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Post by firouz on Jul 5, 2009 23:15:13 GMT -5
I think May 1st is Real-Life Maeve's birthday, but who knows, she isn't the sharing type. *smirks*
And no, I do not dream of burning RL Maeve or Rumina at a stake. Actually, I thought that I could do that in a story. Maybe interesting, since, according to texts, condemning witchcraft had been around since ancient Egypt.
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Post by Sinbad on Jul 6, 2009 2:22:47 GMT -5
... the oldest of them being in 17th century. On that day fires are being lit (with "witches" on top of them that are being burnt) and people gather to have cookouts. Really nice night it is.  Really, that´s how you celebrate May 1?  Here it´s more like dance-into-the-May parties and then everyone has a day off on May 1 to go hiking. No burning stuff here. We just have Easter bonfires. |
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Post by Maeve on Jul 6, 2009 9:54:16 GMT -5
May 1st also happens to be the Beltane Fire Festival, a Celtic Pagan celebration that marks the blossoming of spring...Bonfires are usually lit because the smoke and flames are known to purify the land and the animals, assuring fertility and protection throughout the next year.
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Post by Sinbad on Jul 6, 2009 11:45:45 GMT -5
Oh, I didn´t know that. *has learnt something new* |
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Rongar
Second Mate
An expressive face reveals every happiness and woe...
Posts: 2,087
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Post by Rongar on Jul 6, 2009 11:51:22 GMT -5
I have learned of some of the Celtic/Pagan celebrations for one of my King Arthur fanfics on FF.Net. They had/have interesting beliefs! ;D
So, does that mean that in different parts of Germany you celebrate differently?
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Post by Sinbad on Jul 6, 2009 11:54:31 GMT -5
I think there are different customs and traditions in different parts of Germany, yes. There have always been a number of local customes (such as carnival which is mostly celebrated in the Rhine area) and then there are some customes of the eastern parts that the western parts don´t know and vice versa and some customs that are typical for the north or south.
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Post by Doubar on Jul 6, 2009 12:19:50 GMT -5
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Post by Sinbad on Jul 6, 2009 12:31:42 GMT -5
Heh, that looks like fun. ;D For some reason that reminds me that in the city I went to school, we have a witch tower.  |
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Post by Doubar on Jul 6, 2009 12:48:15 GMT -5
A witch tower? How comes? Oh, yeah, and it is fun. ;D But your parties sound funny as well.  |
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Post by Sinbad on Jul 6, 2009 12:53:53 GMT -5
Cause we had witch trials for about 100 years.
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Post by Doubar on Jul 6, 2009 13:06:42 GMT -5
Yeah, sounds logical. Whow. So which town had that been if I might ask (you can pm me if you feel more comfortable with it - after all this thread it public  )? |
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Post by Sinbad on Jul 6, 2009 13:10:55 GMT -5
I´ll send you a pm |
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Post by firouz on Jul 6, 2009 19:43:09 GMT -5
 You had witch trials? That was back in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. |
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Post by Sinbad on Jul 7, 2009 2:30:37 GMT -5
We did, yes. Ours were a bit earlier than in Salem though. There are sources reaching back between 1587 and 1697. I do not know whether there were also executions there, but people that were suspected to be witches (or sorcerers) were kept prison in a tower that was a part of the city wall.
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Post by firouz on Jul 7, 2009 2:47:50 GMT -5
Yeah, lock Maeve in the prison. And tie her up. |
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Here it´s more like dance-into-the-May parties and then everyone has a day off on May 1 to go hiking. No burning stuff here.
)?
You had witch trials?