THE NEW SONG: Pray for the first time

Soda Fountain Rag - Pray for the first time by sodafountainrag

Rest in your arms tonight

The wind is cold and I forgot how to fight

Close the door then throw the key

I got food to keep me going in eternity

Stay inside

Stare out of the window

Run and hide from the cold eyes

Whisper low

No-one will come

Then you pray for the first time in years

Get lost, go on, be gone!

The thoughts you fear

The silence alone

Stretch your arms and legs out now

This was how they would be saved

A thousand years ago

Stay inside

Stare out of the window

Run and hide from the cold eyes

Whisper low

No-one will come

Then you pray for the first time

This is a song related to an old Nordic myth: From the night before the 13. of December and all through the Christmas holiday one had to be careful not to run into Åsgårdsreien (the Wild Hunt). This was a travelling group of witches and bad spirits, led by Guro Rysserova and Lussi. You were in big trouble if everything wasn’t ready for Christmas. If you were outside when Åsgårdsreien came, they would take your soul for a ride, and you would never be yourself again. A way to be saved was to lie down, and stretch your arms and legs out to shape a cross with your body.

Lussi and the saint Lucia has actually been mixed together to create the Nordic Lucia-celebration on the 13 (en artikkel på norsk). 

Here is the old photo of the kindergarden Lucia from 1987

Is it too sad if I say that this is one of the very great moments in my life?

Welhaven had some words to say about Åsgårdsreien also (maybe there's a translation somewhere out there?)

Lydt gjennem Luften i Natten farer

et Tog paa skummende sorte Heste.

I Stormgang drage de vilde Skarer.

de have kun Skyer til Fodefæste.

Det gaaer over Dal, over Vang og Hei,

gjennem Mulm og Veir; de endse det ei.

Vandreren kaster sig ræd paa Veien.

Hør hvilket Gny - det er Asgaardsreien!