> >>Aunacharius or Aunaire, bishop of Auxerre (605): Zealous for discipline
> >>in his diocese, Aunacharius forbade Christians to use churches for
> >>dancing and to sing ribald songs. Nor were the people in his diocese to
> >>dress themselves up as stags or calves on New Year's day, or to make
> >>vows before "holy" bushes, trees and wells, or to practice sympathetic
> >>magic.
I am intrigued by the idea of making vows before "holy" bushes. I
recently published the following, with discussion, in _Folklore_ xix
(1998):
"At the consistory held on the first day of January 1630; present, the
minister, and Pierre Ollivier and Thomas Robert, elders - Guillome
Ollivier, Pierre Tourtel, Collas Mauger fils Thomas, James le Retillay
fils Michel, James le Retillay fils Collas, having the same day been
called before the consistory on account that on Sunday, returning from
the town in the evening, uttering hugely scandalous enormities, in
jeering at Collas Robert, fils Thomas Robert le grand who was in their
company, the said Ollivier saying that it was good weather to go about
in werewolfery [_en vouarouverie_], and the four others in a huddle
under a thorn bush, saying he was receiving their submission [_roüeffe_]
to go about this aforesaid damnable art; and they having denied having
said any such thing; whereupon three personages of sufficient proof
having been heard - who all three have reported that they truly said the
same words and committed the said insolences - all five on this account
are suspended from the eucharist until otherwise provided."
Does the List know of any practice - "roüeffe" even - connected with the
making of vows before "holy" bushes, as referred to by Aunacharius?
I am not seeking to show continuity, just looking for comparisons.
Please forgive the length of this message and the reference being as
late as 17C - I hope it's relevant and of interest all the same.
Best wishes
Darryl
*****************************************************
Dr D.M. Ogier
Island Archives Service
29 Victoria Road
St Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 1HU
British Isles.
*****************************************************
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|