Stonehenge 181
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Stonehenge

Midwinter, or midsummer?

FourWinds F
FourWinds Jun 23, 2005 15:18:26
Replying to The Eternal

Indeed it is and that still happens. This was one of the Lugnassa festivals. (Alledgedly) St Patrick visited during one of these festivals and spent the obligatory 40 days & 40 nights on the hilltop banishing serpents. As snakes never existed in Ireland it can only be assume that he (or one of the other monks that modged together and became Patrick) put an end to pagan practices on the hill.

The festival was originally only for women and childless women would sleep up there (presumably with Lugh who lived in the cairn.)

T The Eternal
The Eternal Jun 23, 2005 22:27:00
Replying to FourWinds

"Indeed it is and that still happens. This was one of the Lugnassa festivals. (Alledgedly) St Patrick visited during one of these festivals and spent the obligatory 40 days & 40 nights on the hilltop banishing serpents."

Suspected as much. Didn't know what time of year the hill pilgrimage was, but being so religious out West, it's hardly surprising it happened.

The Xtian religion has hijacked Pagan festivals and, worse still, built on Pagan (for Pagan read Neolithic and Bronze Age) sites, destroying many. Imagine what Avebury would look like today, but for the ignorance of Xtians in those times.

At least the R*mans treated our ancient sites with more respect, even though it was through fear of the native Gods.

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