Naming

"Naming" is an important ritual that establishes new child as part of kin and gives him his orlog and character. The essential form is very much like an adoption.

Sprinkling at Teutonic "baptism" was observed by Roman writers as early as 200 B.C.E., and was called ausa vatni (sprinkling with water) by the Norse. The practice is referenced in both the Eddas and Heimskringla.

During the nine days after the birth of the child, the child's soul is being formed, and wyrd is determining its health. On the ninth day after the birth, the naming rite is performed.

In the traditional form (illustrated below), the child is attached to the father's family. It would be a reasonable modern variation for child can be attached to both the mother's and father's families, by duplicating and mirroring the father's part.

A. The basic naming

Family, kin, and folk (if desired) are gathered.

1. Mother presents child to father.
2. Father accepts child as kin, names, and sprinkles with hallowed water.
   Father may speak words about the child's name; its meaning, its derivation or the ancestor who bore the name; may also speak words about the child's orlog.
3. Gifts are presented to child, preferably religious or symbolic.

B. Embellished naming

(See blot outline for more information on "structural" activities.)

1. Mark the beginning.

2. Hallow the space.

3. Set the stage.

a. Activity

• Inspirational reading - The First Lay of Helgi the Hunding-Slayer 1-8, Poetic Edda.

4. Invitation

a. Activity

• Invite the presence of the Norns and desired Aesir and Vanir.

b. Purpose

• To invite the Norns and Aesir & Vanir to bless the child.
• To begin contract for the child.

5. Presentation of the child

a. Activity

• Mother presents child to father.
• Father accepts child into kin, names, sprinkles with hallowed water, speaks words of child's name, orlog, and ancestors.
• Father presents child to gathered folk, gods and Norns.

b. Purpose

• To accept the child into kin and communal wyrd.
• To bless the child and establish its orlog.
• Sprinkling represents water from the Well of Wyrd.

6. Share drink.

a. Activity

• Toast child, gods or Norns.
• Pass around the horn.

b. Purpose

• To involve gathered folk, gods and Norns in blessing of the child.
• To offer hospitality to gathered.

7. Give the gift to the gods and Norns.

a. Activity

• Pour into bowl.

b. Purpose

• Begin the contract for the child.
• "A gift demands a gift."

8. Oath and Gift-giving to child.

a. Activity

• Mother and father give oaths to the child.
• Gifts are given to child, symbolic or religious.

b. Purpose

• Reinforces parental bond to the child.
• To enter contract, or establish relationship, with the child.

9. Spaeworking.

a. Activity

• Spaewife(s) bears a candle to child
• Spaeworking is conducted.

b. Purpose

• To present child to the "light" of Midgard
• To foresee child's future

10. Mark the closing.

11. Feast

Notes:

• The sprinkling tool of choice for a boy is a leek.
• When the offering is taken outside and poured onto the ground, at this time the godhi or parents may wish to plant the afterbirth, a tree, and/or place the child's bare feet in contact with the earth.
• If the child is named for a specific ancestor, a plate should be set for the ancestor at the feast, and placed with offerings of food.

Sources:

• Gundarsson, KveldulfR, ed. Our Troth. Ring of Troth, Seattle, 1993.
• Gundarsson, Kveldulf. Teutonic Religion. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN, 1993.
• Thorsson, Edred. Book of Troth. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN, 1992.

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To the Reeves Hall


Last Modified 6 November 1998


Comments to Manny Olds, oldsma@pobox.com