As the 31st of October approaches it is know to many of us as Halloween, but to even more if one includes those known but to history and legend it is known as Samhien or Samhuinn a Celtic holiday complete with good old human sacrifices... ////////////////////////////////////////// (First you got to get your captives) This excerpt was translated from the Nibelungenlied. Teutoburger Wald -- "The name of the Teutoburg Forest in Germany will forever be connected to one of the most famous battles from ancient history, the Clades Variana, the defeat of the Roman general Varus. In September 9 BC, a coalition of Germanic tribes, led by a legendary Arminius (Hermann), brutally defeated then captured the remnants of the Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth Legions. Subsequently forcing their commander Publius Quintilius Varus to commit suicide. The result of the battle was that Germania remained independent and was never included in the Roman empire. (The you get to cook em') The few survivors received nothing from life but a wicker cage and volatile straw which torches ignited as a sacrificial offering to the gods of the forest when the Sanhuinn festival was observed. ///////////////////////////////////////// And this little literary gem... http://www.watchman.org/occult/samhain.htm ///////////////////////////////////////// So when you celebrate Halloween this year just think how much fun you'd have if you could build a big old bonfire. We always do... Ben
Sounds like fun bones; Here is a little something you may not be aware of. A ‘Hermann Heights’ Monument exists in New Ulm, Minnesota, a town settled by my German ancestors. The term "Herman the German" is a commonly used by English speakers as an affectionate name for the Hermannsdenkmal - and also as a jocular term for (male) Germans in general. My father as well as many of our ancestors were named 'Herman' (new spelling), in honor of the original owner of the name.
Very interesting I believe it matches one in northern Germany as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arminius http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Heights_Monument Oh, BTW, we had a Naja Shrine function tonight and we (wife and I) sat with a bunch of folks from Wyoming; Casper (Olhm), Douglas (Judith & ??? Christopherson), Sheridan (Redder), and Buffalo (can't remember their names). Had a wonderful time too Ben
