Ofrenda - Spanish for "offering".   Ofrendas are shrines built to remember and honor people who have passed. They are a way to keep the memory of that person alive through the annual tradition of remembering what they loved to do, eat, drink and look like. 

We will have a traditional Ofrenda set up on site for all to bring tokens to remember those that have passed.  Bring small tokens, mementos, or other items that bring honor and remembrance to those that have passed on to the Summerlands and place them upon our altar of remembrance.  At the end of the day, all offerings may be picked up, but if left they will be respectfully and ritually returned to the earth or fire, where appropriate.  

Some ideas for items to bring for the Ofrenda:

• Small photos or drawings (framed if possible)

• Stones or shells

• A snack your loved one cherished. (nuts, chocolate, snack cakes)

• A special drink like coffee or a shot of liquor. (example: My mother loved cold black coffee)

• A lock of hair, whiskers, fur, claw sheds/clippings

• A special toy 

• Flowers or herbs

We will have tea lights and false/joss paper money that can be burned in the evening. The key is to put something out that reminds you of them and/or they would appreciate to honor your loved ones. Humans, furry, and scaly friends are all beloved and welcome. This space will be treated with respect and love. 

For questions, please contact Heather Hrafnsdottir - hlrumpf@gmail.com

Memento Mori was an event that was supposed to happen in the fall of 2024 - the last weekend of September. Our MIC / Heavy Marshal for the event was Sir Roland.  He was enthusiastic about the event theme, and wrote an amazing fighting scenario - in fact, it's the scenario that all of our fighters will be fighting this year, the "Coin for Charon" challenge.  The Monday before the event, my phone rang with the awful news that Roland had passed. I will never forget having to call my co-autocrat, Heather,  and tell her that we'd lost this amazing, kind soul. Having to deliver the news to our staff, before the wider populace knew, and bearing the sorrow and hurt privately was heart wrenching.

And, of course, once it was known what had happened, devastation shook our staff, our Barony... our "Found Family".  Roland was always "one of us", even when he lived far away from the lands of Hawkwood. 

In his memory, we do this:

To the benefit of the Mercy Fund Animal Rescue there will be a small table with a display featuring photos of Sir Roland.  This table will be set up directly next to the Offrenda.  There will be a piggybank there and we ask that if you feel moved, please drop a few coins, a dollar, or whatever you wish into it.  Everything given will go directly to Mercy Fund to fund their T/N/R* program, which has altered over 175 cats this year, and 2710 altered since their program began. 

If you knew Roland, you know how much his kitties meant to him. We feel that this is the least we can do in his name, in remembrance of the love we have for him.

*T/N/R, or Trap/Neuter/Return is a way to keep feral cat colonies managed while maintaining their quality of life.  Feral cats are humanely trapped, spay/neutered, and their ears are "tipped", then they are released back to where they were trapped.  If you ever see a cat out in the wild missing an ear tip, you can be certain this is a feral cat that has been processed by one of these programs.