DRUIDH
/ DRUID
No Matter How You Spell It,
You Reenact It The Same!
I
have received a few letters dealing with druids (most dealing with apparel and
customs) , and seen a great deal of misrepresentation of them at reenactments
and faires.
Here is a bit of basic information for you on the mysterious sect.
The word druid is generally supposed to have been derived from "an oak",(_______) a tree which is sacred to
them.
Yet, its etymology may also be found in the Gaelic word druidh, "a
wise man," or "magician."
Their rites were practiced in Gual and, of course, Britain where the Isle of
Anglesey was to have been their chief seat.
As most know, their "temples" wherein the sacred fire was
always preserved, were generally in dense groves of oaks. There were various forms of temples also, though most being
circular.
The three main temples which fit this description are Stonehenge and
Aubury to the south, and Shap in Cumberland. Their rites included every
philosophical and religious pursuit known in the isles at that time. Druids taught the doctrine of one supreme being, with a
future of rewards and punishments, and an immortality of the soul.
They also taught that time
was only a fragment of eternity, and that there is an endless succession of
"worlds."
Their priestesses wore white cloth and a metal girdle, and foretold the
future by watching several different aspects of life and death.
Most of their rites have been carefully shielded (and rightfully so, do
to foreign mentality) from foreigners. Yet
were it not for Julius Ceaser in the 3rd B.C. reporting the activities of the
white-robed druids, and the further curiosity of the romans and greeks of that
time, their(The druids) exotic ministrations might have passed through the veil
of time into oblivion.
The druids often functioned as arbitrators and judges.
As one of the bardagh, I am one of the divisions of the druids.
You see druids and bards begin with the same training. However as they progress those who are with, shall we say,
mystical talents are trained in one way then, while those of us with gifts of
ear, hand, and word are taught another. The
latter of course become bards concentrating on poetry, oratory, history, and
music. The former become what this
article is roughly about, druids. They (the druids) have many separate divisions
within themselves. I will not go
into that kind of depth as of this article, but mayhap in a future issue.
Let us not forget one reason which children might appreciate druids, Samain's
day (being the last day of October) when the power of the sun weakened and the
spirits of the dead could roam.
Of course I speak of "all hallow's eve" or
"Halloween" on the eve of which it was the druid's duty to appease the
spirits.
There, some basic information. I
always see these people walking around who look more like monks than druids.
Let us keep in mind that the "costume" should be of long white
material, being supported at the waist by a metal girdle. A high priestess wore sky blue robes, but if you are going to
portray one, study. You never know
when a very large bard may walk up and ask a few questions (Remember, bards had
the honor of wearing multicolored cloaks. I
wear mine only to official functions ).
I do like to see the reenactments true to history, so I can give the advise to
do a little research before you go and try to get the apparel correct.
For the great majority it is true that research is done and for those who
do, the apparel is great.
Well, that ends this history
interlude.