ceorl, and thrall to the Reik as it stands now, a long-hundred folk! Normannii A On Ecnesse!
The Chapman's tables have expanded as much of the Theod Bookstore is now in Lord Dan's purse, as is a large supply of Normannii clothing items and amber. And, as always, this Yule was an enriching frithful weekend, wherein we strengthen the bonds of our tribe with our long- time folk, as well as fanned the fires of kinship with Normannii Folk new to the fold this year, and of course our guests and friends. A grand time was had by all!
We would all like to thank Ramona Sancio, whose shrewd maneuvering and persistence ensured another great year at the Vinton's site!
Godssward our Lord, and Godsspeed the Folk!
William Thain McNamara Wita
Michael Thain Sheriff