Calendar solstice

[Smoker]

klenke

 

thanks for splain'n that whole solstice thingy

cool read

[texplorer]

For the record, I was entertained by your post, Ade.

 

Buffy, The Druids are usually thought of when talking about the solstices, equinox, etc because of the incorrect views that they were the ancient people that built stonehenge and many of the other ancient stone monuments in brittain. In reality stonehenge and many of the other stone calenders were built long before the "druids" were around. Now as for our friend Dru, well he might be immortal or something.

[Dru]

True Tex, Druids were priests of the Celts and the megalith builders were pre-Celtic. But that does not mean that their religion might not have been similar.... And the Celts appear* to have incorporated the older religion's monuments into their belief system.

 

* Based on what little archeological evidence we have.

[sk]

Thank you Dru that is what I understand as well

[Greg_W]

Are there any Druid lumberjacks out there?

[Dru]

Yes they will not cut down Oak trees. Bloody conifers are fair game. Especially ones with dwarf mistletoe infestation. But they have to cut them down with a golden sickle, so it takes a long time!*

 

* This info courtesy of Asterix comics

[Greg_W]

I remembered that it was a specific tree. I forgot about the holly and golden sickle thing. I hear druid chics like to get naked in the forest; that's cool.

[sk]

All my info comes from the works of Marion Zimmer Bradley... and all my friends who belong to the SCA

Edited December 18, 2002 by Muffy_The_Wanker_Sprayer

[sk]

Ummmm greg they don't JUST get naked in the forest

 

ever heard of Beltaine?

[Dru]

I hate to tell you this, modern Druidism is totally made up. REAL druids put captives in large wicker figures and then burn them to death, sort of like Burning Man butwith your enemies instead of your material possessions. I dont think any of the modern pagan hippies ever sacrifice anyone. Too busy getting naked and dancing Sounds cool to me though. Id like them to try and convert me. But i bet the patchouli factor is too high.

[Greg_W]

'Splain Beltaine to me, I'm ignorant.

[Dru]

Isnt that the one where you have sex in the freshly plowed feild to make sure the crops are fertile?

[sk]

Given that modern druidism is made up... Beltaine is where everyone goes to a big bon fire party thing and can have sex with whom ever they want. I am sure there are more Ummm SPIRITUAL parts to it, but that is the idea tha stuck in my mind. I don't know anyone personaly who keeps true Beltaine.

 

Mists Of Avalon was a GREAT BOOK!!!!

[Greg_W]

Do people pay for such a service? I've been looking for a new line of work; does this have freelance potential?

[Dru]

I bet the pairing off is like at elementary school baseball games and the last two fat ugly Druids always end up stuck with each other after everone else has left the fire.

[Scott_J]

The Winter Solstice would be hard to find freshly plowed fields of soil, but I still think the sex part is GREAT. Summer Solstice, now that is a different story, but again the crops have been in for a few months in most areas by this time, but again sex is good, so I say goooooo at it like a rabbit in heat.

[iain]

hmmm sounds a bit dirty hippy-like to me, greg_w and sisu. dirty hippies, I hate 'em.

[sk]

I think Beltaine is the spring equanox.... hard to say though

[Scott_J]

Who you callin a hippie dirt bag?

[allthumbs]

I had sex with a hippie chick once. She stunk. just say no to hippie sex

[Mr._Natural]

There are numerous folk customs that have until recently taken place at this time of year throughout Britain, and which clearly show surviving traits of this ancient pagan festival. As far as we know, the last public Beltaine festival to be held on Arran was as late as 1895. The men of a certain townland made a need-fire (tein-eigen) and kept it burning with sacred faggots on Beltaine eve. Local people drove their herds through the fire.

[Dru]

The men of a certain townland made a need-fire (tein-eigen) and kept it burning with sacred faggots on Beltaine eve. Local people drove their herds through the fire.

I think they could have revived this process if they'd got some Anglican priests to run the FMD bonfires.

[allthumbs]

[texplorer]

Is that Trent Lot in the foreground of that pic trask?

[bobinc]

Apparently, the festival is supposed to happen on May Day. Running the livestock through the fire is intended to ward off disease or perhaps as just a sacrifice.

 

There was a pretty good Seattle band known as the Beltanes that played for a few years in the late 80s.