Water
Water is essential to all life on earth and has always been regarded with great awe and reverence. Water in all it's different guises is revered in many ways: At holy wells and spas people come to seek healing, while rivers and wild water are often seen as guardians of the locality, and invoked in rituals The throwing of offerings into a river or well for luck is an ancient pagan custom, as is the practice of making a bargain over running water. Lovers "plighted their troth" by standing on opposite banks of a stream, dipping their fingers in the water, and clasping hands as they exchanged vows. In this way Robert Burns plighted his troth with Highland Mary. Some simply lick their thumbs and press them together saying "There's my vow, I'll ne'er beguile thee" or some such promise, while country people may spit on the palms before shaking hands to seal a bargain. The morning dew was considered especially potent, and young women still arise early on the morning of May Day to wash their faces in
the May Morning dew.
|
