The Winter Spirit and His Visitor

THE WINTER-SPIRIT AND HIS VISITOR

From: The Indian Fairy Book , The Original Legends

Author: Cornelius Mathews

An old man was sitting alone in his lodge by the side of a frozen stream. It was the close of winter, and his fire was almost out. He appeared very old and very desolate. His locks were white with age, and he trembled in every joint. Day after day passed in solitude, and he heard nothing but the sounds of the tempest, sweeping before it the new-fallen snow.

One day as his fire was just dying; a handsome young man approached and entered his dwelling. His cheeks were red with the blood of youth; his eyes sparkled with life, and a smile played upon his lips.

He walked with a light and quick step. His forehead was bound with a wreath of sweet grass, in place of the warrior's frontlet, and he carried a bunch of flowers in his hand.

"Ah! my son," said the old man, "I am happy to see you. Come in. Come; tell me of your adventures, and what strange lands you have been to see. Let us pass the night together. I will tell you of my prowess and exploits, and what I can perform. You shall do the same, and we will amuse ourselves."

He then drew from his sack a curiously-wrought antique pipe, and having filled it with tobacco, rendered mild by an admixture of certain dried leaves, he handed it to his guest. When this ceremony was attended to, they began to speak.

"I blow my breath," said the old man, "and the streams stand still. The water becomes stiff and hard as clear stone."

"I breathe," said the young man, "and flowers spring up all over the plains."

"I shake my locks," retorted the old man, "and snow covers the land. The leaves fall from the trees at my command, and my breath blows them away. The birds rise from the water and fly to a distant land. The animals hide themselves from the glance of my eye, and the very ground where I walk becomes as hard as flint."

"I shake my ringlets," rejoined the young man, "and warm showers of soft rain fall upon the earth.

The plants lift up their heads out of the ground like the eyes of children glistening with delight. My voice recalls the birds. The warmth of my breath unlocks the streams.

Music fills the groves wherever I walk, and all nature welcomes my approach."

At length the sun began to rise. Gentle warmth came over the place. The tongue of the old man became silent. The robin and the blue-bird began to sing on the top of the lodge.

The stream began to murmur by the door and the fragrance of growing herbs and flowers came softly on the vernal breeze.

Daylight fully revealed to the young man the character of his entertainer. When he looked upon him he had the visage of Peboan, the icy cold Winter-Spirit. Streams began to flow from his eyes.

As the sun increased he grew less and less in stature, and presently he had melted completely away.

Nothing remained on the place of his lodge-fire but the mis-kodeed, a small white flower with a pink border,

which the young visitor, Seegwun, the Spirit of Spring, placed in the wreath upon his brow, as his first trophy in the North.

The End.

Snow,Snow,Snow- Part 1

Snow,Snow,Snow- Part 1

As the snowstorm rages outside, with its pellets driven by the howling winds to rattle the windows, this seems to be an appropriate time to dwell on the various stories and legends of snow and winter in a serious of posts.

Jack Frost

Jack Frost is often portrayed as an older man, though sometimes the depiction shows him as a young adult or teenager. In both cases he is a creature of the imagination, a sprite or fairy-like personification of the frosty, frigid weather, a variant of old Man Winter. 

The changing of colors at end of summer is attributed to him as he is depicted with paint brush and bucket coloring the autumnal foliage, red, yellow, brown and orange. 

He is considered friendly but, if provoked, he could kill his victims by covering them with snow.

Jack Frost’s roots appear to have originated from Anglo-Saxon and Norse winter customs. In Viking lore, he may have been referred to as Jokul Frosti (“icicle frost).

In the literature of the early 20th century his characterization took on a more spite-like personality and he was portrayed as dire, mischievous, carefree, happiest when he can behave as he pleases, with no obligations, and somewhat sinister. 

He is held responsible for painting the frosty, fern-like patterns on windows and for nipping the extremities in cold weather. Over the years he has taken on the role of villain, hero and disinterested natural force.

Here’s an old Indian Legend called:

  The Story of Winter Snow

Once upon a time there lived two Indian boys with their grandmother in a wigwam.  One day, while the boys were away hunting for some meat, a stranger called on the grandmother and specifically asked for the boys. As they had yet to return, she politely asked him in to wait for their return.  

Late that night they showed up loaded with a large buck deer. The visitor readily accepted the invitation to share the cooked venison. After the meal, the stranger asked the grandmother for her permission to remain with them for the winter.  Being a very kind woman she agreed without question. 

He was actually a shaman and whenever the boys went on a hunt he gave them hunting medicine to assure their success. This man’s name was Winter Snow. 

When spring came he thanked the grandmother for her kindness and hospitality and was gone.  

The young man being so drawn to him wanted to go with him and snuck out to pursue him into the woods. One morning after this, the old woman heard a moaning sound outdoors and found that the snow was melting. This sound was made by her grandsons who, as they followed the mysterious stranger, had been transformed into winter snow.

The End.

Season of Joy

Season of Joy

A Personal message:

Greetings Web Friends!

December is an important month for various reasons.  For many it marks the end of the year and if you should fall believe the end of the world will come on specific date this month; well, here’s a reason to rejoice while you can. Seriously though, in the Northern Hemisphere we are now cast to the whims of winter’s frigid temperatures. Soon the icy, bone chilling winds will be accompanied by torrential hail or snowfall that will cover the ground with pristine white that will subsequently become slush and ice.

Walking or driving will be arduous and many will choose to stay indoors huddled around their warm fireplaces, TVs or computers, braving the cold only to indulge in mall shopping. Christmas celebrations have evolved and adopted many of the earlier pagan winter celebrations and festivities.  Tree decorations for instance are derived from those ancient times and in some households the Christmas tree forms the nucleus of the winter activities.

 Not everyone is able to accompany the migrating birds, escaping to the land of warmth and sun; and not everyone sees fit to embrace the challenge of outdoor sports: skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing. Perhaps only a brisk walk would be in order, a thoroughly wonderful venture. For those of us that can’t do without the exercise, there is an option of indoor sports whether in gyms or vast indoor arenas. Some may simply go out to enjoy a pleasant afternoon or evening at the movies,  theaters or concert halls.

Meanwhile mankind has adapted to the dimmed light and early nights on this frigid winter’s months by embracing the delightful tradition of decorating the outdoors with many colored lights which help to lift our spirits.  So in this multicultural world, anyone can enjoy these sorts of festivities without qualm. Because of LED lights the dreary winter months are now transformed into wonderland of glowing colors without the worry of electrical expense.  Music has always been a good initiator of joy to during these months.

Winter is upon us, but we need not hibernate. We can continue to enjoy every moment by celebrating life.

Periodically for the month of December I should like to post the lyrics of Seasonal songs alongside their music. Please feel free to sing along and to spread the joy, peace and love of this season.

Click on the music:

then read these lyrics to sing along:

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side

The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh yeah

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

COPYRIGHT ATTRIBUTION
Title: JINGLE BELLS 3 - | Christmas Music | Creative Commons | Royalty-Free Music
Artist: Kevin Macleod
Playlist: Holiday / Christmas
Copyright: Kevin MacLeod 2007. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ verify at http://www.incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/

BoSt Galleries- The Four Seasons

In North America we are fortunate indeed to enjoy the splendor of Nature’s four seasons.

Winter is a delight; when the first snowfall blankets the earth and everything is glossy and gleaming in pristine white resembling thousands of scattered diamonds, or stars plucked from the sky, adorning every surface.

Springtime; when night and day nature’s perfume permeates the air and new life in all its abundance is perpetually bathed by the resplendent spring showers that create precious pearls on the budding trees.

Let us not forget the golden splendors of Autumn; when the world is bedecked in rich browns, yellows and oranges. It’s as if the sun takes up a temporary residence on Earth while everything quietly prepares for the long winter’s sleep.

My most favorite time of all however, has to be Summer. Ahhh, summertime, when during those two short months we abandon all care along with the cumbersome clothes of the other three seasons. Dressed in colourful, cool outfits we burst outside to bask under the hot sun, engaging in outdoor activities: relaxing on a patio café, strolling in parks and enjoying summer’s multitude of events. Time is well spent frolicking at the beach, sharing a picnic, engaging in sports, or laying lazily under an umbrella while partaking of cool refreshments along with abundant fruit. Then for added cooling, a quick dip and splash or a prolonged swim in the pristine lakes that dot the map of North America.

Enjoy Summertime.