The Wheel of the Year came full circle again, the waning of Sunna at her lowest stead came to the dark-moon, and the ancestral Mothers were called upon by the folk, the weekend of January 11th -13th when the Normannii gathered in the Shire of York to mark their 11th Annual Yuletide celebration. This year the tide culminated with the formal home-taking of Dan Eorl O'Halloran and Lady Cynthia, who completed the first phase of construction on their new home in Whitestone, New York; the construction of their first floor and Great Hall.
As usually the event was well attended, having near 50 Normans and their
guests; and as always, there was much merriment and feasting, and the weekend
was frithful and rejuvenating. All meals were catered and delivered on-site by
Zagat's five-star rated gourmet market, Durso's of New York City. The first
evening was given over to informal talks and socializing about the
newly constructed longhall- which was replete with tapestries and weohs, shields
and swords, giftstools and meadbenches. The fourth annual Friday night "Texas
Hold 'em" tournament was as usual, a rousing good time, and was won by Bob
Sergens Hamlin.
On Saturday, various discussion with the skalks and Hall-guests of the Reik, centered around the cultural mindset of our ancestors. Folks were given the opportunity to see the bluestone rock which will make up the horg and water-well, as well as the eternal flame which will be sitting under the Ve in the yard of Lord Normandy's new home. We were visited by the goodfolk of Var-Ting and Bob Schroeder and family were, as always, the best of guests.
As the sun set, our Matron, Lady Cynthia and Halijathygen, Kasidy Thygen
Lutz, 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 William
Thain McNamara 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 Wreath offering burned brightly. After the rite, Kasidy Thygen and
Col. Butch Lutz renewed their wedding vows before the Folk of the Tribe, and
Lord Dan blessed their marriage.
The Husel was grand and timely. Catered spectacularly by Durso's - it was filling and delicious. The potables flowed non-stop as a score of cases of brew lined the two car garage along with gallons of mead and other higher octane elixers. Beginning at record time, but carrying long into the night, the Normannii conducted High Symbel for the first time in the newly finished wooden Hall. 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 symbel 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 Lord and Lady Cynthia. A mynne toast was drunk to Richard Ruhle, a heathen from New York City who returned to his ancestors this year [Dan Lord conducted his secular funerary rites earlier in the year].
During Symbel...
Lou Thain Sancio was heighted to Ordthain.
Michael Freedman Gilmour swore his hold upon Dan Lord's knee, witnessed by his children Kelsie and Lauren, who stood by their father as he was heighted a Sergens, the highest of the Ceorlish martial arrungs. He was gifted a Boar-Spear and traditional Sword, blued at the blade and razor sharp.
Marshal Skalk was freed, and swore his hold to his lady, Kasidy Thygen, and took his place in her oathtree.
Conn Gneat Hanson did likewise speed his ceorl Kendra Gebur Kelly to the arrung of Kottaren, as she passed the Bar of New York State and became a practicing attorney.
Pogo Skalk Rickard, kith to John Fedtha Lasher did return from his long sojourn to attend to his Skalkdom and Lou Thegn paidover his manshot and took him as chattel.
Hall guests Elizabeth and Amanda of Massachusetts, and Conn Thegn's guest Morgan gave thanks for the hospitality of the Hall and were welcomed by the Folk.
Weal wishes to the folk of our fosterlings, Dan Heros Flores of OEtheland and Brian Gneat of Englen were likewise drunk to in Hall.
Normannii held Thing on Sunday and issues of the Folk were discussed and mathel had. Notably, JoAnna Skalk Ferrar was sold from Lou Thegn to Conn Thegn. Sites for Yule and Midsummer were discussed and plans for theHolytides were set forth. It was noted that the Chapman's tables have expanded as Lord Dan has concluded the purchasing of publishing rights to most of the Theod Bookstore with great thanks to Garman Lord. Since the contents are now in Lord Dan's purse, revisions and new editions will be forthcoming, and the supply of Normannii clothing items, bookstuffs, and amber continues to grow.
This Yule marked the close of the Tenth anniversary of the founding New Normandy was toasted and yielped in hall numerous times, another year of marked growth and accomplishments for the Folk.
Godssward our Lord, and Godsspeed the Folk!
William Thain
High Steward, Normannii Thiud Aet Reik
Sheriff, York Shire
www.normannii.org
Normannii A On Ecnesse!