Happy Beltane or Belltaine,- May 1st - Burn baby Burn - Dicso Inferno?

[Richbee]

Sir James George Frazer

The Beltane Fires

IN THE CENTRAL Highlands of Scotland bonfires, known as the Beltane fires, were formerly kindled with great ceremony on the first of May, and the traces of human sacrifices at them were particularly clear and unequivocal.

The custom of lighting the bonfires lasted in various places far into the eighteenth century, and the descriptions of the ceremony by writers of that period present such a curious and interesting picture of ancient heathendom surviving in our own country that I will reproduce them in the words of their authors. The fullest of the descriptions is the one bequeathed to us by John Ramsay, laird of Ochtertyre, near Crieff, the patron of Burns and the friend of Sir Walter Scott.

He says:

“But the most considerable of the Druidical festivals is that of Beltane, or May-day, which was lately observed in some parts of the Highlands with extraordinary ceremonies. … Like the other public worship of the Druids, the Beltane feast seems to have been performed on hills or eminences. They thought it degrading to him whose temple is the universe, to suppose that he would dwell in any house made with hands. Their sacrifices were therefore offered in the open air, frequently upon the tops of hills, where they were presented with the grandest views of nature, and were nearest the seat of warmth and order. And, according to tradition, such was the manner of celebrating this festival in the Highlands within the last hundred years. But since the decline of superstition, it has been celebrated by the people of each hamlet on some hill or rising ground around which their cattle were pasturing. Thither the young folks repaired in the morning, and cut a trench, on the summit of which a seat of turf was formed for the company. And in the middle a pile of wood or other fuel was placed, which of old they kindled with tein-eigin—i.e., forced-fire or need-fire. Although, for many years past, they have been contented with common fire, yet we shall now describe the process, because it will hereafter appear that recourse is still had to the tein-eigin upon extraordinary emergencies.

http://www.bartleby.com/196/pages/page617.html

© source where applicable

[Dee Dee Warren]

Beltane isn't May 1 is it?

[Richbee]

More: Sir Frazer writes:

"In the north-east of Scotland the Beltane fires were still kindled in the latter half of the eighteenth century; the herdsmen of several farms used to gather dry wood, kindle it, and dance three times “southways” about the burning pile. But in this region, according to a later authority, the Beltane fires were lit not on the first but on the second of May, Old Style. They were called bone-fires. The people believed that on that evening and night the witches were abroad and busy casting spells on cattle and stealing cows’ milk. To counteract their machinations, pieces of rowan-tree and woodbine, but especially of rowan-tree, were placed over the doors of the cow-houses, and fires were kindled by every farmer and cottar. Old thatch, straw, furze, or broom was piled in a heap and set on fire a little after sunset. While some of the bystanders kept tossing the blazing mass, others hoisted portions of it on pitchforks or poles and ran hither and thither, holding them as high as they could. Meantime the young people danced round the fire or ran through the smoke shouting,

“Fire! blaze and burn the witches; fire! fire! burn the witches.”

In some districts a large round cake of oat or barley meal was rolled through the ashes. When all the fuel was consumed, the people scattered the ashes far and wide, and till the night grew quite dark they continued to run through them, crying, “Fire! burn the witches.”

[Richbee]

Beltane isn't May 1 is it?

Bingo!

All good witches are busy with their bonfires and maybe some live human sacrifice???

Or, just burning a straw man?

[technomage]

Beltane isn't May 1 is it?

Sure is. However, Richbee's nonsense to the side, Wiccan Beltane celebrations have nothing to do with sacrifice. As a matter of fact, Frazier's book had far more to do with Frazier's willingness to accept any argument against religion, no matter how specious.

Justin

[Dee Dee Warren]

I thought it was Walpurgisnacht?

[Richbee]

Sure is. However, Richbee's nonsense to the side, Wiccan Beltane celebrations have nothing to do with sacrifice. As a matter of fact, Frazier's book had far more to do with Frazier's willingness to accept any argument against religion, no matter how specious.

Justin

Oh Justin.

Now, explain to us how Gardner founded Wicca on Frazer's book???

(Please note, this is the only so called objective foundation for some of these "holidays".)

Now, have fun, and don't get burned!!!

As a child, I greatly enjoyed building bonfires before Dartmouth college football games!!!

I even leaped over fires! And, I LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT!!!

[Richbee]

I thought it was Walpurgisnacht?

Wait.

A Bone-fire?

[technomage]

Nah ... that's April 30, Beltane Eve.

[Richbee]

More:

The Beltane fires seem to have been kindled also in Ireland, for Cormac, “or somebody in his name, says that belltaine, May-day, was so called from the ‘lucky fire,’ or the ‘two fires,’ which the druids of Erin used to make on that day with great incantations; and cattle, he adds, used to be brought to those fires, or to be driven between them, as a safeguard against the diseases of the year.” The custom of driving cattle through or between fires on May Day or the eve of May Day persisted in Ireland down to a time within living memory.

[Richbee]

I like my cattle medium rare!

With a Merlot from California!

Put another side of beef on the barbie!

Please, no human flesh for me!

Sir Frazer writes on:

The first of May is a great popular festival in the more midland and southern parts of Sweden. On the eve of the festival huge bonfires, which should be lighted by striking two flints together, blaze on all the hills and knolls. Every large hamlet has its own fire, round which the young people dance in a ring. The old folk notice whether the flames incline to the north or to the south. In the former case, the spring will be cold and backward; in the latter, it will be mild and genial.

In Bohemia, on the eve of May Day, young people kindle fires on hills and eminences, at crossways, and in pastures, and dance round them. They leap over the glowing embers or even through the flames. The ceremony is called “burning the witches.”

[Richbee]

I thought it was Walpurgisnacht?

Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn!

Burnin'!

To mass fires, yes! One hundred stories high
People gettin' loose y’all gettin' down on the roof - Do you hear?

(the folks are flaming) Folks were screamin' - out of control
It was so entertainin' - when the boogie started to explode
I heard somebody say

Burn baby burn! - Disco inferno!
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down
Burn baby burn! - Disco inferno!
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down

Burnin'!

(Disco Inferno Lyrics)











Tina Turner version:

Satisfaction came in a chain reaction
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self-destruct
The heat was on, rising to the top
Everybody is going strong, and that is when my spark got hot
I heard somebody say

(Burn baby burn) Disco Inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
(Burn baby burn) Disco Inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down

Up above my head
I hear music in the air
That makes me know
There's a party somewhere

(Just can't stop) When my spark gets hot
(Just can't stop) When my spark gets hot

[Richbee]

Seriously:

Please note the Truth:

Sir James Frazer

"....traces of human sacrifices at them were particularly clear and unequivocal."

© source where applicable

Any thoughts here?

Can History help us in this matter?

Quote:

And according to Julius Caesar (writing c. 15 March, 44 B. C. E.) De Bello Gallico 6.16):

All the people of Gaul are completely devoted to religion, and for this reason those who are greatly affected by diseases and in the dangers of battle either sacrifice human victims or vow to do so using the Druids as administrators to these sacrifices, since it is judged that unless for a man's life a man's life is given back, the will of the immortal gods cannot be placated. In public affairs they have instituted the same kind of sacrifice.

Others have effigies of great size interwoven with twigs, the limbs of which are filled up with living people which are set on fire from below, and the people are deprived of life surrounded by flames. It is judged that the punishment of those who participated in theft or brigandage or other crimes are more pleasing to the immortal gods; but when the supplies of this kind fail, they even go so low as to inflict punishment on the innocent.

(trans. Anne Lea, in Koch and Carey 1995. 22)

http://www.digitalmedievalist.com/faqs/sacrific.html

[Richbee]

Sir James George Frazer

The Beltane Fires

IN THE CENTRAL Highlands of Scotland bonfires, known as the Beltane fires, were formerly kindled with great ceremony on the first of May, and the traces of human sacrifices at them were particularly clear and unequivocal.

The custom of lighting the bonfires lasted in various places far into the eighteenth century, and the descriptions of the ceremony by writers of that period present such a curious and interesting picture of ancient heathendom surviving in our own country that I will reproduce them in the words of their authors. The fullest of the descriptions is the one bequeathed to us by John Ramsay, laird of Ochtertyre, near Crieff, the patron of Burns and the friend of Sir Walter Scott.

He says:

“But the most considerable of the Druidical festivals is that of Beltane, or May-day, which was lately observed in some parts of the Highlands with extraordinary ceremonies. … Like the other public worship of the Druids, the Beltane feast seems to have been performed on hills or eminences. They thought it degrading to him whose temple is the universe, to suppose that he would dwell in any house made with hands. Their sacrifices were therefore offered in the open air, frequently upon the tops of hills, where they were presented with the grandest views of nature, and were nearest the seat of warmth and order. And, according to tradition, such was the manner of celebrating this festival in the Highlands within the last hundred years. But since the decline of superstition, it has been celebrated by the people of each hamlet on some hill or rising ground around which their cattle were pasturing. Thither the young folks repaired in the morning, and cut a trench, on the summit of which a seat of turf was formed for the company. And in the middle a pile of wood or other fuel was placed, which of old they kindled with tein-eigin—i.e., forced-fire or need-fire. Although, for many years past, they have been contented with common fire, yet we shall now describe the process, because it will hereafter appear that recourse is still had to the tein-eigin upon extraordinary emergencies.

http://www.bartleby.com/196/pages/page617.html

© source where applicable

[Darth Executor]

Richbee, you must be gifted with the spirit of Farrell Till.