Found on Celtic Mythology HALLOWTIDE was a time when new fire was - TopicsExpress



          

Found on Celtic Mythology HALLOWTIDE was a time when new fire was brought into each house from the sacred bonfire, itself probably kindled from the need-fire by the friction of pieces of wood. In Northern Europe, the need-fire was stoked by breath blown through the hollow branch of elder. This preserved purity of the flame as a shining spirit born of wood and wind and such purity was necessary to a festival of beginnings. The putting away of the old fires was probably connected with various rites for the expulsion of evils, which usually occur among many peoples at the New Year festival. By that process of dislocation which scattered the Samhain ritual over a wider period and gave some of it to Christmas, the kindling of the Yule log may have been originally connected with this festival.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 03:04:34 +0000

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