The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14361   Message #122744
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
11-Oct-99 - 04:21 PM
Thread Name: Samhain songs
Subject: RE: With Samhain approaching, Does anyone
With the caveat that much of the "pagan survival" business is probably pure fantasy, "The Lyke-Wake Dirge" comes to mind, as do songs associated with Souling Night; the Soul Caking song for example. Then there's "Poor Old Horse" (the death-and-resurrection song/play, not the shanty of the same name)- mostly a midwinter ceremony, but associated with Souling Night in the Cheshire tradition. A decorated horse skull on a pole is certainly a pretty potent symbol! Oh, and the Derby Ram ("T'owd Tup" in my neck of the woods. The Watersons' album "Frost & Fire" is a collection of seasonal/ceremonial songs which might interest you, too.

Malcolm