Blot or Faining

[admin]

Just to get an idea of usage.

[HridgarMike]

Faining

[Shadowcat]

I'd have to say faining. Though, if the plans for our farm work out in the future, I very well may do blot since we'd end up slaughtering animals at some point for food anyway. I just wouldn't do it just for the sake of sacrifice.

[Jason]

Sumbel!

To be perfectly honest I don't really do either that often. Might raise a glass/horn from time to time to whomever I'm toasting but I'm a solitary with little experience with other heathens so I pretty much just do what feels right for me.

[Bathilde]

I don't consider a sumbel to be the same as a blot or faining. I consider it a different ritual that usually comes after the blot(or faining).

[Jason]

Oh I agree with you Bathilde, they are very different. All I was saying is that I don't really do too much "religious-wise". When I have it's been nothing much more than getting together with good friends and (inevitably involves) doing a little drinking.

[Bathilde]

ah, ok. Yea my lack of access to farm animal prevents me from bloting most of the time, hehe. All I did for Eostre was a sumbel.

[Gemyndig]

My understanding is that a Faining is a group rite more or less akin to Blot (ie with a Husel and Sumbel afterwards)only without animal slaughter. I've heard of Heathens using organic and local farm-killed meat for the Husel from a place they trust (and even some of the blood to sprinkle), if they don't have livestock of their own for a Blot (I don't think people should be slaughtering animals unless they're properly trained in it though - I certainly don't think it's essential for effective worship either really.) Using blood and meat from somewhere else like that though is likely correctly called a Faining though.

A solitary rite where mead or other liquid is offered is like a mini Sumbel maybe, but I tend to just call any sort of sacrifice, of whatever it is, an offering if I'm doing it on my own.

[schwarzesonne]

The difference in terms is a specific reference to whether or not a beast's blood is shed.

“faining” (OHG fagende; OE fægenung; ON förn) means “celebration” with the connotation of honouring someone.

“blot” (OHG bluostar; OE blót; ON blót) all bear the notion of a ritual slaughter followed by a sprinkling of blood and a communal feast.

[Bathilde]

I've seen some argue that non-blood blots are the actual blots and that blood isn't related to blot.