Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/06/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]That's a lot of Danish people, and looks like fun, Nathan! This reminds me of the ancient festival of Lughnasa which is still spottily celebrated in Ireland. You may have heard of "Dancing at Lughnasa" the Brian Friel play and film, but then again you may not have. Here's a link to the festival https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lughnasadh. It's based on a pagan harvest festival now christianised, and principally survives as a pilgrimage up and down Croagh Patrick mountain in Co. Mayo in the west of Ireland. Croagh Patrick is a wonderful mountain - next door to the US (a short 3,000 miles swim across the Atlantic) - with a fantastic view down into Clew bay with its 365 islands. One of these islands was bought by John Lennon of the Beatles who also apparently thought that the view was sublime, although his brain might have been a bit clouded at the time: it was the sixties after all. I organised a foot race up and down Croagh Patrick (locally known as the Reek) way back and met a storm of local protest. Amazingly, they thought that I'd be more or less disturbing the spirit of St. Patrick and the ancient god of darkness Crom Dubh. I got the one of the local priests - a fellow runner - on board, squashed the opposition, and we moved into the 20th century. Anyway, if anyone is visiting Ireland at any stage, it's worth a look. Douglas ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nathan Wajsman" <photo at frozenlight.eu> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>; "Olympus Camera Discussion" <olympus at thomasclausen.net> Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2015 6:18 AM Subject: [Leica] Nathan's PAD 23/6/2015: Skt. Hans Aften in my hometown >I have been in Denmark since the 20th. One of the nice things about being >here in late June is that I got to see the midsummer celebration. June 24 >is called Skt. Hans (St. John) and the evening before the tradition is to >light a big fire with a figure of a witch on top, to symbolize the evil >spirits and the darkness of winter being banished. In many places the witch >figure is being dispensed with in these politically correct times, but the >other traditions remain: the fire on the beach, the enjoyment of the long >evening (sunset is only at 10:11 p.m. that day, and it does not really dark >until after 11), a traditional song called ?Vi elsker vort land? (?We love >our country?), etc. So I took my bicycle and cycled the 3 km from my friend >Lars?s apartment to the beach to hear the mayor speak and to witness the >celebration. What follows is a mini essay. > > The crowds gather: > http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161693039&k=NznbGQk&lb=1&s=O > > Eating and drinking are a big part of the event, of course: > http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161693449&k=Ck2VsxM&lb=1&s=O > > A witch steals the soul of her son: > http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161693781&k=M4hrsDJ&lb=1&s=O > > The mayor of Aarhus has spoken, now is the time to light the fire: > http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161694984&k=jXjC8GB&lb=1&s=O > > Final preparations: > http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161695290&k=nBRmrnQ&lb=1&s=O > > Local children, evidently of immigrant background, get to do the honours: > http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161695594&k=98h7BFC&lb=1&s=O > > A few minutes later: > http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161695883&k=w4jWc49&lb=1&s=O > > And then I took my bicycle and went back to Lars: > http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161696193&k=vsvSd23&lb=1&s=O > > > Cheers, > Nathan > > Nathan Wajsman > Alicante, Spain > http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/> > http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu > PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws > <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ > <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/> > Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator > <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator> > YNWA > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information