A primary function of art and thought is to liberate the individual from the tyranny of culture
- Lionel Trilling

12.21.2010

On the Winter Solstice, the Saami, indigenous people of FinlandSweden and Norway, worship Beiwe, the sun-goddess of fertility and sanity. She travels through the sky in a structure made of reindeer bones with her daughter, Beiwe-Neia, to herald back the greenery on which the reindeer feed. On the winter solstice, her worshipers sacrifice white female animals, and thread the meat onto sticks which they bend into rings and tie with bright ribbons. They also cover their doorposts with butter so Beiwe can eat it and begin her journey once again.

No comments:

Post a Comment