Preparation
The family makes all agreements and arrangements as to the nature of the fostering.
The child is prepared and dressed for the special occasion.
The rite begins with the birth-parents entering the dwelling of the Fóstri (“Foster-Father”) or Fóstra (“Foster-Mother”) with the child that is to be fostered. The latter will stand next to a seat in a special place within their home, awaiting the arrival of the child.
– Once the blood-family arrives, he states:
Nú vil eg bjóða þér fóstur ef þú vilt þiggja.
Now I will offer to foster you if you will accept.
-The family then agrees by stating the following:
Ek þigg viljanliga bæði þá virðingu ok nǫkkut
gótt sem þu gerir.
I willingly accept both that honor and any good
offer which you might make.
– Next, the fosterer sits down and has the child placed on his knee. Then he makes the following vow, holding up the sacred ring before the child:
Nefni ek í þat vætti
at ek vinn
eið at baugi, lǫgeið.
Hjálpi mér svá Freyr
ok Njǫrðr
ok inn almáttki Áss.
Ek skal láta honum/(henni)
ekki í mein
ok skal unna mikit.
Synir mínir/(Dœtr mínar)
skulu leiða hann/(hana) eptir sér
ok gera honum/(henni) allt til sóma.
I call to witness
that I now take
an oath on the ring, a lawful oath.
So help me Freyr
and Njǫrðr
and the Almighty Ás.
I shall suffer no harm
to come to him/her,
and shall love him very much.
My sons/daughters
shall take him about with them,
and do him honor in ever way.
( an excerpt from Æfinrúnar1: A Book of Sedian Rites and Prayers Bk. 1: The Reconstruction https://a.co/d/5EQ9RGQ )
Tools: Water, Bowl, Hlautteinn.
Preparation
- The family makes all agreements and arrangements as to the nature of the fostering.
- The child is prepared and dressed for the special occasion.
The rite begins with the birth-parents entering the dwelling of the Fóstri (“Foster-Father”) or Fóstra (“Foster-Mother”) with the child that is to be fostered. The latter will stand next to a seat in a special place within their home, awaiting the arrival of the child. Once the blood-family
arrives, he states:
Nú vil eg bjóða þér fóstur ef þú vilt þiggja.
Now I will offer to foster you if you will accept.
– The family then agrees by stating the following:
Ek þigg viljanliga bæði þá virðingu ok nǫkkut gótt sem þu gerir.
I willingly accept both that honor and any good
offer which you might make.
– Next, the fosterer sits down and has the child placed on his knee. Then he makes the following vow, holding up the sacred ring before the child:
Nefni ek í þat vætti
at ek vinn
eið at baugi, lǫgeið.
Hjálpi mér svá Freyr
ok Njǫrðr
ok inn almáttki Áss.
Ek skal láta honum/(henni)
ekki í mein
ok skal unna mikit.
Synir mínir/(Dœtr mínar)
skulu leiða hann/(hana) eptir sér
ok gera honum/(henni) allt til sóma.
I call to witness
that I now take
an oath on the ring, a lawful oath.
So help me Freyr
and Njǫrðr
and the Almighty Ás.
I shall suffer no harm
to come to him/her,
and shall love him very much.
My sons/daughters
shall take him about with them,
and do him honor in ever way.
– After this he sprinkles the child with water and declares:
Þat kann ek:
ef ek skal þegn ungan
verpa vatni á,
mun-at hann falla,
þótt hann í folk komi,
hnígr-a sá halr fyr hjǫrum.
This I know:
if I am to cast
water on a young þegn,
he shall not fall,
although he joins an army,
that warrior does not bend before blades.
– He gives the child a gift, then states:
Nú segi ek at þu ert knésetningr.
Now I declare that you art knésetningr.
A knee-set child had all the rights and privileges as a natural-born child and should be treated accordingly. The duties of the fóstri are to protect the child and help raise them, teaching them valuable skills to help them mature into successful adults. These skills have a wide range, from certain sports, to law, ritual, and so on.
The difference is that a fostered child is still a member of their original family, and will live with them accordingly. Today this would be the equivalent of being the child’s “God-Parent.”
Æfinrúnar2: A Book of Sedian Rites and Prayers Bk. 2: The Sacred Rites– https://a.co/d/8nqOU0W