Balder the Beautiful, Volume I. - A Study in Magic and Religion: the Golden Bough, Part VII., The - Fire-Festivals of Europe and the Doctrine of the External Soul by Sir James George Frazer
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page 20 of 523 (03%)
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nineteenth century, 323 _sq._; bewitched animals sometimes buried alive
instead of being burned, 324-326; calves killed and buried to save the rest of the herd, 326 _sq_. CHAPTER V.--THE INTERPRETATION OF THE FIRE-FESTIVALS, Pp. 328-346 § 1. _On the Fire-festivals in general_ pp. 328-331.--General resemblance of the fire-festivals to each other, 328 _sq._; two explanations of the festivals suggested, one by W. Mannhardt that they are sun-charms, the other by Dr. E. Westermarck that they are purificatory, 329 _sq._; the two explanations perhaps not mutually exclusive, 330 _sq._ § 2. _The Solar Theory of the Fire-festivals_, pp. 331-341.--Theory that the fire-festivals are charms to ensure a supply of sunshine, 331; coincidence of two of the festivals with the solstices, 331 _sq._; attempt of the Bushmen to warm up the fire of Sirius in midwinter by kindling sticks, 332 _sq._; the burning wheels and discs of the fire-festivals may be direct imitations of the sun, 334; the wheel which is sometimes used to kindle the fire by friction may also be an imitation of the sun, 334-336; the influence which the bonfires are supposed to exert on the weather and vegetation may be thought to be due to an increase of solar heat produced by the fires, 336-338; the effect which the bonfires are supposed to have in fertilizing cattle and women may also be attributed to an increase of solar heat produced by the fires, 338 _sq._; the carrying of lighted torches about the country at the festivals may be explained as an attempt to diffuse the sun's heat, 339-341. § 3. _The Purificatory Theory of the Fire-festivals_, pp. |
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