archaic myths of the deep Galicia. FOOTPRINT
PAGAN
I have referred on a previous occasion the ancient myths of my native Galicia, that as a good pagan, I have not bothered to track and investigate as far as possible. I never doubted that last Castrexo (not Celtic!) Of my land, and the subsequent invasion Sueva and Goda, and the frequent visits of the Vikings, scored to some extent some enough myths prior to the imposition of Christianity and to acknowledge that footprint pagan is what I intend with this humble article, I hope at least make them think, as much as I thought.
1 - SOME "TRADES" VERY SPECIAL:
Of all is well known that there is only close to the rites of passage in the life of a community, to find traces of ancient, lost in time. In almost every civilized community, there is one or another form, the figure of the midwife (a Parteira in Galicia), in essence, a woman with good hand to attend births, but in some unusual rituals where you start see traces of the pagan past. A fairly common rite the former Galicia, was hiding a key under the pillow of the sufferer, to facilitate delivery, or bring a candle to the vagina "for birth or convex neno" (for baby to see the light.) strange customs without Clearly, more strange if we consider that these things (or something very similar) are recorded as far away as La Selva Negra and Iceland (which is linked to the key that carries the housewife, the power to "make way to a new life ") or in Sweden, where part of the ritual of childbirth, was to illuminate the way the child.
Now with our small arms, it happens that sometimes the child takes in speaking or walking more than usual, then the alarm jumping on young parents, because there is something strange that "binds" the progress of the child. In northern Portugal and Galicia, it was customary to take the child to a shipwright, or sometimes failing and in inland areas to a blacksmith using a simple rite, pound small obstacles. The rite consists in cutting a thread tied to the child's legs crushed with a hammer or a rock or animal bone, symbolizing and spray, the spell that makes the child walk. Identical rites were once again recorded in Iceland, as reported by a friend. Also in Celtic Ireland. And I note that it is precisely this magical power to bind and smithr smidirs (carpenters and blacksmiths) which makes me think of the magic pagan Nordic or Germanic origin. But the thing does not stop here, in parts, was taking the child to the presence of a "Cleric" (cure) or "Mestre (master), so that would break the lock that prevents the child from speaking. Many scholars believe that this is a translation of a pagan custom which gave the "scholars" of the clan and the magical power to grant the gift of a small word. Logic suggests that in the Middle Ages, priests and teachers only know how to write and therefore, were to become "deposit" of these ancient pagan rituals, which at one time have belonged to Godisa or perhaps the skalds.
Sometimes, the newborn is born with a rare gift, the ancient wisdom given to these children the gift of "manifest" even before birth, is what is called "falar no ventre da nai", a kind of perception of the mother of the exceptional qualities of the unborn, as if really "speak" from the depths of their own mothers. Such beliefs have been found in some mythic characters Sagas, announcing his powers to their mothers before delivery. In Sweden it was believed that Odin or Freyja could make a baby with hugrunir runes (which are transformed into scholars) or Sigrun, that gave them strength and fortitude, what will become future kings or great heroes. In GALCI and Asturias is believed that one who has spoken from his mother's womb will be a future "wise" or good "menciñeiro" (healer) or a good "fixer" (equipped for injuries of the bones). Another rare
connection is the figure of As Tres Marias, popular manifestation where it was strange, very Christianized since the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which already gives it to be missing from popular culture. Basically, this is a trio of women with a broad spectrum of action in the rites of passage in the life of a person. In the decline of myth, and highly Christianized, these three women assumed the name "Maria" and could be present at birth, funerals, and even in healing rituals. It is in the rites of birth, where I see more clearly the imprint of some old acquaintances, one of the three women, showed the child to grandparents or people honored the people (a link with tradition and the past), one of them This gave his father (present), and a third, was responsible for announcing that it had a new member in the community (opening the door to tomorrow at all). In the funeral rites, these three women also took on very specific roles, one of which was in charge of telling everyone all the good that was done late in life, the second to remind everyone that the situation were those who left, and the third, helping the community claim for the loss of the deceased. It's me .. or is that the three Marys, resembling a very suspicious to the three Norns guardians of destiny?. Urd, "what happened", the destination, Verdandi, "what happens now") and Skuld "what should happen, or needs to happen" Judge for yourselves .. And also not to return later on the funeral rites, is quite curious habit of cutting the hair and nails of the deceased, which could well be a simple procedure to "clean up" the dead to their last trip, but this does not explain the curious custom collection in the area Ourense, to hide the cracks in the wall of the house of the dead hair "because they veer cheer as the" burn and nails, apparently because the condemned spirits with long fingernails scratching the door of "blur" a kind of purgatory where souls await the trial that finally acquitted or convicted (here only the souls that were not bad enough for condemnation or as good to reach the paradise), what puzzles me is that, use the hair den for any use that the release from captivity, just as those facing the Norse Hel, therefore, they cut his hair and nails, that did not form the "boat bone comb" transported them to Asgard in the Ragnarok. In any case, the "blur" this guarded by a huge Urco, a beast that reminds us Cervero (or even the Garm of Hella), indicates that we have a pagan myth surely.
Also among the sailors survived until just curious rites, and thrown into the river or the sea, a fish alive at the end of each fishing. He said this tradition "promise", many old sailors told me that is an old promise of thanks "to you saints" (but not one which could tell me to!). Norse offered tributes to Ran and Aegir, that enabled them to fish without unleashing his fury. More or less so do the Finns to appease Athi, which becomes much like a god Aegir. Another custom is to offer wine to the sea or trying to cut the storms with a knife. I do not know if somewhere in the north, is usually something similar, but this kind of magical rites are always and died relatively recently. If I have collected that Sames offer "wine and bread" to "Sea Chase" (say that the Norse did not show any better appreciation of Ran), cruel goddess who only wanted to increase its cut of slaves at the bottom of the sea, just stopping by her husband Aegir!.
was also customary in the highlands of Galicia, left at crossroads parts of livestock died of disease, for food "lobernos you," or other dark entities that could attack hikers or people who needed to make the road traffic his office, walking around carrying a silver coin or a campaign to defend these creatures. This same curious rite was done in Sweden, where in winter, fallen stock was offered to the wolves, but always choose the pieces ill or malnourished, to prevent "vargmen" men-vermin, guide him to the farms to packs of wolves. There he used the rhythmic beating of shields or even the money to scare off the beasts. To these we now turn to more detail, there reason to link them to myths of Nordic origin, Germany or in the worst cases, Celtic mythology (the most influenced by connections with Central Europe), in the end, all these myths would drink from the same common origin.
2 - SUPERNATURAL CREATURES OF THE UNDERWORLD AND THE ASGARD?:
I have already referred on occasion to a supernatural manifestation that is rampant in the mountains and forests of Galicia, often associated and confused with the host or hostilla (linked the Holy Company), I refer to Bode. The host is supposed to be a procession of souls, not necessarily good, not necessarily Christian, and that's where this comes into play Bode, we suspect, is none other than Wotan, Gauden, or Bodet (the latter land abounds in Catalan!). As guessed, this is because of Odin and wild game, according to the description of it there is a man enormously high, covered with a layer that lets you see only one eye that shines like fire. Carries a spear and long beards, and is accompanied by a host of claims Yell hound dogs, and Jon in Scandinavian lands, with which, hunting human souls. Sometimes it is a woman (to call it somehow), a rotting corpse lady holding a sword or burning spear heads this army which then leads us to the myth of the goddess Helda, Hella, or Hollda, the sister of Loki prevailing in the underworld and sometimes mimics hunting Odin, just that she looks just totally corrupt souls and no possibility of redemption.
And speaking of supernatural hosts is a myth equally common in northern Spain, the long march of the "old army", a ghostly horde of warriors who walk in the woods sometimes carry, long chains tied unfortunate not stop moaning, others are limited to go to some place unknown or find another ghost army and wage a battle to the astonished eye of the beholder. Is the description of this army which brings us (especially in Galicia and Asturias) and the Nordic or perhaps Goths, a troop uneven appearance, with huge round shields, carrying axes and spears ... not fit at all with the organized Roman army, and even less with the Arab troops in later centuries ...
And speaking of ghostly dogs in Galicia are multiple representations of hell dogs such as "a pilgrim CADELA" a huge dog with glowing eyes and fire-breathing, or "black dog" or "can do Urco" dogs of the underworld, linked to the legend of the Garm of Hella. There is also a huge repertoire of animals like wolves and foxes impossible to kill with magic powers, also common in the accounts of Germanic mythology. From the aforementioned Loberno, an animal that looks like a wolf or fox with reddish fur and spots that feeds on human cadavers and has the gift of becoming human, the usual list of wolves with magical powers or directly, werewolves and the like, such as "a peeira two wolves", which is very similar to the legends of witches Sames dominated packs of wolves, or wolf gives Xenta "which could corresponds perfectly with the vargmen Nordic men-vermin. The list would be endless, and talk one on one of them would require an extensive report separately because the wolf is a sacred animal and totemic myths Galician, Asturian and Basque, and I think in most of Spain recorded other stories and myths are very similar to those of Galicia. Another footprint
very curious, is the figure of thunder or Nubeiro, which can range from a giant who lives in the clouds and lightning discharges its striking with his fist or mallet (a clear reference to Thor or !!!), I a sorcerer who has the power to create storms, in Christian times, the process was urinating near a fountain, which rose a huge column of dust that allows up to clouds, or directly, to establish a water hose "that ascends to heaven and rushes where the order wizard. Among the Danes there is a similar myth, only the witch poured water mixed with blood from an animal ... Perhaps as the urine is not Christian but a mockery of the old rite ... Because the only one able to stop these creatures was the cure, using the psalms of the missal, against spells of thunder, in a battle of religion against paganism.
very strange Another custom was to plant the first grain harvest of just where he planted his first cow dung, or play the small notes in the field, and where urine have, planted the first large grain ceremony. Apparently something similar was to be among the clans in Germany, may have something to do with fertility rituals. A sample of the livestock or children have been amply fed in winter with the gifts of the Mother Goddess, by That is where restore honor to the land where these gifts and began planting. Also, as in half Scandinavia, is usually left on earth, the last grain to be fed "to Xenta Miuda", ie the people of elves and fairies and other faerie creatures so common to the whole Norse mythology and Germans.
And speaking of these people faerie, you must clearly mention the magical creature Mouros Galician by definition, people of the ruins of forts and burial mounds (mamoas) that would be connecting with other people like faerie Thusers in Norway, Finland Maanväki, Pyslingar in Sweden, Hulda Islands Niflunger Faroe and in Germany. Underground villages linked to the ancestors and guardians of great treasures. Brown-skinned (as children of the same land) and pagan customs, and moral that so ambiguous that it sometimes helps to humans, others punished for offenses such as excessive curiosity, greed or laziness.
are also very curious references to Auréana, some entities that inhabit the sources. In essence, these lovely ladies who spend their time knitting and combing her long golden locks. In this particular, is very curious legend Ana Manana, which is that expected in a magical source that the release of his spell to reward you with riches. Many say that this is the Celtic goddess Dana, always offer to try the challenge to release a package with a bun or cheese, and says he has to keep it until the next night, and that under no circumstances even think about looking at the contents of the package. But in this legend, there's always a woman, wife of the farmer, who intrigued by the package that urges her husband not to touch, gets up at dawn and opened the package, eating a piece of cheese or bread.
When the farmer returned to the source, the Goddess is angry, then flipping the packet to the source water, a horse appears lame ... and the captive can not go on ... The same legend applies to the "three Mouras", only instead of the one bread, there three. The oldest mounts a horse and after thanking the farmer his past good deeds, is underway ... The second, also mounted and after thanking the who go there that night, it will ... only the third moura, young, almost a girl gets caught by one leg missing his horse, and denies any reward to the farmer. Once again, past, present and tomorrow, the three Norns, there are even versions of the legend say that these Mouras inhabit a source with "three pools (three wells) and the second of the Moura, goes to find her sister and cries to see that "the future" is still captive (fortunately for all).
I would also note the "Piag" wells or calendar entries into the bowels of the earth, where, as in the old myths of the north or Germans, all kinds of animals live. From giant who can not see sunlight without turning rocks (Trolls!!), A dwarf day and night engaged in creating weapons for anyone knows mysterious army, or more in the bowels, a huge worm or snake, so large when it awakens from its lethargy, shakes the earth move!.
These old myths have lived for millennia among the people of my land, and if I am not surprised to hear of "Serpa turtles" and "cans do inferno" should not be surprising to find similar myths in other parts of the pee. There is only .. to take time to find ... I've already begun!
PAGAN
I have referred on a previous occasion the ancient myths of my native Galicia, that as a good pagan, I have not bothered to track and investigate as far as possible. I never doubted that last Castrexo (not Celtic!) Of my land, and the subsequent invasion Sueva and Goda, and the frequent visits of the Vikings, scored to some extent some enough myths prior to the imposition of Christianity and to acknowledge that footprint pagan is what I intend with this humble article, I hope at least make them think, as much as I thought.
1 - SOME "TRADES" VERY SPECIAL:
Of all is well known that there is only close to the rites of passage in the life of a community, to find traces of ancient, lost in time. In almost every civilized community, there is one or another form, the figure of the midwife (a Parteira in Galicia), in essence, a woman with good hand to attend births, but in some unusual rituals where you start see traces of the pagan past. A fairly common rite the former Galicia, was hiding a key under the pillow of the sufferer, to facilitate delivery, or bring a candle to the vagina "for birth or convex neno" (for baby to see the light.) strange customs without Clearly, more strange if we consider that these things (or something very similar) are recorded as far away as La Selva Negra and Iceland (which is linked to the key that carries the housewife, the power to "make way to a new life ") or in Sweden, where part of the ritual of childbirth, was to illuminate the way the child.
Now with our small arms, it happens that sometimes the child takes in speaking or walking more than usual, then the alarm jumping on young parents, because there is something strange that "binds" the progress of the child. In northern Portugal and Galicia, it was customary to take the child to a shipwright, or sometimes failing and in inland areas to a blacksmith using a simple rite, pound small obstacles. The rite consists in cutting a thread tied to the child's legs crushed with a hammer or a rock or animal bone, symbolizing and spray, the spell that makes the child walk. Identical rites were once again recorded in Iceland, as reported by a friend. Also in Celtic Ireland. And I note that it is precisely this magical power to bind and smithr smidirs (carpenters and blacksmiths) which makes me think of the magic pagan Nordic or Germanic origin. But the thing does not stop here, in parts, was taking the child to the presence of a "Cleric" (cure) or "Mestre (master), so that would break the lock that prevents the child from speaking. Many scholars believe that this is a translation of a pagan custom which gave the "scholars" of the clan and the magical power to grant the gift of a small word. Logic suggests that in the Middle Ages, priests and teachers only know how to write and therefore, were to become "deposit" of these ancient pagan rituals, which at one time have belonged to Godisa or perhaps the skalds.
Sometimes, the newborn is born with a rare gift, the ancient wisdom given to these children the gift of "manifest" even before birth, is what is called "falar no ventre da nai", a kind of perception of the mother of the exceptional qualities of the unborn, as if really "speak" from the depths of their own mothers. Such beliefs have been found in some mythic characters Sagas, announcing his powers to their mothers before delivery. In Sweden it was believed that Odin or Freyja could make a baby with hugrunir runes (which are transformed into scholars) or Sigrun, that gave them strength and fortitude, what will become future kings or great heroes. In GALCI and Asturias is believed that one who has spoken from his mother's womb will be a future "wise" or good "menciñeiro" (healer) or a good "fixer" (equipped for injuries of the bones). Another rare
connection is the figure of As Tres Marias, popular manifestation where it was strange, very Christianized since the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which already gives it to be missing from popular culture. Basically, this is a trio of women with a broad spectrum of action in the rites of passage in the life of a person. In the decline of myth, and highly Christianized, these three women assumed the name "Maria" and could be present at birth, funerals, and even in healing rituals. It is in the rites of birth, where I see more clearly the imprint of some old acquaintances, one of the three women, showed the child to grandparents or people honored the people (a link with tradition and the past), one of them This gave his father (present), and a third, was responsible for announcing that it had a new member in the community (opening the door to tomorrow at all). In the funeral rites, these three women also took on very specific roles, one of which was in charge of telling everyone all the good that was done late in life, the second to remind everyone that the situation were those who left, and the third, helping the community claim for the loss of the deceased. It's me .. or is that the three Marys, resembling a very suspicious to the three Norns guardians of destiny?. Urd, "what happened", the destination, Verdandi, "what happens now") and Skuld "what should happen, or needs to happen" Judge for yourselves .. And also not to return later on the funeral rites, is quite curious habit of cutting the hair and nails of the deceased, which could well be a simple procedure to "clean up" the dead to their last trip, but this does not explain the curious custom collection in the area Ourense, to hide the cracks in the wall of the house of the dead hair "because they veer cheer as the" burn and nails, apparently because the condemned spirits with long fingernails scratching the door of "blur" a kind of purgatory where souls await the trial that finally acquitted or convicted (here only the souls that were not bad enough for condemnation or as good to reach the paradise), what puzzles me is that, use the hair den for any use that the release from captivity, just as those facing the Norse Hel, therefore, they cut his hair and nails, that did not form the "boat bone comb" transported them to Asgard in the Ragnarok. In any case, the "blur" this guarded by a huge Urco, a beast that reminds us Cervero (or even the Garm of Hella), indicates that we have a pagan myth surely.
Also among the sailors survived until just curious rites, and thrown into the river or the sea, a fish alive at the end of each fishing. He said this tradition "promise", many old sailors told me that is an old promise of thanks "to you saints" (but not one which could tell me to!). Norse offered tributes to Ran and Aegir, that enabled them to fish without unleashing his fury. More or less so do the Finns to appease Athi, which becomes much like a god Aegir. Another custom is to offer wine to the sea or trying to cut the storms with a knife. I do not know if somewhere in the north, is usually something similar, but this kind of magical rites are always and died relatively recently. If I have collected that Sames offer "wine and bread" to "Sea Chase" (say that the Norse did not show any better appreciation of Ran), cruel goddess who only wanted to increase its cut of slaves at the bottom of the sea, just stopping by her husband Aegir!.
was also customary in the highlands of Galicia, left at crossroads parts of livestock died of disease, for food "lobernos you," or other dark entities that could attack hikers or people who needed to make the road traffic his office, walking around carrying a silver coin or a campaign to defend these creatures. This same curious rite was done in Sweden, where in winter, fallen stock was offered to the wolves, but always choose the pieces ill or malnourished, to prevent "vargmen" men-vermin, guide him to the farms to packs of wolves. There he used the rhythmic beating of shields or even the money to scare off the beasts. To these we now turn to more detail, there reason to link them to myths of Nordic origin, Germany or in the worst cases, Celtic mythology (the most influenced by connections with Central Europe), in the end, all these myths would drink from the same common origin.
2 - SUPERNATURAL CREATURES OF THE UNDERWORLD AND THE ASGARD?:
I have already referred on occasion to a supernatural manifestation that is rampant in the mountains and forests of Galicia, often associated and confused with the host or hostilla (linked the Holy Company), I refer to Bode. The host is supposed to be a procession of souls, not necessarily good, not necessarily Christian, and that's where this comes into play Bode, we suspect, is none other than Wotan, Gauden, or Bodet (the latter land abounds in Catalan!). As guessed, this is because of Odin and wild game, according to the description of it there is a man enormously high, covered with a layer that lets you see only one eye that shines like fire. Carries a spear and long beards, and is accompanied by a host of claims Yell hound dogs, and Jon in Scandinavian lands, with which, hunting human souls. Sometimes it is a woman (to call it somehow), a rotting corpse lady holding a sword or burning spear heads this army which then leads us to the myth of the goddess Helda, Hella, or Hollda, the sister of Loki prevailing in the underworld and sometimes mimics hunting Odin, just that she looks just totally corrupt souls and no possibility of redemption.
And speaking of supernatural hosts is a myth equally common in northern Spain, the long march of the "old army", a ghostly horde of warriors who walk in the woods sometimes carry, long chains tied unfortunate not stop moaning, others are limited to go to some place unknown or find another ghost army and wage a battle to the astonished eye of the beholder. Is the description of this army which brings us (especially in Galicia and Asturias) and the Nordic or perhaps Goths, a troop uneven appearance, with huge round shields, carrying axes and spears ... not fit at all with the organized Roman army, and even less with the Arab troops in later centuries ...
And speaking of ghostly dogs in Galicia are multiple representations of hell dogs such as "a pilgrim CADELA" a huge dog with glowing eyes and fire-breathing, or "black dog" or "can do Urco" dogs of the underworld, linked to the legend of the Garm of Hella. There is also a huge repertoire of animals like wolves and foxes impossible to kill with magic powers, also common in the accounts of Germanic mythology. From the aforementioned Loberno, an animal that looks like a wolf or fox with reddish fur and spots that feeds on human cadavers and has the gift of becoming human, the usual list of wolves with magical powers or directly, werewolves and the like, such as "a peeira two wolves", which is very similar to the legends of witches Sames dominated packs of wolves, or wolf gives Xenta "which could corresponds perfectly with the vargmen Nordic men-vermin. The list would be endless, and talk one on one of them would require an extensive report separately because the wolf is a sacred animal and totemic myths Galician, Asturian and Basque, and I think in most of Spain recorded other stories and myths are very similar to those of Galicia. Another footprint
very curious, is the figure of thunder or Nubeiro, which can range from a giant who lives in the clouds and lightning discharges its striking with his fist or mallet (a clear reference to Thor or !!!), I a sorcerer who has the power to create storms, in Christian times, the process was urinating near a fountain, which rose a huge column of dust that allows up to clouds, or directly, to establish a water hose "that ascends to heaven and rushes where the order wizard. Among the Danes there is a similar myth, only the witch poured water mixed with blood from an animal ... Perhaps as the urine is not Christian but a mockery of the old rite ... Because the only one able to stop these creatures was the cure, using the psalms of the missal, against spells of thunder, in a battle of religion against paganism.
very strange Another custom was to plant the first grain harvest of just where he planted his first cow dung, or play the small notes in the field, and where urine have, planted the first large grain ceremony. Apparently something similar was to be among the clans in Germany, may have something to do with fertility rituals. A sample of the livestock or children have been amply fed in winter with the gifts of the Mother Goddess, by That is where restore honor to the land where these gifts and began planting. Also, as in half Scandinavia, is usually left on earth, the last grain to be fed "to Xenta Miuda", ie the people of elves and fairies and other faerie creatures so common to the whole Norse mythology and Germans.
And speaking of these people faerie, you must clearly mention the magical creature Mouros Galician by definition, people of the ruins of forts and burial mounds (mamoas) that would be connecting with other people like faerie Thusers in Norway, Finland Maanväki, Pyslingar in Sweden, Hulda Islands Niflunger Faroe and in Germany. Underground villages linked to the ancestors and guardians of great treasures. Brown-skinned (as children of the same land) and pagan customs, and moral that so ambiguous that it sometimes helps to humans, others punished for offenses such as excessive curiosity, greed or laziness.
are also very curious references to Auréana, some entities that inhabit the sources. In essence, these lovely ladies who spend their time knitting and combing her long golden locks. In this particular, is very curious legend Ana Manana, which is that expected in a magical source that the release of his spell to reward you with riches. Many say that this is the Celtic goddess Dana, always offer to try the challenge to release a package with a bun or cheese, and says he has to keep it until the next night, and that under no circumstances even think about looking at the contents of the package. But in this legend, there's always a woman, wife of the farmer, who intrigued by the package that urges her husband not to touch, gets up at dawn and opened the package, eating a piece of cheese or bread.
When the farmer returned to the source, the Goddess is angry, then flipping the packet to the source water, a horse appears lame ... and the captive can not go on ... The same legend applies to the "three Mouras", only instead of the one bread, there three. The oldest mounts a horse and after thanking the farmer his past good deeds, is underway ... The second, also mounted and after thanking the who go there that night, it will ... only the third moura, young, almost a girl gets caught by one leg missing his horse, and denies any reward to the farmer. Once again, past, present and tomorrow, the three Norns, there are even versions of the legend say that these Mouras inhabit a source with "three pools (three wells) and the second of the Moura, goes to find her sister and cries to see that "the future" is still captive (fortunately for all).
I would also note the "Piag" wells or calendar entries into the bowels of the earth, where, as in the old myths of the north or Germans, all kinds of animals live. From giant who can not see sunlight without turning rocks (Trolls!!), A dwarf day and night engaged in creating weapons for anyone knows mysterious army, or more in the bowels, a huge worm or snake, so large when it awakens from its lethargy, shakes the earth move!.
These old myths have lived for millennia among the people of my land, and if I am not surprised to hear of "Serpa turtles" and "cans do inferno" should not be surprising to find similar myths in other parts of the pee. There is only .. to take time to find ... I've already begun!
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