Here’s the ceremony as it was held. The pictures are inserted in sequence. You’ll find more under ‘Pictures’ in the menu.
Before we started the ceremony, we went to change our clothes, fix our hair etc. We hid in the bedroom while a couple of our friends kept my in-laws in the living room. After we had changed we put the props in their place. At the foot of the stairs, the end of the stone wall serves as a natural ‘table’ for the oath ring, the leather strap for ‘tying the knot’ and the drinking horn with mead. The mead bottle was laying in the grass. Our friends gathered the people around the tables. We walked down the garden stairs behind Sibylle. Each of us carried a statue and put it down on the grass, leaning against the stone wall. These statues represent three of the Norse deities.
Sibylle takes her place on the last step and faces the crowd. The couple takes their places two steps above and behind Sibylle.
Sibylle bids everyone welcome: “Good afternoon, and a heartfelt welcome to everyone present. Thank you all for coming and for making this a very special occasion. As guests at this celebration today, you will all bear witness to the handfasting of Linda and Jonny. I believe not everyone knows what a handfasting is?
A handfasting is a historical, traditional way of getting married. In our day, it is once again recognized by the law as a legal wedding. This means that after our ceremony here, Jonny and Linda will be husband and wife.
So to start off, I’d like to ask you all to find a good spot from which you can see and hear properly. Stand or sit down comfortably, take a couple of deep breaths, relax and become calm.” (short pause, breathing)
“Look around and notice the four elements at work:
- The earth on which we stand, the earth that nourishes us, that grows our food, the earth that nourishes every tree and blade of grass.
- The water that circulates through every tree and blade of grass, the water that keeps us alive, the water that flows through our veins as our lifeblood.
- The fire of the sun that makes life on this planet possible, the fire of the hearth that we cook on, and the fire of our bodies, our body warmth that makes us alive.
- And finally, the air we breathe, the air that is all around us and that provides us and all life with oxygen.”
(Raising hands): “I call upon the gods and the Powers That Be to sanctify this spot of land that we stand on. May there be peace on this land and its people, now and for ever!” Sibylle starts the ceremony:
“Hail Day, hail Day’s sons,
Hail Night and her daughter!
With blithe eyes look on us all,
And send to those standing here victory!
Hail Æsir, Hail Asynjur,
Hail bountiful Earth!
Words and wisdom grant us
And healing hands in life.”
(Sigrdrífumál verse 3-4)
Sibylle calls Jonny and Linda closer. “I now ask our couple, Linda and Jonny, to please step forward to be joined together by vows and the Gods’ blessing.” They walk around Sibylle so they stand in front of her, one on each side.
Sibylle takes out the oath ring (made from iron) and holds it in front of her. This is the thing by which the couple takes their oaths. Holding the ring in front of her with both hands, Sibylle says:
“Young you were once
And lonely you walked
Once you lost your path
Rich you thought you were
When another you met
For woman is the joy of man.”
(Hávamál verse 47, adapted version)
Sibylle: “I ask you first Linda, by Sjovn, Lovn and this ring. Will you have Jonny to be your man for as long as you shall live?”
Linda takes hold of the oath ring with her left hand. Linda: “I ask all present to witness that I, Linda, take this man, Jonny to be my husband and that I fully understand this solemn vow.”
Sibylle: “I ask you Jonny, by Sjovn, Lovn and this ring. Will you have Linda to be your woman for as long as you shall live?”
Jonny takes hold of the oath ring with his right hand. Jonny: “I ask all present to witness that I, Jonny, take this woman, Linda, to be my wife and that I fully understand this solemn vow.”
Sibylle:
“Welcome thou art, for long have I waited;
The welcoming kiss shalt thou win!
For two who love is the longed-for meeting
The greatest gladness of all.”
(Svipdagsmál verse 64)
When this is said, they will all still hold the oath ring.
The couple seals their vow with a kiss.
Sibylle takes the drinking horn and gives it to Jonny, who offers it to Linda. Linda drinks some mead and then Jonny.
Then Linda sacrifices some mead at the foot of the three statues, while still holding on to the ring.
The couple now join hands and Sibylle places the oath ring around their arms, just above the wrists. Sibylle takes the leather strap and ties it around their hands, saying: “As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. May the gods smile upon your union, and bless you with health, wealth, and abundance!”
Sibylle refills the drinking horn with mead and hands it back to the couple. They drink to each other while Sibylle says:
“Beer I give you,
Battlefield’s ruler,
With strength blended
And with much glory.
It is full of charmed verse
And runes of healing,
Of seemly spells
And of pleasing speech.”
(Sigrdrífumál verse 5)
Sibylle holds her hands over the couple’s “bound” hands and says a blessing: “By the Winds that bring change, by the Fire of love, by the Seas of fortune and the strength of the Earth do I bless this union. I wish you all the love and luck in the world, for you both, your unborn child, and any other children you might have!”
Sibylle: “I ask you now to sacrifice the remainder of the mead for your unborn baby. Linda and Jonny together pour the rest of the mead out at the foot of the statues, while Sibylle says: “May your child continue to grow in health, be born in joy, and then grow up loving and loved, and blessed by the Powers That Be.”
Linda and Jonny turn around to face the guests, and Sibylle says: “I am happy and honored to present you, Linda and Jonny, as husband and wife!
-In the name of the bride and groom, I’d like to thank all those present for witnessing their joining in matrimony.”
The couple leaves the ceremony circle before family and friends and announces the beginning of the feast. A small photo session is held, and then everyone gathers around the tables for the feast. The couple removes the strap by cutting it on the other side (not destroying the knot) and go inside to prepare the food.
