mugwump Posted June 19 Report Share Posted June 19 This week we experience a solstice, midsummer night... the longest day of the year, ushering in the beginning of summer. If the weather holds, some pagan rituals may be in order.What are your plans for the longestday of the year...*********************************Solstice [Fr. from L. solstitium; sol, the sun, and sto, to stand;] The time of year when the sun is at its greatest distance fromthe celestial equator. - Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary. The summer solstice occurs on June 21st. It is a time distinctive on anastrological level and also a time of year celebrated by ancient civilizations with their unique traditions to mark the summerseason. Nearly every religion of the world shows traces of astrological influence. The old Testament of the Jews, its writings by Egyptianculture, is a mass of astrological and astronomical allegories. Nearly all the mythology of Greece and Rome may be traced instar groups. The ancient systems of measuring the year were based upon the equinoxes and solstices. The summer solstice was celebrated when the sun reached its most northerly position. It is regarded as occurring in Cancer (the Crab). It is evident that the constellation of the Crab is represented by this particular creature because the sun, after passing through this house, precedes to work backwards, or descend the zodiacal arc. As for the history of the summer solstice, for centuries people in Europe celebrated springtime by lighting fires. These might have been fires kindled at hillsides to drive away witches and to help the sun with its task of warming the earth. On May Day the Celts, who had lived in Scotland and Ireland since ancient times, would make a fire out of gorse to burn out the witches. This was part of the Celtic fire festival called Beltane. Beltane means "Bright Fire." When the Celts decided to celebrate the solstice they simply extended their fire rituals to Midsummer Eve. In Sweden a Midsummer Tree was set up and decorated. The villagers danced around it, lit fires and jumped over them. On Midsummer Day it was also the custom for women and girls to bathe in a river. Long ago this bathing was considered magic for bringing the life-giving rain. In a river the water is always moving, always renewed.The sun, as supreme among the celestial bodies visible to the astronomers of antiquity, was assigned to the highest of the godsand became symbolic of the supreme authority of the Creator Himself.The Natchez Indians in the southern part of the U.S. worshipped the sun and believed their ruler was descended from him.Every summer they held a first fruits ceremony. No one was allowed to touch the ripe ears of corn in his own field until theceremony was finished. The Hopi Indians of Arizona would have masked men wearing bright paint and feathers who dancedtheir special rituals. They represented the dancing spirits of rain and fertility called Kachinas. The Kachinas were messengersbetween man and the gods. At Midsummer the Kachinas leave the Hopi villages to return to their homes in the mountains.While they are there, for half the year, they are believed to visit the dead underground and hold ceremonies for them. TheCatholic Church chose Midsummer for celebrating the birth of Saint John the Baptist and called it Saint John's Day. John was theforerunner of Jesus and baptized Him in the river Jordan. Jesus had once called him, "A burning and shining light." The Churchtold people that Midsummer fires should represent St. John instead of the sun, however the rites and their meaning for thepeople changed very little until recent times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crackorn Posted June 19 Report Share Posted June 19 I'll be thinking of you, mugz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogoamy Posted June 19 Report Share Posted June 19 Originally posted by Crackorn I'll be thinking of you, mugz Me too! Seriously though, what day is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highmay Posted June 19 Report Share Posted June 19 Originally posted by gogoamy Me too! Seriously though, what day is it? usually the 21st or 22nd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mugwump Posted June 19 Author Report Share Posted June 19 Friiiidayyyyy &Saaaturrrdaaaayyyy!Who's doing what on those days?I think I might be hitting up Centro on Fridayand Mermaid parade Saturday..How bout You?Anyone a pagan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeg Posted June 19 Report Share Posted June 19 Shelter on friday:TraceJohn BPish PoshReid SpeedBaileymore...maybe DD on sat... @ vinyl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr0ne Posted June 20 Report Share Posted June 20 Originally posted by mugwump This week we experience a solstice, midsummer night... the longest day of the year, ushering in the beginning of summer. If the weather holds, some pagan rituals may be in order.What are your plans for the longestday of the year...*********************************Solstice [Fr. from L. solstitium; sol, the sun, and sto, to stand;] The time of year when the sun is at its greatest distance fromthe celestial equator. - Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary. The summer solstice occurs on June 21st. It is a time distinctive on anastrological level and also a time of year celebrated by ancient civilizations with their unique traditions to mark the summerseason. Nearly every religion of the world shows traces of astrological influence. The old Testament of the Jews, its writings by Egyptianculture, is a mass of astrological and astronomical allegories. Nearly all the mythology of Greece and Rome may be traced instar groups. The ancient systems of measuring the year were based upon the equinoxes and solstices. The summer solstice was celebrated when the sun reached its most northerly position. It is regarded as occurring in Cancer (the Crab). It is evident that the constellation of the Crab is represented by this particular creature because the sun, after passing through this house, precedes to work backwards, or descend the zodiacal arc. As for the history of the summer solstice, for centuries people in Europe celebrated springtime by lighting fires. These might have been fires kindled at hillsides to drive away witches and to help the sun with its task of warming the earth. On May Day the Celts, who had lived in Scotland and Ireland since ancient times, would make a fire out of gorse to burn out the witches. This was part of the Celtic fire festival called Beltane. Beltane means "Bright Fire." When the Celts decided to celebrate the solstice they simply extended their fire rituals to Midsummer Eve. In Sweden a Midsummer Tree was set up and decorated. The villagers danced around it, lit fires and jumped over them. On Midsummer Day it was also the custom for women and girls to bathe in a river. Long ago this bathing was considered magic for bringing the life-giving rain. In a river the water is always moving, always renewed.The sun, as supreme among the celestial bodies visible to the astronomers of antiquity, was assigned to the highest of the godsand became symbolic of the supreme authority of the Creator Himself.The Natchez Indians in the southern part of the U.S. worshipped the sun and believed their ruler was descended from him.Every summer they held a first fruits ceremony. No one was allowed to touch the ripe ears of corn in his own field until theceremony was finished. The Hopi Indians of Arizona would have masked men wearing bright paint and feathers who dancedtheir special rituals. They represented the dancing spirits of rain and fertility called Kachinas. The Kachinas were messengersbetween man and the gods. At Midsummer the Kachinas leave the Hopi villages to return to their homes in the mountains.While they are there, for half the year, they are believed to visit the dead underground and hold ceremonies for them. TheCatholic Church chose Midsummer for celebrating the birth of Saint John the Baptist and called it Saint John's Day. John was theforerunner of Jesus and baptized Him in the river Jordan. Jesus had once called him, "A burning and shining light." The Churchtold people that Midsummer fires should represent St. John instead of the sun, however the rites and their meaning for thepeople changed very little until recent times. shut tf up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr0ne Posted June 20 Report Share Posted June 20 Originally posted by joeg Shelter on friday:TraceJohn BPish PoshReid SpeedBaileymore...maybe DD on sat... @ vinyl. dost thou shite me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wideskies Posted June 20 Report Share Posted June 20 i'll be burning a candle and thinking things over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeg Posted June 20 Report Share Posted June 20 Originally posted by dr0ne dost thou shite me? nope, theres actually more to that lineup... but I can't find the flyer... maybe goldie? or maybe thats another night...damnit, where did that flyer go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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