1857 - Sullivan, Jeremiah - Cumberland and Westmorland (2)
By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2017-05-11. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2018-07-12.
Allusion
May-eve was formerly celebrated in this district with the Beltain, at which green branches were borne, a Scandinavian rite, apparently, superadded to the Celtic fire worship. The latter custom identifies itself with the Jack in the Green of the London sweeps, the intention having been to celebrate at this season, when Nature is awakening from the chaotic sleep of Winter, the myth of the creation. The singular sign called the Green Man, who is now [p. 166:] represented as wearing bright green, Robin Hood-like clothes, originated in the May festival. And the name of Maybrough, which, unlike that of its neighbour, the Round Table, is not modern, identifies that structure with the ceremonies of the same time.[1]
Source notes
IRHB's brackets. A long note, which is irrelevant for our purpose, has been omitted above along with the reference to it.
Lists
- Not included in Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), pp. 315-19.
- Outside scope of Sussex, Lucy, compil. 'References to Robin Hood up to 1600', in: Knight, Stephen. Robin Hood: A Complete Study of the English Outlaw (Oxford, UK; Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell, 1994), pp. 262-88.
Sources
Notes