Motif
protective and purifying fire or smoke
protective_and_purifying_fire_or_smoke
A motif of the Sacred Fire and Divine Light family, within the sub-family Purifying, Protective, and Boundary Fires. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
comparative
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The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 2 of 2) The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 2 of 2) / CONTENTS; lines 5858-5932 confidence: high
Midsummer fire-festivals are set at the summer solstice; a medieval writer lists bonfires, torch processions around fields, and wheel rolling, says smoke drives away harmful dragons, and explains the wheel by the sun's highest point and descent; Frazer says the features match spring festivals.
Smoke is said to drive away harmful dragons; new fire torches are used to fumigate pastures and houses against demons and witches.
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