Ancient Gods and Modern Rituals: Marital Ritual Practise in the Community of Forn Sed Sweden from 1996 to 2009

Sammanfattning

This study examines the construction and performance of marital rites within the Modern Asatru movement, focusing on the Swedish Community of Forn Sed Sweden from 1996 to 2009. Using the newsletter Mimers Källa as the primary source, the study explores how rituals are shaped using Catherine Bell’s theories of ritual adaptivity and orthodoxy/orthopraxy. Findings reveal that these rituals are highly adaptive, allowing personalisation by participants while retaining core elements like invoking Norse deities, connecting with nature and ancestry, community participation and using sacred spaces and ceremonial sites. The research highlights the movement’s reconstructionist approach, linking contemporary practices with ancient traditions while embracing individualism.