Tradition is Not the Worship of Ashes, but the Preservation of Fire
Teaching our children tradition helps give them a strong sense of identity. Tradition
serves as a reminder of where your family came from. It helps strengthen family bonds.
It helps build character. In a fast-paced and ever-changing world, it’s a comforting
sense of consistency. Family rituals also teach strong values. These are lifelong lessons
that our children will impart to their children, keeping the Folk-flame alive generation
after generation.
The Asatru Folk Assembly strives to keep alive the tradition of our ethnic European
faith. In bringing your children to events, you are sharing with your children another
aspect of your rich heritage. The rituals and blots your family experience at an event
can be then taken back home and worked into your own family’s traditions.
Sumbels are one of the most emotionally touching rituals that our Folk experience
during an AFA event. Bringing this into our own homes and teaching it to our children
helps impart the importance of our gods and goddesses into our daily life plus shows
our deep connection to our ancestors and our Folk.
For home Sumbels with the children, often apple juice or sparkling grape juice is used
instead of mead in the horn. Simply pour the juice into the horn, concentrating on
positive energy and what you’d like your children to take away from this ritual. An AFA
Sumbel is done in three rounds. The first is the god round. Have the child hold the horn
and hail whatever god or goddess they would like to. With little children, even having
them simply say, “Hail” is a good start. The second round is the ancestor round. Have
the child hold the horn and hail someone who has passed away. It is perfectly okay to
give them suggestions. Remember this is a learning and bonding time for your family,
so be relaxed and enjoy creating good memories from this. The third round is the
boasting and toasting round. Have the child hold the horn and hail, someone they love,
tell of something good they saw, or something they are thankful for. When this last
round is finished, you can have the last child finish drinking from the horn or take the
horn outside to pour out by a tree. Remember this is the family tradition you are
building, so it’s perfectly acceptable to customize any part of this to what works for
you.
Remember, we are our future ancestors! Build your traditions to last for generations to
come.
Hail the Gods!
Hail the Children!
Hail the Folk!
Hail the AFA!
Folkbuilder Sara Ault