The Wild Hunt: The Wild Hunt is one of the most widespread and expansive myths of Europe. To try to contain this myth in one post is impossible, but I will hit the high notes and let this serve as the introduction. The Wild Hunt also known as the Furious Host along with many other names: The Infernal Host, The Santa Compana, The Riders of the Sidhe, the Ghost Riders in the Sky, The Parade of Spirits, The Goat Riders, The Chase Hellequin, the Hosts of Hell, The Eternal hunt, and much much more. The individuals who are said to be a part of it or lead it shift place to place and while many claim the god Woden as the original head we simply cannot know where and how this widespread myth originated. While a majority of the legends are present in the continental Germanics this is only partly true in it being under the name “The Wild Hunt” or the other very popular name “The Furious Host” it is however by many other names far more widespread across Europe and depending on who you ask is a very ancient myth or it originates in the Middle Ages. The Wild Hunt has many facets too, sometimes it is clearly the personification of storms especially regarding the Winter winds and snow storms, with the hunt and quarry being the victims of those storms. Sometimes gods such as The Wild Huntsman warn people to get home before the storm. One figure the Faithful Eckhart often acts as the herald especially regarding Holle as the Wild Huntress, going ahead of the hunt to warn those of the Hunts arrival. Other times the hunt acts as a psychopomp picking up spirits of the land and the dead and carrying them away on the parade of spirits. This is most clearly associated with the hunts that take place around Halloween such as Holle's Parade of spirits. This also ties in to the Hunts quarries land spirits and individuals out in the storms. Other aspects seem to have the legend functioning as Punishment via the Christian God such as with Dirk and his Boar or Frau Gode or The Ghost Riders in the Sky leading “the devils herd” in the American West. An interesting part of the Hunt is that many of the accounts written by the church seem to have likely originated from Carnival type processions with “demonic” costumes that would've been mistaken by the unaware priests. Though whether this is the origin of the entire story or merely an example of the Carnival representing the Hunt and then getting fed back into the myth it represents by the clergy. Into the modern day many facets have continued forth two examples of the myth changing over time include both Santa Claus' ride and The Ghost Riders in the sky, these are two of the version present in America alone. The Hunt also travels with many spirits and magic users, including daemons, grimhounds(black dogs), witches, cats, lost souls, and much much more. While members of the Wild Hunt include an array of European mythic figures including: Yarillo, Perchta, Holle, Wode, King Arthur, Harlequin, Wotan, Heuke, Berchtold, Dirk, Barbarossa, Finn Mccool, The Devil, Wode, Ewicher Yeeger, Frau Gode, Diana, Thor, Krampus, and much more. The American versions includes a relatively unknown cowboy named Sawyer, a trail boss who led to the deaths of many men and cattle. Though other figures of American myth could be argued of having been integrated over time given the legends of the West. The Wild Hunt also appears in the Spring where at least in Germany they have a specific quarry in the Goddess Walpurga who they hunt, though if she escapes Winter is said to end. Other times they bring spring as some deities like Frau Harke bring fertility when they ride by. All in all one of the oldest and increasingly well known myths of Europe is one that should definitely have a closer look by many of our people.
Forwarded from English Folk Song
I am pretty much a hermit so lockdown is no stress but right now, in this minute, I am really missing the freedom to just go to the pub and play some music, sing my heart out. This is crap. All for what purpose???? I believed in the danger of the virus at first. But it is not how it seems. We are being tricked and the sooner we stand up the better. The world has gone to pot if we are NOT ALLOWED TO SING ANYMORE. Send me a message if you would like to meet up to sing some folk songs together (Notts/Derbys area). Not having anymore of this rubbish. There are plenty of outdoor places we can do so and I intend to organise something soon. Stay sane folks xxxx @the_bread_witch (this should work on here I think...) #thereisnopandemic #wakeup #takeoffyourmask #andsing