Re: Votive offerings | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Votive offerings

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nigelswift Sep 1, 2009 11:11:33

Replying to Littlestone

"Perhaps by leaving only small, natural objects that will degrade fairly quickly in the open would be one answer."

At most (he said, grumpily).
After all, it's a selfish self-promoting act masquerading as respect.
It says "look at me, I was here and really revere this place."

(Well leave it unblemished then yer git, like the rest of us!)

Jane Sep 1, 2009 11:43:43

Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:

After all, it's a selfish self-promoting act masquerading as respect.
It says "look at me, I was here and really revere this place."

(Well leave it unblemished then yer git, like the rest of us!)

I'm very strongly with you on this one, Mr Swift. We were at Long Meg in June. The non-biodegradable tat which had been lovingly suspended from a nearby tree beggared belief: a child's toy lorry, a heartshaped plastic crystal, a length of bailer twine, an old sock, a plastic spoon... What in the name of the Baby Jesus H Christ would move someone to tie a plastic spoon to a hawthorn tree?

The other thing that gets me is people leaving flowers at roadside 'shrines'. They always leave them wrapped in cellophane which looks a bloody disgrace. Grrr!!!!!!!

Littlestone Sep 1, 2009 12:46:27

Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:

"Perhaps by leaving only small, natural objects that will degrade fairly quickly in the open would be one answer."

At most (he said, grumpily).
After all, it's a selfish self-promoting act masquerading as respect.
It says "look at me, I was here and really revere this place."

(Well leave it unblemished then yer git, like the rest of us!)

:-)

Nah, squire, there's got to a be a compromise (at places like the Swallowhead at least). First time I went to the Swallowhead was nearly fifteen years ago; there were only a few woven hazel thingies hanging in the willow tree, and you'd easily miss those if you were just walking by - http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/img_small/54234.jpg By 2007 things were getting like this - http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/img_small/64706.jpg

People will always be going to the Swallowhead for various reasons and many will want to leave something there - it's just a matter of what, how much and respecting others who come afterwards.

Of course, there is one great spin-off from all the tat/offerings, it's two fingers up to the Church in general and the pope in particular - that can't be a bad thing ;-) http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/pope-warns-against-paganism/

Pilgrim Sep 4, 2009 22:32:54

Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:

At most (he said, grumpily).
After all, it's a selfish self-promoting act masquerading as respect.
It says "look at me, I was here and really revere this place"

Hmm.... it doesn't strike me as a reverent act;purely a purile self-aggrandizing gesture from mindless, self-centred idiots. It's all tat. if anything, it's the bloody nature that is corrupted by this stupidity. It's everywhere. Wage war on it wherever it is found.

Peace

Pilgrim