The following ceremony notes are based on discussions at Thorshof gatherings and a debates at the Wycombe Moots. I have attempted to draw various ideas together and suggested a basic ceremonies which could easily be adapted for individual needs.
In the UK children do not have religious freedom until they reach the age of 18. We would strongly recommend that you check that you have the parents consent before formally bringing any minor into a religious group.
We have debated long and hard on the problem of at what year does a child 'come of age'? The options are puberty (which in modern Western society is clearly too young), sixteen, eighteen and twenty one. Concerns that have been raised are that youngsters of sixteen still show aspects of immature behaviour (we can say this without guilt because we were all lazy little gits at that age) and therefore should not be admitted as full adults. While the age of twenty one, when mature and considerate behaviour is normally evident, is too late for this ceremony to have much meaning.
We would therefor recommend that if you want to use coming of age ceremonies that you discuss this among your kindred and either agree an age at which any such ceremony should be performed, or make a decision for each child in turn. This example of the ceremony requires the kindred to agree that the child has become an adult, so it would be wise to discuss the child well in advance to ensure that there is no dissension.
This ceremony also strongly implies that the new adult is mature enough to lead a religious ceremony, this may be another matter for serious consideration.
Gifts presented should encourage the young adult's potential, either tools for their own interests or items of ceremonial use. We like the idea of giving unfinished, undecorated gifts which can be personalised by the individual as desired. Examples being ceremonial staffs, rune wands for divination or a drum for magical work. The ceremony can be performed at any time of the year, though the child's birthday is an obvious date to choose. This ceremony could also be worked into one of the seasonal celebrations.
If possible the mother and father should lead the ceremony, even if they are not followers of the Northern Tradition themselves. The religious blessings can be passed to other members of the kindred if desired. In some cases the child may not want their parents involved at all, in which case the parent's role can be taken over by senior members of the kindred.
Any coming of age ceremony should be tailored to the individual, the following diverse examples are adapted from a basic ceremony which is shown in bold type. If the applicant has a patron deity, that god or goddess should be the focus for the celebration.
In the following example, young Hilda is close to Frigg and deeply interested in costume and embroidery. It is assumed that the ceremony is being held as a separate event. Hilda is given the opportunity of adopting a new name among the kindred, she declines in this case.
PREPARATION:
An alter can be set up for Hilda's patron goddess Frigg with the blessing bowl and blessing twig. Frigg's special plants are flax, white orchids and the plants of the marshlands, one of these being used for the blessing would be very appropriate. A suitable beverage, wine perhaps, is required for drinking toasts and the blessings.
RITUAL
Father: Hallows the sacred area and calls the gods and goddesses to attend. A hammer hallowing can be used if desired.
Mother: Pours some wine into the horn. 'I call welcome to Frigg, far seeing goddess of the hall where the herons fly.' Takes sip and pours the rest into the blessing bowl, uses blessing twig to bless the circle.
Mother: Today we honour Hilda who has reached the age of sixteen summers. Come forward Hilda and stand before your friends and kin.
Father: 'By the laws of this land you are now of age, able to agree ties of marriage and bring forth new lives. But age does not mean wisdom. A man or woman never ceases to learn. Are you ready to prove that you are worthy of the burden of your years?'
Hilda: 'Yes.'
Father: 'Then answer my riddle:
In courtyard flagged with stone, two armies clash
Battlemaids in cloaks of red and white charge in anger
Valkyries lie fallen, the honoured dead
No nobler cause, than to defend their king
What famous battle do I see?'
(A hard riddle is more impressive, providing it is answered correctly, the father can slip a token to his daughter in the early part of the ceremony. In this case a small chess piece would give the answer.)
Hilda: 'You see a game of chess.'
Father: 'This child speaks well. Linda (this can be any respected member of kindred - same sex as the youngster if possible), would you accept her as a woman of this kindred?'
Linda: 'What worth do you bring to us?'
Hilda: (Lists her skills in sewing and needlepoint. If possible one or more examples of her work should be produced.) 'Do you all accept me as a woman of your kindred?'
All: 'Yes'
Mother: 'Now you are entering womanhood, do you wish to take a new name among our kindred?'
Hilda: No. I will keep the name you gave me.
Mother: (using blessing twig) 'May Frigg's blessing be with you, Hilda of Owl's Hall Kindred. Be strong, be whole and be wise. I give you this ancient symbol of a woman's might (either girdle hanger or keys to the house), wear it with pride.'
Father: 'The days of your childhood are gone, feast and be merry with your fellows but do not sit idly by while your friends and kin labour. Give us your pledge that you will endeavour to be a worthy woman of our kindred.'
Hilda: 'I will strive to be a worthy woman of this kindred. Frigg hear me and aid me.'
Mother: 'I acknowledge you as a woman of this household. I give you this gift as a token of my love (this can be any suitable gift).'
Father: I acknowledge you as a woman of this household. I give you this gift as a token of my love (again similar gift).
Linda: We acknowledge you as a woman of this kindred. We give you this gift as a token of our welcome (a kindred gift should be appropriate to the new woman's interests. In this case a sewing box filled with threads would be ideal).
Hilda: Thanks all the givers of gifts, hugs or clasps hands with everyone in turn.
Mother: Fills horn and passes to Hilda. 'I pass this ceremony to you to complete.'
Hilda: Raises horn to Frigg and speaks from her heart. Followed by horn passing. When horn returns to Hilda.she thanks gods and goddesses for their blessings and pours the remaining wine into the blessing bowl.
This second example is a coming of age ceremony for Kate, who is passionately interested in martial arts and traditional European sword fighting. Kate's parents do not follow the Northern Tradition but have agreed to perform the non-religious aspects of the ceremony. Linda and Erik are performing the blessings. Kate's patron is Thrud (Thors daughter and valkyrie), as Thrud is a relatively minor goddess the ceremony is focused around both Thor and Thrud.
PREPARATION:
An alter dedicated to Thor is set up with any items linked to Thrud. Representations of fire such as candles and incense should be included. For the blessing twig appropriate plants are oak, rowan and poppy stems. A blessing bowl is required and a suitable beverage, in this case ale, is required for drinking toasts and the blessings.
RITUAL
Erik: Performs hammer hallowing to mark the sacred space.
Linda: Pours some ale into the horn. 'I call welcome to Thrud, maid of power and daughter of thunder. Welcome also to Sif, golden goddess who knows what is to come.' Takes sip and pours the rest into the blessing bowl, uses blessing twig to bless the circle.
Mother: 'Today we honour Kate who has reached the age of sixteen summers. Come forward Kate and stand before your friends and kin.'
Father: 'By the laws of this land you are now of age, able to agree ties of marriage and bring forth new lives. But age does not mean wisdom. A man or woman never ceases to learn. Are you ready to prove that you are worthy of the burden of your years?'
Kate: 'Yes.'
Father: 'Then answer my riddle:
A shining lad dances, with sure quick steps.
Loud he laughs under leaden skies
Sunlight finds him silent, in sound slumber
Brightest child of deep dwelling dwarf-kind
Friend to the short ones, terror to the high ones
Tell who this glowing lad could be.'
Kate: That is Mjolnir.
Father: 'This child speaks well. Linda (this can be any respected member of kindred - same sex as the youngster if possible), would you accept her as a woman of this kindred?'
Linda: What worth do you bring to us?
Kate: (Describes her martial training and shows some moves) 'Do you all accept me as a woman of your kindred?'
All: Yes
Erik: 'Now you are entering womanhood, do you wish to take a new name among our kindred?'
Kate: 'Yes. I wish to be know as Thordis.'
Linda: (using blessing twig) 'May Thrud's blessing be with you, Thordis of Owl's Hall Kindred. Be strong, be whole and be wise. I give you this ancient symbol of a woman's might (either girdle hanger or keys to the house), wear it with pride.'
Erik: 'The days of your childhood are gone, feast and be merry with your fellows but do not sit idly by while your friends and kin labour. Give us your pledge that you will endeavour to be a worthy woman of our kindred.'
Thordis: 'I will strive to be a worthy woman of this kindred. Thrud hear me and aid me.
Mother: 'I acknowledge you as a woman of this household. I give you this gift as a token of my love (this can be any suitable gift).'
Father: 'I acknowledge you as a woman of this household. I give you this gift as a token of my love' (again similar gift).
Linda: 'We acknowledge you as a woman of this kindred. We give you this gift as a token of our welcome' (a kindred gift should be appropriate to the new woman's interests. In this case martial arts equipment or clothing would be ideal).
Thordis: Thanks all the givers of gifts, hugs or clasps hands with everyone in turn. (As in the child naming ceremony everyone should say her new name in recognition).
Mother: Fills horn and passes to Thordis. 'I pass this ceremony to you to complete.'
Thordis: Raises horn to Thrud and speaks from her heart. Followed by horn passing. When horn returns to Thordis, she thanks gods and goddesses for their blessings and pours the remaining ale into the blessing bowl.
Mark is very interested in heathenry but has yet to adopted a personal patron. He is very good with computers and has helped with the kindred website. Mark does not wish his parents to be involved in his coming of age ceremony and has asked the Erik and Linda to lead the ritual. He has asked that the ceremony be held on a hilltop that the kindred consider sacred.
PREPARATION:
An alter is made from a pile of stones or a sturdy piece of wood. No blessing bowl is required as offerings can be poured straight onto the altar.
RITUAL:
Erik: Hallows the sacred area and calls the gods and goddesses to attend. A hammer hallowing can be used if desired.
Linda: Pours some mead into the horn. 'I call welcome to the gods and goddesses, I call welcome to the alfar of this place.' Takes a sip, uses blessing twig to bless the circle from the horn and pours the rest into the altar.
Erik: Today we honour Mark who has reached the age of eighteen summers. Come forward Mark and stand before your friends and kin.
Erik: 'By the laws of this land you are now of age, able to agree ties of marriage and bring forth new lives. But age does not mean wisdom. A man or woman never ceases to learn. Are you ready to prove that you are worthy of the burden of your years?'
Mark: 'Yes.'
Erik: 'Then answer my riddle:
Bitten by the dragon I bear wounds this day
But in thirty days I will be whole
Wolves howl beyond my garth, I shiver
But the silver shield at my back gives me comfort.
I am friend and guide to the wanderer
Who treads a lonely road
Who am I?
Mark: 'You are the moon.'
Erik: 'This child speaks well. Henry (this can be any respected member of kindred - same sex as the youngster if possible), should we accept him as a man of this kindred?'
Henry: 'What worth do you bring to us?'
Mark: (Tells of his skills and if possible shows an example.) 'Do you all accept me as a man of your kindred?'
All: 'Yes'
Linda: 'Now you are entering manhood, do you wish to take a new name among our kindred?'
Mark: Yes. I wish to be known as Thorvald.
Linda: (using blessing twig) 'May the gods' and goddesses' blessing be with you, Thorvald of Owl's Hall Kindred. Be strong, be whole and be wise. I give you this ancient symbol of a man's might (pocketknife or silver armring), wear it with pride.'
Erik: 'The days of your childhood are gone, feast and be merry with your fellows but do not sit idly by while your friends and kin labour. Give us your pledge that you will endeavour to be a worthy man of our kindred.'
Thorvald: 'I will strive to be a worthy man of this kindred. Holy gods and goddesses hear me and aid me.'
Henry: We acknowledge you as a man of this kindred. We give you this gift as a token of our welcome (a kindred gift should be appropriate to the new man's interests. In this case a internet domain name would be ideal).
Thorvald: Thanks the kindred for their gifts, hugs or clasps hands with everyone in turn. As he has had adopted a new name everyone should greet him as 'Thorvald'.
Linda: Fills horn and passes to Thorvald. 'I pass this ceremony to you to complete.'
Thorvald: Raises horn to the gods, goddesses and alfar and speaks from his heart. Followed by horn passing. When horn returns to Thorvald he thanks gods and goddesses for their blessings and pours the remaining mead onto the altar.