No more water, but fire next time

[sovay]

Last night I dreamed vividly that I was engaged to be married to someone I didn't love, that I was already in my wedding dress, with a cold-sweat sickness in my stomach and the knowledge that I couldn't call off the ceremony. He didn't even know me very well. We were in the church of some species of Christianity that doesn't exist, with a sort of Mithraeum and words carved into the wall, small capitals in sandy-colored granite, and water trickling down over them. I woke up and for a moment I was just so relieved that I wasn't about to be married. It was a deeply unsettling dream.

There is a flotilla of geese on the Res. When I walked back from the post office, I counted over two hundred, all drawn up in their individual flock formations. I wonder if they're planning an attack.

This song may have cemented my association of Judas with Loki, which would no doubt strike both of them as weird and amuse Snorri Sturluson. Not to mention Guy Fawkes.

The Bonfire Carol (The Devil's Interval)

There were twelve bonfires burning in a field
(Judas, Judas)
There was one for Peter, there was one for John
Every disciple, he had one
(Judas, Judas)
There was one for James that died by the sword
But the biggest and the best was for our dear Lord

Burn, burn, Judas, burn slow
Bright, bright, bright for our dear Lord's sake
Burn slow for Judas
Judas was a redheaded man

There was one bonfire standing all alone
Down by the marish it smoked away
It smoked all night and it smoked all day
'Twas a proper green pother for all to see
But the fire burns bright on our dear Lord's tree

Burn, burn, Judas, burn slow
Bright, bright, bright for our dear Lord's sake
Burn slow for Judas
Judas was a redheaded man

There were three bonfires burning on a hill
They burned as martyrs for a paltry plot
They burned for those that will ne'er be forgot
They burned for treason in the king's country
As they burned for our Lord high on Calvary

Burn, burn, Judas, burn slow
Bright, bright, bright for our dear Lord's sake
Burn slow for Judas
Judas was a redheaded man

There were twelve bonfires burning in a field
There was one for Peter, there was one for John
Every disciple, he had one
There was one for James that died by the sword
But the biggest and the best was for our dear Lord

Comments

[carandol.livejournal.com]

Any idea what the significance of Judas being a redheaded man is? I remember being told several times at various pagan equinox/solstice bonfires that the proper human sacrifice is someone with red hair, though I don't know if this is genuine ancient belief, or a modern myth. I've heard it associated with the idea of the Year-King. Also red hair was often associated with witchcraft. Being a left-handed redhead, I'd have been doubly in trouble :-)

The whole thing sounds very pagan, though the verse about 3 bonfires sounds like it might have been added to commemorate a real burning, possibly of Catholics in Henry VIII's time?

[sovay]

Any idea what the significance of Judas being a redheaded man is?

I don't know, actually. I suspect it's because Jews were often portrayed with red hair (although I can't explain that one either: it's regionally all wrong), but I've always liked to think it was because of red-haired Set. And here the color seems to associate him with burning, which always works for me.

Being a left-handed redhead, I'd have been doubly in trouble

Maybe you're Loki.

The whole thing sounds very pagan, though the verse about 3 bonfires sounds like it might have been added to commemorate a real burning, possibly of Catholics in Henry VIII's time?

I would love to know what the third verse refers to. My first thought was Guy Fawkes, but that doesn't explain the other two fires. I wish I knew more about the carol's origins; the liner notes aren't much help.

[carandol.livejournal.com]

I've sometimes been accused of looking like a Viking, but I think if I were Loki I'd know!

As for verse 3, I'll try passing this on to my one of my lecturers, who's an expert on Early Modern Britain, see if she knows!

[sovay]

I've sometimes been accused of looking like a Viking, but I think if I were Loki I'd know!

You could be an unknowing avatar.

As for verse 3, I'll try passing this on to my one of my lecturers, who's an expert on Early Modern Britain, see if she knows!

That would be great: thanks!

[carandol.livejournal.com]

"You could be an unknowing avatar."

I don't think I'm sufficiently tricksy. Unless I'm some sort of sleeper agent, who will be activated when needed...

[papersky.livejournal.com]

You are definitely not Loki! I think I can say that with confidence.

I can't quite see Loki as Judas either though.

[sovay]

I can't quite see Loki as Judas either though.

I can't see one as the other, but probably because of Loki's murder of Baldur and the red hair, I've always vaguely associated them.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

And this makes me think of Jesus as Eternal Champion. Hey, Jude?

O Jesus, O Baldur, you're gentle and nice,
But the world tilts in balance of fire and ice,
You save those you can and fulfil all the law,
Share your love with the world amid rumours of war,
We hear the wolf howling, you set us all free,
And the cross is the Ash: there is only one tree,
There's only one story and only one end,
Watch out, dear lord, for your red-headed friend!

[sovay]

And the cross is the Ash: there is only one tree,
There's only one story and only one end,
Watch out, dear lord, for your red-headed friend!

You are made of awesome.

[sovay]

As for verse 3, I'll try passing this on to my one of my lecturers, who's an expert on Early Modern Britain, see if she knows!

A friend of mine who's a divinity student has suggested that the three bonfires on the hill might be for Christ and the two thieves. I didn't even think of that.

[carandol.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's possible, but I wouldn't have thought of the thieves as martyrs! I'm sure there's something deeply significant about that one smoky fire down in the marish, but I've no idea what, unless it's one for the dark lord on his dark throne :-)

[sovay]

I'm sure there's something deeply significant about that one smoky fire down in the marish, but I've no idea what, unless it's one for the dark lord on his dark throne

I assumed that one was for Judas: outcast from the other apostles.