tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post715870935403310902..comments2024-03-23T12:38:46.260+00:00Comments on The History Girls: The Green Children of Woolpit: Superstitions Past and Present by Catherine HokinMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-11391520935314373742016-09-26T12:15:20.056+01:002016-09-26T12:15:20.056+01:00Thank you - I'm going to be in Sicily in a cou...Thank you - I'm going to be in Sicily in a couple of months so should also be able to see some examples. I expected the ones on the trail to be pragmatic but they were very much concerned with illness, other people's - quite heart-breaking some of them.Catherine Hokinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16251036106757891834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-40755422038817643492016-09-26T10:36:46.230+01:002016-09-26T10:36:46.230+01:00I really enjoyed reading this, Catherine. In a few...I really enjoyed reading this, Catherine. In a few weeks I'm going to South Italy, where votive objects are still very much alive. When I was in Japan people used to tie messages to the gods onto the trees outside the temples. Most of them were very pragmatic, i.e. please help me to pass my exams.Miranda Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08847761353240720080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-43825687371191847982016-09-23T15:31:52.406+01:002016-09-23T15:31:52.406+01:00How interesting! I didn't know about the Green...How interesting! I didn't know about the Green Children. The web, of course, is awash with pseudoscientific remedies.. I'm pretty sceptical, but you wouldn't catch me bringing May blossom into the house.. I do find rag trees distressing, though: I saw one in Ireland and the rags had killed the tree, not to mention people had used bits of plastic, some of which were blowing around, and it was near the sea.Leslie Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15105465949970430998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-20731302695322128782016-09-22T13:31:46.118+01:002016-09-22T13:31:46.118+01:00It's a little bit suspicious! This desire to c...It's a little bit suspicious! This desire to claim things does cause issues.Catherine Hokinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16251036106757891834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-89115477462613232322016-09-22T11:03:41.934+01:002016-09-22T11:03:41.934+01:00I loved this, Catherine. Thank you. I've been ...I loved this, Catherine. Thank you. I've been fascinated by the story of the Green Children since I was a teenager, but hadn't come across Paul Harris' explanation. The theory about their green colouring is very plausible. I'm not so sure about the rest.<br /><br />Near where I live, on the edge of the Black Country, is the ancient church of St. Kenelm. He was a Saxon king who was beheaded and 'where his head fell, a spring burst forth from the earth' - a legend often told to christianise a spring that was sacred to older religions. The spring is still there, just beside the church.<br /><br />Near it is a tree hung with rags, ribbons, buttons, small toys and other offerings. Once, passing it while walking with a ramblers' group, I mentioned the pagan connections and was told fiercely (by a Christian who attended St Kenelm's) that it was 'a prayer tree' and very Christian indeed and nothing to do with paganism at all.<br /><br />Odd that these prayer trees always seem to be found in woods and by old springs and near churches whose saints' severed heads caused springs to burst out.Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-51971165045045534512016-09-22T10:03:20.188+01:002016-09-22T10:03:20.188+01:00Fascinating! I was intrigued by the Fairy Trail, b...Fascinating! I was intrigued by the Fairy Trail, because a few months ago, we were walking in woods on the Chilterns near where my sister lives, and came across a strange little grotto with toys and lights in the trees. I don't know why it was there - just someone's whimsy, or something that had more meaning?Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.com