So, I cheated and went to the end (almost end) of the book. I read "The Golden Bough page 812-823. What I took away the following observations from this chapter of the book.
1. Apparently the Golden Bough is a mistletoe. It goes on to explain the different myths and legends of mistletoe from different countries around the world. I would have to write for hours showing all the different myths of mistletoe, but here are the seemingly most commen thought on it:
- it cannot touch the ground
- it is hung over doors to prevent the ingress of witches
- it gets the name Golden Bough from having a fire like or golden rays/color, especially during the midsummer season
- it is sometime compared to the mythical fern-seed for it's golden like glow too
Oddly enough, there is not a single mention of a myth or ledgend that we most commonly associate the mistletoe with....kissing under the mistletoe during X-mas. Huh?
2. This section also seems to be talking about the myth or ledgends of rainbows. I liked the wording of this.
"on St. John;s Day fern-seed blooms with golden blossoms that gleam life fire". Now it is a property of this mythical fern-seed that whoever has it, or will ascend a mountain holding it in his hand on Midsummer Eve, will discover a vein of gold or will see the treasures of the earth shining with a bluish flame. (Frazer 816)
Sunday of the following year; then they strew the seed on the ground where they think a treasure is concealed. Tyronlese peasants imagine that hidden treasures can be seen glowing like flame on Midsummer Eve, and that the fern-seed, gathered at this mystic season, with the usual precautions, will help to bring the buried gold to the surface. (Frazer 816-817)
No comments:
Post a Comment