Ancient Pagan Dance?

[pt_tangles]

I am curious. Mentioned Here is the idea that the Spiral Dance is an ancient Pagan dance. I hadn't heard this before, but it doesn't seem too unlikely that it could be based on an older dance. I was wondering if anyone had heard this before or knew of some sources I might read?

--Phae

ps - I may x-post this.

Comments

[mariadkins.livejournal.com]

I've "been Pagan" since 1988. First time I've ever heard anything like that. Ponderous.

[brock-tn.livejournal.com]

Sure it's an ancient pagan activity. After all, "ancient pagan rite" = "anything you can show that someone did at least once prior to 1970." Or didn't you see that memo?

[eldriwolf.livejournal.com]

Err, ---?Dancing is pagan, (according to some churches) Spirals are Pagan--both are ancient??

That said, one of the most Powerful midwinter "Turning of the wheel" rituals I have been to was at a Balkan Folk Dance.
We spiraled in on the band, at the center of the dance floor, and I could *Feel* the "Push" as we 'snapped the whip' to turn and head back out---
--over a hundred people, moving as one, on the longest night---the drum player dancing on the drum--yes, very pagan.
lots of spiral folk-dances--old, yes


"troy-town" a maze-dance, is in my book of shadows, for what *that* is worth

[brock-tn.livejournal.com]

"Troy-town" is also a fairly common name given to turf mazes in Britain. Not certain what the etymology is. Nigel Pennick may have discussed it in his book on mazes and labyriths.

[pt_tangles]

LOL - admittedly, that was my first thought too. But I figured I would look into it anyway.

--Phae

[pt_tangles]

See, I was wondering if dancing in spiral form wasn't something that was fairly common in European folk practises. Doesn't make it 'ancient pagan' anymore than farming is 'ancient pagan', but I thought it would be interesting to see where they got that idea.

I like to think that most outlandish claims are based on something related to fact ;)

--Phae

[pt_tangles]

Was that by chance a good book? I have been interested in reading more about mazes and labyrinths.

--Phae

[brock-tn.livejournal.com]

It wasn't a bad book. It's been several years since I read it, and I'm left with a vague impression that it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped it might be. But it was certainly useful enough that I don't have a problem with recommending it to others.

[eldriwolf.livejournal.com]

Well, it is common in *modern* folk dance, I do not know how common in Ancient dance-(-not my specialty). I expect it goes back quite a ways---


The dance I wrote of, was Not billed as pagan-(-most there were not-)--it Was Magically Powerful.
---Folk magic , of course, is not 'pagan' either---lots of good Christians do it.

( And, some pagans are also 'Christians'. Victor told us, in times past, witches were expected to attend church, and did so---I think the members of the Harpy coven were all churchgoers.)

[pt_tangles]

Very true. I am a bit of a nut when it comes to folk customs, though. I love seeing how things that were done hundreds of years ago in another country survive to the modern day ;)

--Phae