Votive Offerings Votive offerings are left at sacred sites in thanks for the blessings of the the Spirit of the site. "By universal account, spirit is attracted to colour and gaiety and may be influenced to assume its most benevolent aspect by ritual correctly performed" The Earth Spirit, John MIchell. In many celtic areas small strips of cloth ("rags" / "clooties") are attached to the vegetation surrounding a holy well after a prayer has been offered to the spirit of the well. Elsewhere a pin may be left as an offering. In some localities it is customary to leave an entire garment or other item - such as crutches - relevant to the part of the body needing cure. Animal equipment may be left where help for an animal is sought. Other kinds of votive offerings include rosaries, medals, crosses, religious icons and plaques. At some sites it is the tradition to follow a specific ritual. This may be as simple as walking around the shrine a certain number of times in a certain direction, or a complex as spending the night at a certain spot before or after performing specific rites.
Many pilgrims leave rag offerings at holy wells such as Madron, Glastonbury, Sancreed, La Bonne Fontaine and La Fontaine à devotion de la Fontenille and Courbefy. At shrines such as those at Mauriac and Orcival released prisoners have left rusted iron chains. At Rocamadour a model boat testifies to the safe deliverance of
mariners who invoke the black madonna in times of trouble at sea. At Quezac there is a large collection of discarded crutches and shoes left by the lame who have been
made to walk once more.
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