On Saturday January 30th, 2021, the folk of Ondheim Theodish Fellowship gathered together at the Home of Lord William and Lady Diane. The event began with a demonstration on fire creation using ferrocerium rod and steel using char cloth led by Chris Thrall. The workshop was informative and went extremely well. Though they did not know it at the time, all of the households in attendance were gifted their own kits of ferrocerium, steel, and char cloth in sumble by Chris thrall and his rooftree. Then lunch was served with a hero sandwich, macaroni salad, potato salad, chicken salad, and snacks. All paired with a warm mulled mead kept hot all day in answer to the freezing temperatures.
The day was packed with events, including a workshop on nalbinding taught by Richard Thrall, who not only learned the craft, set up the workshop and taught it, but also crafted traditional wood needles to distribute to the folk to learn with. It really was a fascinating look into how hard our ancestors had to work to make their own cloth. Doing traditional crafts like this is a great way to feel connected to our past in a world where such traditions are lost in a consumer society.
The next event was a Mummer’s play, written, directed, and narrated by Richard Thrall, and many of the folk played parts. It was The Otter’s Ransom, a stylized retelling of the story of how gold gained the kenning “Otter’s ransom”, it was extremely well written and incredibly well performed by the folk. Truly a pleasure. These types of ritual dramas have become a tradition among our folk, and are a very good way to connect with the lore and worldview of our ancestors which is an integral part of our spiritual path.
Following the ritual, we moved back into the hall for feast. From baked ham (representing the sacrificial pig) to chicken and potatoes, to shepherd’s pie, the folk feasted until all were properly stuffed and the Ancestors and Gods plate was pied high with food to share with them. There was much merriment and celebration in the hall.
Noelle, who has been a friend and guest of the tribe many times at events and classes in the past few months also chose to forego her worth and sell into thralldom to hopefully earn her place among the folk, going for the rather inflated cost of three lucky pennies to William Lord. May she find the strength and perseverance to build her worth and earn her freedom… William Lord himself took a knee in hall, and before his Folk, as well as the Gods and Ancestors, reaffirmed his vows to his wife, Lady Diane and gave her a custom sterling key bearing the othala rune and the Ondheim Bear totem, the outward symbol of her place as the Lady of the tribe. It was a great day, and a worthy celebration of the Faith, Folk, and Families of the Ondheim Theodish Fellowship!
May the Gods see you…
