Page 240 - Four Thousand Years Ago by Geoffrey Bibby

[1510-1440 »-c-J k he Amoer nouie tot
The midsummer festival was more fun, though, when the
bonfires were lit on every headland and along the shores, and the
dancing went on all night long around the garlanded pole, and

even the youngest boys regaled themselves on the cakes and ale
until they could hardly stand. The night was scarcely long
enough for the merrymaking (and love-making), and all too soon
the sun-god arose in glory to give the signal for the sacrifice of the

chosen beasts.

SOME OF THE ROCK CARVINGS OF SOUTH NORWAY AND SWEDEN ARE
NOT EASY TO INTERPRET. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS ONE REPRESENTS
A MAYPOLE, WHICH TO THIS DAY IS A CENTRAL FEATURE OF SWEDISH
MEDSUMMER-DAY FESTIVITIES.

The sacrifices were greatest, of course, at the harvest festival,
held when the day and the night once more were equal and winter
stood at the doors. For that was the time of the slaughtering of

cattle and sheep and pigs for the winter larder. At that time the
offering tables outside the temple grove were laden with acknowl­
edgments to the sun-god who had given the harvest. There would
be fish and meat and sausages and piles of grain and apples, dishes