To bless skates before taking them onto ice – which is especially important if you are skating on a body of water rather than a skating rink – break a branch of evergreen and tie it with snow-white yarn to the blades of the skates. Touch them with cold water, and say:

Bone-Skater, bless my blades and bear me

Safe and swift across the glass,

Keep the winter water from me,

Let no crack come looking for me,

Give me grace and forgive my falls.

Hail Ullr, may you hear my call.

Hang them up outside for a night and a day, then untie the evergreen branch and tie it over your door. Skate in good health, and be safe.