 |
| Winter- acrylic on canvas |
The Thorrablót can happen any time in the next several weeks. In Iceland and Norway this is the coldest part of winter- no thaw yet in sight. Here in our valley we are also experiencing a cold spell, with snow predicted, so this is a good time for a King Winter Feast!
1. Gather family and make a toast
2. Have a pickle feast
3. Play Kubb
4. Help those with no homes
1. Gather family (on zoom) and make a toast:
We are having a family zoom gathering today, and I'm going to ask everyone to bring drinks so we can toast to King Winter.
All of Iceland celebrates the Thorrablót as a big feast, but those of the Ásatrú faith - the Neopagans of Iceland - practice it in a more ceremonial way, to show respect to nature and the spiritual and cultural traditions of the past.
An Ásatrú blót starts with a toast to the gods; the Ásatrú believe in the gods and spirits of the Nordic pantheon, and so they dedicate the Thorrablót to Thor, the god of Thunder, but might also toast any number of other gods and spirits: Skadhi, Sunna, the Jotuns, the Vanir, and others.
The beverage of choice for the Thorrablót toast is Brennivín (also called Black Death), drunk from a horn; but I will have vodka, drunk from a glass.
The essence of the toast is to ask the gods for protection, for strength to weather the winter, and that they allow winter to be brief.
My toast today:
May God protect us and keep us warm and dry.
May God provide shelter for those with no homes, and food for those who are hungry.
And may I find ways to help God with this task. Skål!
2. Have a pickle feast:
In the old days, this was a good time to use up the winter stores that were probably beginning to rot. Now Icelanders eat archaic "traditional" foods for Thorrablót that sound pretty horrible: Headcheese, rotten shark meat, dried horse, and worse sounding stuff.
Traditionally, the foods at a Thorrablót have all been preserved in some way- by pickling, salting, smoking, drying or fermenting- because traditionally nothing fresh was available in winter. The feast is accompanied with lots of drink, merrymaking, poetry readings, song, and dancing.
Foods in Iceland are strange to me at the best of times, and I will not be eating any rotten shark. Here are two Icelandic recipes that I found yummy.
Niðursoðnar Rauðrófur (Pickled Beets)
Because of the long winter, all kinds of pickled vegetables are essential.
Ingredients:
1- Scrub the beets well with a brush and cut off the ends. Place in a pot and fill with water until the beets are well covered. Cook until a fork can easily be pressed through, about 25 -30 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
2- Meanwhile, heat the vinegar and sugar just until the sugar dissolves.
3- When the beets have cooled enough to handle, peel off the skins and slice. Place into a jar with the vinegar and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Síldarsalat (Herring Salad)
Pickled herring is more popular in Iceland than smoked herring, but hard to find here. I settled for a can of smoked herring (a.k.a., kipper snacks).
This salad is surprisingly tasty, though not popular with my younger set.
Ingredients:
1- Cut the herring into small slices and place in a bowl.
2- Peel and cube the apple, and cube the beets. Add to the herring.
3- Add the mayonnaise and mix well.
3. Play Kubb:
This is a fun Viking game, still quite popular in Norway and Iceland. I made a Kubb set several years ago, and we play it from time to time.
Basically, you throw sticks at the blocks. Find out more about this game here.
4. Help those with no homes:
An Ásatrú blót starts with a toast to the gods; the Ásatrú believe in the gods and spirits of the Nordic pantheon, and so they dedicate the Thorrablót to Thor, the god of Thunder, but might also toast any number of other gods and spirits: Skadhi, Sunna, the Jotuns, the Vanir, and others.
The beverage of choice for the Thorrablót toast is Brennivín (also called Black Death), drunk from a horn; but I will have vodka, drunk from a glass.
The essence of the toast is to ask the gods for protection, for strength to weather the winter, and that they allow winter to be brief.
My toast today:
May God protect us and keep us warm and dry.
May God provide shelter for those with no homes, and food for those who are hungry.
And may I find ways to help God with this task. Skål!
2. Have a pickle feast:
In the old days, this was a good time to use up the winter stores that were probably beginning to rot. Now Icelanders eat archaic "traditional" foods for Thorrablót that sound pretty horrible: Headcheese, rotten shark meat, dried horse, and worse sounding stuff.
Traditionally, the foods at a Thorrablót have all been preserved in some way- by pickling, salting, smoking, drying or fermenting- because traditionally nothing fresh was available in winter. The feast is accompanied with lots of drink, merrymaking, poetry readings, song, and dancing.
Foods in Iceland are strange to me at the best of times, and I will not be eating any rotten shark. Here are two Icelandic recipes that I found yummy.
Niðursoðnar Rauðrófur (Pickled Beets)
Because of the long winter, all kinds of pickled vegetables are essential.
Ingredients:
1- Scrub the beets well with a brush and cut off the ends. Place in a pot and fill with water until the beets are well covered. Cook until a fork can easily be pressed through, about 25 -30 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
2- Meanwhile, heat the vinegar and sugar just until the sugar dissolves.
3- When the beets have cooled enough to handle, peel off the skins and slice. Place into a jar with the vinegar and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Síldarsalat (Herring Salad)
Pickled herring is more popular in Iceland than smoked herring, but hard to find here. I settled for a can of smoked herring (a.k.a., kipper snacks).
This salad is surprisingly tasty, though not popular with my younger set.
Ingredients:
- 1 can of kipper snacks
- 1 sweet apple
- 3-4 slices pickled beet
- 1/3 c. mayonnaise (or part sour cream)
2- Peel and cube the apple, and cube the beets. Add to the herring.
3- Add the mayonnaise and mix well.
3. Play Kubb:
 |
Team One, minus the camera person. |
Basically, you throw sticks at the blocks. Find out more about this game here.
 |
| Team Two surveys the field. |
 |
| Nice form for throwing. |
My heart has been with those in Turkey and Syria who are suffering after the deadly 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes struck on February 6. I made a donation to UNICEF this morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment