I have been randomly opening a page out the 'Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures' book each night and reading whatever I find. My favourite this week is 'Dancing the Animals', a passage about the practice of wintertime guising rituals, most particularly, dancing in imitation of animals . . . but usually beasties with the ability to talk, knock on doors, pose riddles to those who answer and demand food, ale and other forms of remuneration. In other words, people imitating animals imitating people. One popular winter guising practice is apparently called 'The Mari Lywd' and was (is?) quite common in Wales.Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Bedsted Reading Topic: 'Dancing the Animals'
I have been randomly opening a page out the 'Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures' book each night and reading whatever I find. My favourite this week is 'Dancing the Animals', a passage about the practice of wintertime guising rituals, most particularly, dancing in imitation of animals . . . but usually beasties with the ability to talk, knock on doors, pose riddles to those who answer and demand food, ale and other forms of remuneration. In other words, people imitating animals imitating people. One popular winter guising practice is apparently called 'The Mari Lywd' and was (is?) quite common in Wales.