Sumble Basics...
(Sumbel, Samal, Symbel) Sumbel is the ritualized toasting that was a common custom among our ancestors and is now a mainstay of modern Asatru ritual and community.
A sumble may be held on it's own, or after a blot. It's the most frequent cerimony in Asatru in my experience, other than Daily Workings on the part of an individual.
Supplies Needed :-)
A group of tru friends or friendly aquaintances
A vessle(usually a drinking horn, but may be a large mug or something) Mead, Beer, Ale or drink of choice.
Everyone get comfortable in someone's living room, or outside around a campfire. The one leading the sumble brings a horn full of mead and introduces the first round to a God or Goddess. Anything said over the horn must be true, this is a time to maintain frith, and be true to the gods and goddesses, yourself, and kindred.
The horn is passed clockwise, and each person Hails a god or goddess, which may or may not be preceded with a personal story or other relevant information to the god or goddess they Hail, then take a drink(for people who don't wish to drink alcohol because they're designated drivers, pregnant, or just to keep a clear head it's customary to kiss the rim of the horn or perhaps pour out some mead on the ground, into a fire, etc.). Newbies, and oldies ;-) who may not be skilled at weaving words usually quickly learn who *is* skilled at weaving words, and so try not to end up in a position so they're speaking right after a skilled skald.
During the above round there may be some local ettiquite to observe....some kindreds would consider it highly rude and wrong to hail Loki, while others have no problem with this. Kindreds may also allow friends who may not be Asatru to attend thier sumbles, and these kindreds may vary on wether or not it would be considered rude to hail a god or goddess not of the Aesir or Vanir. When new and in doubt as to what local custums are, ask a kindred leader before the sumble, or keep it to the "respectable" aesir and vanir. And, almost everywhere, it is highly wrong to hail the Jotunar, as they are enemies of the gods.
Second Round: This is traditionally to "Ancestors and Heros" though the person leading sumble may announce a slight variation on that theme. I always have a hard time in this round(as my kindred members can attest) since I know very little of my ancestry. This round is the time to honor the dearly departed, an ancestor from however many generations back you may know. You can relate a story of heroism or strength of charachter demonstrated by one of your ancestors before you hail them at this time. As to "Heros" this can refer to heros of the lore, or modern day heroes. I've heard many hails to our fighting forces in the middle east, and to heroes associated with 9/11.
Third Round: Traditionally an Oath, a Boast or a Toast. If you make an oath, this is big time serious as it's an oath to the gods and so you must follow through with what you say you will do. A Boast would be a tale of something you have acomplished, or something you will acomplish. A toast would be to anyone you feel needs a good toast, or a toast to one of the Nine Noble Virtues, to the Hosts of the Sumble, or to the Mead and/or person who supplied some good homebrewed mead.
Additional rounds: Three is the traditional number, but sumbles may go up to as many as ten rounds and well into the night. These rounds may be open, or may have a particular theme assigned them by the host of the sumble. I've heard of Song rounds, Joke rounds, ghost story rounds, prediction rounds, and others.
- by Rachel Watkins
My Sumbels so far...
Aug. 2003 - The format above basically the same I have used in sumbles for the "generic pagan circle" my wife and I celebrate holidays with. As the token Asatruar, I have been introducing them to our ways and customs (I'll discuss that more elsewhere).
The exception being that we so far have skipped making oaths in the third round and use that one instead solely for free-form "toast whatever, whomever you wish and say something you are feeling related to the occasion". My experience so far has been that people like the first round and will invoke the name of a deity they hold dear for the occasion. Usually, we are each sharing some anecdotes, myths or facts about the deity we are introducing. Very educational since we are all teaching each other about our own traditions.
However, round two has always been the one where the deepest feelings are generated in this group. Many of them are not so accustomed to calling on and honoring an ancestor as many Asatruar are. Seems a lot of pent-up emotion comes out - in a good cathartic way. One fellow lost his father at a young age and barely knew him growing up. He toasted the man, expressing his love for him and afterwards told me he had a new inspiration to try to learn more about him.
Now, I have a problem with some of the people being very shy and I am not sure how to get around it yet. One suggestion that was made to me, which I have misgivings about was to make the passing random instead of clockwise so that only those who feel they have something to say actually hold the horn while the shy ones can just sit and listen. I am understanding of this with these friends, especially since it is not their tradition exactly but something they have adopted, but I suppose it is the classic public speaking dilemma. (I am tryiing to resist the temptation to make a "Toastmasters" joke)
I have yet to have anyone kiss the horn, but we have allowed people with colds or who can not drink for whater reason to have their own drinking vessels.
Probably the single best sumbel I have done so far is the one my family performed to honor my Grandfather.
