Please note this ceremony was specially written for Dragon and Thorskegga and was worded so it could be followed by their non-heathen friends and kin. However it is an astonding creation of Math Jones and a great source of inspiration for anyone planning their own wedding or handfasting.
The ceremony was held in the herb garden at Thorshof among the rampant midsummer marjoram and wormwood.
Ceremony for the Handfasting of Dragon Earthson and Thorskegga Thorn on 19th June 1999.
Written by Math Jones
Items required:
Hammer, drum, drinking horn, sword, distaff, keys, rings, an archway, cord, ale and mead.
The ceremony:
The folk are gathered. Dragon and his party take their place in the stead. A horn or dnun calls all to attend.
MATH: Hwaet!
('Speaks to the throng, a welcome and introduction, asking all to honour the rite.)
Folk of the gathering, you are well met!
This day we are here to work a Holy rite in a Holy stead at a Holy tide - to witness dear friends step into wedlock, become husband and wife.
I am no Priest. This is no church.
No power have I under Queen's Law to legalise a marriage
But folk there are here who own me as Godman,
foremost among them the two to be wed.
The honour they do me gives me the means to call on all that is Holy and to fasten their hands and their hearts into true and loving wedlock.
My name is Math, Loafward of Arnstede, father of Aesclin, husband of Hnossa,and I am Godman for this day.
I ask you to witness and honour this rite, to hear the words spoken by two AEthelingas, and to know the true intent to lasting partnership together of Dragon, and Thorskegga Thorn.
(A Drum is beat as all final checks are made, and the horn is prepared.)
MATH: (To the Folk: )
Before all else, we speak to the land to the ghosts and spirits of this place known to many as pixies, fairies, brownies, or elfs.
HNOSSA has filled a horn with ale and brings it to MATH. He hallows it and holds it aloft, speaking to the Alfar and Land-Wights.
MATH: My name is Math, David's son, Lesley's son,
Known and welcomed by the lady of this land!
To wood-elf and field-elf I call this greeting,
And bid you to welcome this gathered throng
HNOSSA (Takes the horn from MATH again, holds it aloft, and speaks to the wights also. )
My name is Hnossa, Tom's daughter, Iris' daughter, Known and welcomed by the lady of this land.
To wood-elf and field-elf I pour out this greeting, And bid you bless this holy rite.
HNOSSA pours out the ale to the wights of the stead.
MATH: (To the folk)
We call now on one, whom the ancients named Thunor, mighty Thunderer;
Red-Bearded Thor, whose token is the Hammer,
to keep our works from ill.
He takes up the Hammer and holds it aloft.
One there is, the Earth's bright boy,
Who rides the skies with rousing thunder,
Awakens the fields, and wards from the fiend
The hearths and halls of Heaven and earth.
Canny Thunder, keep this stead
And holy work from way of harm.
He swings the Hammer thrice:
Hailsa Holy Thunder!
(To the folk)
We call now on all the Powers that bring good into our lives' and which we name as Gods: Frigga, Freya, Ingi-Frey, Woden, Heimdall, Tiw and many more, to watch with us and join our feast.
HNOSSA: (Holding her arms aloft)
Throughout the Worlds, Thunder's kin,
The Gods of folk, the Gods of field,
Have held their troth with Heimdall's children
May all the Gods of earth and Heaven,
Great in their kindness, be greeted here,
With warm welcome and wide-spread arms,
To bring their blessings and broaden our gladness.
MATH: Hailsa Frigga, Hailsa Freyja, Hailsa Ingi-Frey, Hailsa Woden, Hailsa Heimdall, Hailsa Tiw, Hailsa to all the Aesir, the Asyniur, the Wanes, and the keepers of the dead!
HNOSSA: The wights have given us welcome and cheer.
The Gods in gladness gather to our call.
Kin and kind have come to this harrow
All that is right is ready to be done.
MATH: (Turning to Dragon)
Who stands as Groom to the Bride?
DRAGON:(Stepping forward)
I do, Dragon, son of Tony, son of Joan
MATH: Who do you send as head of the Dryht to ask for your bride and bring her safe?
DRAGON: I send David
HNOSSA, and any others nominated, walk to the house. HNOSSA enters, checks aIl is ready and brings out THORSKEGGA, THORUN and any others nominated. DAVID and his party are to see that THORSKEGGA and the procession reaches the stead safely, with no tripping or other ill omens. Together they process, to the beat of the drum, in as elaborate manner as wished, from the house to the harrow.
HNOSSA: The Bride is come, brought by the Drythen.
Let words be spoken her worth to tell!
MATH: I call on Thorun Freysdis to speak for her friend,
so that all may know the worth of this woman, her might and main, and to speak her words `neath Thunderer's gaze.
THORUN:Speaks fine and eloquent words extolling the deeds and virtues of THORSKEGGA. She may also speak of THORSKEGGA's finances, and of any gift or grant SKEGGA intends to bestow on DRAGON.
MATH: I call on David to speak for his friend, so that all may know the worthiness of this man to be wed to this woman, and to speak his words in Heimdall's hearing.
DAVID: Speaks likewise, fine and praiseworthy words about DRAGON. He also may speak of DRAGON's cash value, and of any similar promise of gold!
MATH: Words have been heard on the worth of this twain. To their kindred I speak: Shall you now take this other as one of your kindred, and give to this marriage your blessing?
With hope, the families of THORSKEGGA and DRAGON agree willingly and with gusto!
MATH: To the folk In elder days, it was custom for the Groom to pay to the family of the bride, a deal of silver and gold. In no sense was this to buy her as chattel or goods, but rather to recognise the worth of the woman, and her wealth-making gifts, and to honour the Luck and the Hamingja she brings from her heritage. In token of this, and to remember those who went before, and to honour the worth of her parents, our Groom will now pay to her father a Bride Price of golden honey, wrapped in golden chocolate, chosen in honour and love!
DRAGON bestows his gift upon his Father in Law, then returns to his place at the Harrow. (It was in fact three large gold bars of Toblerone!)
MATH: All is rightly bestowed. Be you ready to speak your oaths?
The oaths are sworn on their wedding rings, resting on the Hammer.
(A ritual hammer had to be specially made for the ceremony, and carved with a dragon so that both bride and groom could swear on their holy symbol, clever eh?)
DRAGON:My name is Dragon and this is my oath
Before this gathering, who I call on to witness,
That I do take this woman, whom I hold to be worthy in heart and mind,
To be my lady and wife;
To share with her in life and love
In health and wealth, in sorrow and sickness,
And with her I plight my troth
That I shall honour and love her
As best I may, as long as I may
So help me you Powers of Heaven and Earth!
SKEGGA: My name is Thorskegga Thorn and this is my oath
Before this gathering, who I call on to witness: That I do take this man, whom I hold to be worthy in heart and mind,
To be my lord and husband;
To share with him in life and love
In health and wealth, in sorrow and sickness; And with him I plight my troth
That I shall honour and love him
As best I may, as long as I may
So help me you Powers of Heaven and Earth!
DRAGON:I give you my sword in token of my might;
I give you my keys in token of my hearth;
And with this ring I seal our wedlock for as long as you do wish it.
SKEGGA: I give you my distaff in token of my wealth;
I give you my keys in token of my hearth;
And with this ring I seal our wedlock for as long as you do wish it.
As MATH speaks, HNOSSA winds a cord of gold lightly around the joined hands of DRAGON & THORSKEGGA. She pours a horn of mead.
MATH: Dragon and Thorskegga, in each other your troth is plighted.
Be you aware of the Wyrd you have woven
And measure your deeds, so should you together
Prosper in Luck, prosper in Frith,
And each be worthy of the others's best.
He is takes the horn of mead from HNOSSA holds it aloft:
Do we ask now from As and Van,
From Goddess and Dis, a gift for this twain:
That both should meet with bliss and gladness
On their faring together. May their fires be bright, Their harvest full, their homes well warded!
He pours out a blessing of mead upon them. They step through the arch together, and kiss. HNOSSA brings the mead to SKEGGA. She dnnks a draught, serves one to DRAGON, and then pours the remainder to the Gods.
(The arch was built out of basketweaver's hazel and decorated with bindweed, roses and representations of elves.)