Welcome to the first of hopefully many talks about knitting, books, running, mythology and other interesting things that go on in life. This week, I'll show you what I'm knitting right now and tell you a bit about Midsummer (as you probably have already guessed from the title).
First, The Knitting:
I am working on a woollen baby blanket for some good friends of mine, who are expecting. The pattern is Vortex Shawl by Kristina McCurley; it can be found on Ravelry for free.
This is a lovely knit: quick and easy to do, but interesting - unless you're prone to vertigo, I suppose. It is stocking stitch, worked in the round, with yarnover increases that form a vortex or spiral. I love it, I think it's beautiful, and it is simple enough that I can knit it while I read - when I can get the book to lie flat.
And the yarn is gorgeous, too: Kauni Effektgarn, colourway EQ. That is the rainbow coloured one. I have a shawl in that yarn and sometimes wonder why I haven't made tons of stuff in this yarn - but then, there really is a limit to how many rainbow coloured garments you need.
When I'm not reading, I'm knitting another shawl, this time a lace shawl for myself: Regrowth by Toby McNutt, also a free Ravelry download. This is going to be big, but light, in Semilla Fino from BC Garn.
Both of these knits are on KnitPro interchangeable circulars, with cubic needles. I discovered them only recently, and I love them!
Apple of the Week:
Tonight at 23:09 UT, the
Sun peaks in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the time of the Summer Solstice.
A time of light, of
celebration and lamentation; here in the North, a time of daylight (almost)
around the clock. We celebrate the sunlight and warmth, that is so necessary
for life, and at the same time know that the Sun is turning away from us, that
even though the weather will be warmer, the corn in the fields and the fruit on
the trees will grow and ripen - even so, darkness and winter is nearing.
In ancient calendars, the
summer solstice was regarded as the middle of summer and the night as a time
for revelry and magic, as in Shakespeare’s A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The name of the official
midsummer day in the Western, Christianized calendar, is John, from John the
Baptist. The names John and the Danish version Hans (and lots more) both derive
from Johannes, the Latin form of the Hebrew name Yokhanaan or Yehokhanan meaning
‘Yahwe is gracious’. According to Luke’s gospel, John the Baptist was 6 months
older than Jesus, which would put his birthday on or around 24th
June.
The Danish celebrations
take place on the eve of St. Johns’ Day, Sankt Hans aften on 23rd
June. Until 1770, it was a national holiday; this year, we can be happy it’s on
a Saturday :o)
The main feature of the
festivities are big bonfires, traditionally to ward off evil.
It is all very jolly (a
bit less so, of course, when it rains), people bring food and drink, local
politicians hold speeches, we all sing together – and some of the ancient
fertility rites associated with summer festivals probably also take place:
couples sneaking off behind some bushes to do whatever it is young couples do
when they’re alone.
The bonfires are
traditionally set on a beach, or, if a beach is not available, by or even on a
lake (on a raft). These traditions go way back in time to before anybody in
these parts had even heard of St. John or of baptism, to the times when
Midsummer was what it was all about.
A beach is the border
between land and sea, between known and unknown, between home and away; and as
such provides a naturally liminal setting for placing a guard against evil
forces, be it enemy invaders on ships or spirits on the wind.
Fire is well known to chase
away wild animals and may therefore also be thought to protect against more
disembodied predators, again spirits or even trolls.
Midsummer is an
auspicious time to gather herbs for healing (practically and symbolically); the
wise men & women of old would use this day to gather what they needed for
the coming winter.
Maybe that is why, in the
1920’s, the Sankt Hans bonfires saw the addition of an effigy: a witch to be
burnt. It is said that the burning of the doll, usually clad in a dress and a
headscarf like an old woman, will make the witch fly away to Brocken
(Bloksbjerg) in Harzen, Germany. Thus evil is warded off. The Midsummer Song by Holger Drachmann
speaks of ‘a witch in every town and trolls in every parish’ to be kept away by
bonfires of joy.
I’m all for warding off
evil and celebrating summer and all that, and picnics on the beach with
bonfires and singing – but celebrating the burning of wise women and healers? Not
so much. It seems to me that it makes light of what really was persecution of
individuals who stood on the edge of or outside the community, who were socially
and physically vulnerable and at the same time feared because of their knowledge
and powers, real or perceived.
In our present day and
age, we should not fear or condemn those who know more than most, who push the
boundaries of science and open up vistas of knowledge for all of us.
Exploration into remote corners of the Earth, the ocean depths and outer space
can and do bring new and wonderful techniques and insights that benefit the
advancement of health & happiness all round, often in unexpected ways or
areas. The search for knowledge ought to be always celebrated and encouraged.
Well, that's all for this week. Thank you for stopping by, I hope to see you again soon.
Happy knitting!
No comments:
Post a Comment