Buckled in like little cosmonauts we made our way to the farm through the hills and mountains of Sussex County. I have always loved driving through there and seeing the rolling hills, woodlots and crop fields, doing so in winter is even better. As we pulled into the farm we saw Pat and the pig he raised for us waiting in the back of his truck, pleasantries were exchanged as always as my FIL took TBH and TBA for a little walk and took pictures of them on the tractor and Pat and I chatted it up. This pig was the largest one so far according to Pat and he was NOT kidding.
The time came to transfer the pig from one cage to another and usually pigs being the skittish things that they are can sometimes be akin to trying to herd a group of cats. This time was different, it was easy, simple even and definitely noticed. We started our way home and once there unloaded the pig and put him...we got a boar this time, first one ever and he was in fact, a biggun'... in the shed as we waited for the rest of the gang to arrive to assist in putting the roof and side panels on the tent.
Two weeks prior my dad, Lisa and FIL put up the frame of the tent that was purchased where the feast was going to be held as this year we had a lot more people, almost 40 in total, attending and we can not fit that many in the downstairs room of the house. The tent was not bad, 20' x 30' and somewhat octagon shaped. We had little trouble erecting the frame and even less attaching the side panels and roof. Once that was done we began to process of decorating the inside, setting up tables and the like and also hooking the heaters up because, well, winter...
The day moved on as overnite weekend guests trickled in Friday and we spent the day chatting it up as I also kept an eye on the pig, feeding him and just checking up his overall demeanor, normally when you would open the shed the pig would immediately scramble in the cage a bit, as if startled, this guy? Laying on his belly just hanging out, nothing seemed to bother him, at all.
And now for the part you came here for...
The weekend forecast predicted snow, no more than 1-2" and while I had mentioned Thursday it would be nice to have a little snow you do not want it accumulating on a tent. I awoke early to a snowy and VERY cold Saturday morning and started to prepare, except today was...different. I could not and still cannot place my finger on what it was but I was "off", I wish I knew why, maybe it will eventually come to me but I was feeling noticeably different and right up until blót time it was concerning. We had planned originally to hold blót around 11am but considering the weather and road conditions and everyone had not arrived we decided to hold off till around noon.
Once everyone arrived I went over with everyone what was going to take place and what roles people would have as we had about twelve new people attending that have never experienced actual blót before and we wanted to make sure they fully understood what was about to take place. I retired to the bedroom to collect my thoughts as they were still all over the place and going a thousand miles per hour and to wolf down a bagel since I had yet to eat.
We began by bringing the pig down to the grove and setting up prior to allowing everyone to join us and once that was done they made their way down. It was colder than predicted and the snow on the ground did make for a nice scene. Once everyone was in the grove the idols and knife were removed from their cloth and placed on the vè along with the blót bowl. I welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending and we began.
Jesse read the well known lines from Sigdrifumál:
Hail,
day!
Hail,
sons of day!
And
night and her daughter now!
Look
on us here
with
loving eyes,
That
waiting we victory win.
-
Hail
to the gods!
Ye
goddesses, hail,
And
all the generous earth!
Give
to us wisdom
and
goodly speech,
And
healing hands, life-long.
At that point I opened the door to the cage and laid some corn down to entice the pig out, he stepped out and began munching away. I mentioned earlier about the pigs demeanor, this was by far the calmest and most "well behaved" pig we have had which as I said was noticeable. I took Grandpa's .22 and knelt down as I began to position myself and every time I got centered he would turn his head as if he knew what was coming. I found it amusing and this went on for maybe 15-20 seconds tops as he finally kept his head straight ahead, I touched the shot off and down he went. At that point the flurry of activity to get the pig upon the altar ensued and it took a few to get him up and on it as not only was he was a large pig but he "fought."
Once upon the altar the cut was made and the blót bowls filled, one for the sprinkling of the guests and the other for the smearing of the vé, idols and godpoles. I again said the words I prepared as I sprinkled those gathered and Lisa followed behind with the horn wishing everyone Glad Yule. I actually remembered this time to mention to everyone to watch for omens and it is a good thing I did. I was told later on that once the pig was up on the altar the sun broke through the clouds and shone down on the grove for a brief moment before ducking back behind them. There were some who wished to have other items blooded and that was done and once we were finished most retired to the house while a few of us began to process the pig.
We got back to the shed and hung the pig, 110lbs dressed, as we then began to skin and quarter him for the feast. The fire in the pit was already going as we skinned him down to the neck and this time, unlike others we fully caped him and kept the hide and head attached all as one piece to be put into the grove. We took it down and laid it out inside the spot in the grove where the bones are laid along with the feet and spread it out, somewhat in the way a bearskin rug looks. It was later on, I cannot honestly remember if it was later that day or on Sunday that I was asked if I saw the buzzard. I was told that as we were in the grove laying out the hide a buzzard was noticed flying in, circling the grove a few times before flying off. We also had a repeat of the sun coming through the clouds for a moment as we laid the hide out before it ducked back behind the clouds, three good omens in my opinion, four if you count the extremely calm nature of the pig from the time we picked it up till the time blót took place.
At that point while everyone mingled and socialized both inside and out the pig was finally seasoned, wrapped in foil and placed on the flames around 2pm. I still could not get over how cold it was and thought we were nuts for having this outside, the heaters did help and people were dressed appropriately but you just knew it was gonna be a cold one. It even got a little windy and at one point a gust came and moved the tent a good 6-8", forcing my father to double stake all the legs...last thing we needed, right?
The time for feast was now upon us and the inside of the tent looked spectacular, the ancestor table set up with pictures and items people had brought as well as our Paul Borda Thor and Frey idols and the Odin plate. Lisa began bringing everyone inside as we always do, one at a time/couples as Jesse and Christine brought the water bowl and hand towels to them once they were seated so they could wash their hands. When the tent was full and everyone seated I welcomed everyone to the Yule feast and then Lisa, Christine and Jesse spoke their toasts to Odin, Thor and Frey respectively. I then finished with the invitation to the ancestors to come and join us at this feast and it was finally time to eat.
We had a good friend Mark from RKN brew our yule ale this year and it was fantastic as was the coffee stout he also brewed and brought with him. As usual the ale brewed for the feast is only drank at feast and then whatever is left over is libated in the grove. We originally intended to have the horn go around as dinner went on and whomever wished to speak could do so. It turns out everyone felt the need when the horn got to them and a wonderful round of toasts to the gods, ancestors, community, those gathered and the hosts ensued. I, well everyone really, will never forget the toast made by Rick from RKN to Lisa and I as hosts because as soon as he was done a rather robust gust of wind...one of the only ones and definitely the most noticeable...rattled the tent so it seems his toasts and our efforts were well received.
After the feast everyone made their way inside because not for nothing but it got cold, like in the teens cold. We laughed, continued to nibble and pick and drink as we told stories, mingled and just enjoyed the company of good friends. The night continued on as usual and the following morning was the post festivities breakfast and then the clean up began as the remaining guests departed for their long journeys home.
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