Goat crowned King of Ireland at ancient festival

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Here is an interesting news article on an ancient tradition.

 

I learnt that Europe is ruled by Aries. I dont know about Ireland,

Maybe Ireland has stronger Amsha(Division) of Aries.

 

Mars rules Aries, There is also an interesting ancient (Purana) story

about how Karthikeya (The warrior chief for the gods) saved a goat

from sacrifice and became known as one who rode the Goat. Karthikeya

(aka Murugan) is a higher diety for Mars.

 

Maybe Dasji/Rick can tell something more about this ancient ritual in

Ireland.

 

Warm Regards

Sanjay P

 

http://news./news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050810/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_ireland_g\

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Goat crowned King of Ireland at ancient festival

 

By Kevin SmithWed Aug 10, 4:00 PM ET

 

A wild mountain goat was crowned King of Ireland on Wednesday in an

ancient annual ritual whose origins are lost in the mists of history.

 

For three days, Charlie, a grey male goat with brown trimmings, will

reign over this year's Puck Fair -- one of Ireland's oldest and

best-loved street festivals -- in Killorglin, in the southwestern

county of Kerry.

 

"Nobody really knows how it came about or when," said Jean Kearney, a

spokeswoman for the festival, which is expected this year to attract

more than 100,000 visitors for a marathon of music, drinking and dancing.

 

"It has been traced back to the 1600s, but some say it dates back to a

festival held in pagan times."

 

One theory is that the event pays tribute to a wild goat that alerted

the town to the advancing armies of military leader Oliver Cromwell in

the 17th century.

 

Another is that it stems from the pagan Celtic festival of Lughnasa,

when feasting and sacrifices marked the start of the harvest season,

and that the goat is a pagan fertility symbol.

 

"For the people round here it's no exaggeration to say the Puck Fair

is almost as important as Christmas," Kearney said.

 

"It attracts thousands of tourists but it's also a huge homecoming for

Kerry people who have moved away. The atmosphere is just magical."

 

Charlie, or King Puck to give him his official title, will later be

raised up on an elevated platform in the centre of the town square

where, from a height of 50 feet (15 metres), he will look down on his

loyal subjects for the duration of the fair.

 

On Friday he will relinquish his gold crown and return to the

mountains of Kerry where he was captured last week by local man Frank

Joy -- chief goat catcher for the past 15 years.

 

The festival, which also includes a traditional horse fair, open-air

concerts, and firework displays, is expected to generate around 7

million euros (4.8 million pounds) for the local economy.