Posted on 01/08/2017 3:45:36 PM PST by Bigg Red
Living as a modern in this technologically sophisticated age, I often think of our premodern ancestors and how they spent the long winter. Yes, it was cold but there were no crops to be sewn or harvested and there was meat on the hoof to be enjoyed. It was a time for taking stock and to be grateful ... and what better way to be grateful than to enjoy the fruits of one’s labors.
Well said.
look up cincturing. age old practice
Very well played!
Many years ago I heard a strange fact related that stayed with me as conversational fodder. It may have been Paul Harvey or The Farmer’s Almanac or some similar source but the story teller told of an old New England tradition where, in early spring, couples would run around an apple tree a certain number of times in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, I forget which, and while doing so slap the tree trunk with switches or perhaps rolled up newspapers. The participants also had to be buck naked while doing so.
What struck me was the specificity of the act. How much experimentation had to be performed over the years to determine the exact number of rotations and strikes to the tree, let alone determining that being naked somehow added to the efficacy of the process. Better still, what did Farmer John tell his neighbor who happened upon him and his female partner practicing this research, and, how did Farmer John convince his neighbors that this was something that the whole village should commence to do together to insure a better apple crop ?
It certainly sounds like apple howling, although the naked bits add a little something extra.
“Better still, what did Farmer John tell his neighbor...”
Farmer John was probably chasing Farmer Bob’s wife around the tree.
“Oh - hey now Bob - put down that musket. We’re just doing the apple dance - you want a good crop next year don’t you!? I know you’re new here, so I’ll explain it to you....”
We have a little prissy dog, that is until she goes on a mole hunt. lol Then it’s get that dirty stinking girl in the tub for a bath.
I believe it is called *Wassailing*
http://projectbritain.com/Xmas/wassail.htm
Not at all sure about the *nekkid* part.:)
http://www.history.org/Almanack/life/Christmas/hist_wassail.cfm
Sounds like the origins of the *pub-crawl* and...
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Notes_On_Carols/wassailing.htm
...cross-dressing and blackface.
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/wassailing.shtml
Thanks for the information. I always learn so much from FReepers.
LOL! Sounds like these practices have roots - no pun intended - in pre-Christian fertility rites. I am betting the apple howling does, as well.
Nekkid outside in the New England spring. Brrrr!
I’m compelled to point out that “auxin” is a compound created in a plant’s roots and transported up into the plant, and is the thing that stimulates new growth at the growing tips of the branches/limbs.
Auxin is alto present in fast growing annuals like cannabis, but I would not know anything about that.
Go for a change! Move to the Pacific Northwest and grow Kelp! Lots of auxin and on a good day, 2 to 3 feet of growth. The barbeque is good and all, but there are disadvantages to living some place that keeps all its rivers underground to keep them from evaporating!
Kelp. Good fertilizer for other plants! Or, roll it up with raw fish and rice and sell it in California!
Pete, when I grow plants, kelp makes an awesome adjunct to my soil. I love it.
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