Pauldohert
Something in here
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- Apr 6, 2004
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Rak - Kyunkasko sbazko byusba?
FoFa said:Actress Alicia Silverstone had a Holloywood moment when she tried to explain the significance of her movie "Clueless".
"I think that "clueless" was very deep. I think it was deep in the way that it was very light. I think lightness has to come from a very deep place if it's true lightness."
Oh well, since I'm illiterate, does that mean I have to stop reading all these websites (and novels and textbooks and...)?FoFa said:In 18th century England, an illiterate was someone with insufficient knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin.
rak said:Spiral staircases in medieval castles are running clockwise. This is because all knights used to be right-handed. When the intruding army would climb the stairs they would not be able to use their right hand which was holding the sword because of the difficulties of climbing the stairs. Left-handed knights would have had no troubles, except left-handed people could never become knights because it was assumed that they were descendants of the devil.
OK, I haven't read right through so I hope I'm not repeating someone:
Most major Christian festivals bear more than a little similarity to pre-existing Pagan ones:
Yule, the winter solstice (which fell on 25th December in the Roman calendar). 25th December was designated by Pope Julius I as the birthday of Christ.
Imbolc (1st February), the start of the spring quarter of the year, associated with the Celtic virgin goddess Brid. Later adopted (on 2nd February) as Candlemas, the feast of the purification of the virgin. Brid was renamed as Saint Bridget, this remained her feast day.
Lupercalia (14th February), a celebration of fertility. Later adopted as the feast day of St Valentine.
Eostre's day (The first full moon after the Spring equinox). The symbols of the fertility goddess Eostre include the egg and the rabbit. Easter is the first sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Beltane (1st May) The start of the summer quarter, celebrated by lighting fires and by maypole dancing. Roodmas associates this day with the Cross (the Rood), rather than a maypole).
Litha, the summer solstice (approx 21st June)
Lughnassadh (1st August) the "grain festival" at which bread from the first harvested corn was eaten. The Christian Lammas ("loaf-mass" service has a tradition of blessing the first loaf of bread).
Mabon, the Autumn equinox (approx 21st September).
Samhain (1st November), the start of the winter quarter, the Celtic feast of the dead. All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (1st and 2nd November) remember the souls of dead saints and non-canonized dead respectively.
Pagan festivals are usually celebrated from dusk 'till dawn, therefore Samhain celebrations begin on the 31st October, the exception being Lutha which is a celebration of the dawn.
I always thought these facts were quite interesting and not useless at all.