Thank you all for this wonderful thread -- I have learned so much!

Mostest thanks to Kat, whose lyrics went wonderfully with our maypole! Thank you thank you thank you!

My vote for informative book: "Roles of the Northern Goddess" by Hilda Ellis Davidson. Good scholarship, lots of archaeological data, perhaps a little spurious logic here'n'there, but the facts are presented well. Also, lots of good pictures of obscure statuary - like from northern and eastern Europe where nobody ever talks about it...

Okiemockingbird, sounds like you have issues with Wicca. My advice to you: Everybody's got a creation myth. If Gardnerians wanna be descended from Hebrides fisherfolk or whatever, let 'em. Is it any sillier than being grown from a rib?

Fiona