My wife is from Nigeria and my family is from Norway. One thing that we found we had in common was our pre-Christian traditions are similar.
Norway had the Nisse which were spirits that occupied the forests. When the forest was cleared for farming the Nisse had to occupy themselves and so the farmers decided to give them offerings (usually milk so the Nisse would then watch over the goats and cows). Now they are portrayed as Garden Gnome like creatures but they match the Leprechuans of Ireland and the Household Deities of Rome. In Nigeria (Igbo) they came into being the same way (agriculture) but were nameless...but they were forest spirits turned farm spirits. But a Nisse could easily integrate into an Igbo animist pantheon and both would feel at home being worshipped at the Hearth by Romans.
I also think of the residents of Jersey UK. Apparently the story going around for generations was "my grandfather told me his grandfather was able to walk to France at low tide." and recent research proved that to be true, but 7000 years ago. So that meant the same story about an elder claiming an earlier elder was able to walk to the European continent was passed down for 7000 years.
Anyway, do any of you have any traditions or superstitions that might be alot older than what you were told
Mine is this: On Christmas Eve you must change the bedding of your animals in order to honor the animals that were present at Christ's birth in the manger. (I do this but with kitty litter and washing the cats bedding)
But I think this may have come from Nisse placating and was adapted to Jesus later.
Norway had the Nisse which were spirits that occupied the forests. When the forest was cleared for farming the Nisse had to occupy themselves and so the farmers decided to give them offerings (usually milk so the Nisse would then watch over the goats and cows). Now they are portrayed as Garden Gnome like creatures but they match the Leprechuans of Ireland and the Household Deities of Rome. In Nigeria (Igbo) they came into being the same way (agriculture) but were nameless...but they were forest spirits turned farm spirits. But a Nisse could easily integrate into an Igbo animist pantheon and both would feel at home being worshipped at the Hearth by Romans.
I also think of the residents of Jersey UK. Apparently the story going around for generations was "my grandfather told me his grandfather was able to walk to France at low tide." and recent research proved that to be true, but 7000 years ago. So that meant the same story about an elder claiming an earlier elder was able to walk to the European continent was passed down for 7000 years.
Anyway, do any of you have any traditions or superstitions that might be alot older than what you were told
Mine is this: On Christmas Eve you must change the bedding of your animals in order to honor the animals that were present at Christ's birth in the manger. (I do this but with kitty litter and washing the cats bedding)
But I think this may have come from Nisse placating and was adapted to Jesus later.
Statistics: Posted by Kurt — Wed Feb 14, 2024 7:08 am — Replies 2 — Views 16