Thanks everyone for prayers and help. Would love to be well enough to commence something soon, only if it is God's Will though!
I know very little of what goes on in Ireland, but have read of a tradition of "The Puck King," wherein a little goat is captured, taken into town/village, fed choice oats (or whatever), and is crowned "The Puck King" by a little girl. He is cooed over and "celebrated" in family-friendly way. After two or three days (?), the goat is released back into pasture (or the wild?). I thought this was an innocent and charming thing. Is there a darker side to this tradition? Is it still done?
No. If it had pagan origins they have long been forgotten. I was there once many years ago and all I remember of it was that it seemed like a horse fair and the pubs were open late. The goat was in a cage elevated on a kind of makeshift tower. It seemed happy enough and nobody paid much attention to it when I was there. I don't know what the fair is like now. I think the origin may have been some kind of mockery of the English king. If so, that would have been centuries after paganism had died out.
Oh. I saw a black and white (1940s?) photo in a book I've long since parted with. It was just so cute -- the little goat was certainly enjoying the attention and extra food!
Aw. Do you go? It's still with a child crowning a little goat, which is pampered with love and lots of good food?
