Fortune-telling
17
Vala or Völubein
A vala is a small bone from a sheep. It was popular as a
toy, but people also used it to look into the future. The
vala has mysterious qualities and it is a fortune-teller.
You have to keep it in a safe place so you won’t lose it.
People often had some kind of small box to keep it in.
Such a box was called a völuskrín. If you want the vala
to predict your future you should kneel on the floor,
put the vala on your head, close your eyes and think of
a ‘yes or no’ question. Then you must recite these words
without giggling or laughing.
fortune-telling
Segðu mér spákona mín,
það sem ég spyr þig að.
Með gullinu skal ég gleðja þig
og silfrinu seðja þig
Ef þú segir mér satt.
En í eldinum brenna þig
og keytunni kæfa þig
ef þú segir mér ósatt.
Tell me my fortune-teller,
What I’d like to know
I’ll give you gold to gladden you
And silver to fatten you
If you tell me the truth.
But I will throw you to the flames
And drown you in waste
If you tell me only lies.
