What are the true legends behind the Wicker Man?

Question

What do we really know about the Wicker Man ritual and how does it compare to both movies, the 2006, and the 1973 versions?

Answer 1

http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/bldefwickerman.htm?terms=solar+bears

There are no other contemporary accounts (other than those who drew on Caesar's writings) of this practice, and no archaeological evidence to support the accusation, yet this story is the basis for most of the tales about Druids as bloodthirsty practitioners of human sacrifice.

The truth in the tale is probably related to the ancient harvest custom, still carried out in parts of Europe, of ritually sacrificing the "corn god" to ensure the following year's harvest. A small portion of the grain was left in the field, often twisted or tied into a man-like shape, often called a 'corn dolly.' This effigy (immortalized in Burns' ballad of John Barleycorn) was believed to contain the essence of the spirit of the grains- a representation of the solar deity who would be burned and 'reborn' as the spring grain.

Today's wicker man is largely a Neopagan custom that bears only passing relation to his ancient forebear. A fixture at harvest festivals and Beltane gatherings, he often represents the passing of the old year and its cares and worries.

Answer 2

Although there are many stories about the Druids and their ritual sacrifices, most of them can be traced back to the writings of Julius Caesar, who at the time was at war with the Celts. This was just propaganda. There is no archeological evidence to support the supposed sacrifices. The druids held all life as sacred, so it is hard to believe that they did conduct ritual sacrifices. Some people have suggested that if the Druids did sacrifice, then it would be considered a great honor by the person being sacrificed. The Druids had no fear of death so this is plausible, however there is really no evidence to support this or any form of sacrifice.

The existence of spectacular Wicker Man type sacrifices also seems unlikely, given the only source is Roman military texts. The Greeks and Romans had practiced human sacrifice sometimes during their histories so it wouldn't be all that surprising if the Celts also did. It is known that the Celts took heads as trophys during war and they most likely executed prisoners of war and criminals. However, we don't know if these acts had religious connotations for them, because the Druids didn't believe in writing down their beliefs and practices. Some are sure that the strangled "Bog Men" prove at least small scale human sacrifice. But reading the difference between "execution" and "sacrifice" in archaeological remains is difficult. If the topic interests you, read up on it yourself.

The Romans recorded that they sacrificed humans, specifically condemned criminals. Judicial executions were no different elsewhere in Europe, including Saxony. The Romans wrote that such victims were tied into huge wicker man-shaped effigies and burned alive. The archaeological record does reveal a number of sacrificial deaths, such as "triple-deaths" where the victim was drowned, stoned, and impaled on a spear simultaneously. Some mythologies describe one person's life being sacrificed so that a terminally ill VIP would survive, thus indicating a belief in a cosmic balance of forces. However, it is more certain that this was mainly anti-Druid propaganda. Julius Caesar had good reason to make the Druids look bad, because, after all, he was trying to conquer them. It would fuel interest in his campaign back home if he could prove that the Celts engaged in such barbaric practices. On the other hand, the Romans would kill people in gladiatorial games, for the entertainment of the people. The Druids, if they did sacrifice people, could claim religious sanction. The archaeological record is ambiguous if such sacrifice was judicial or ceremonial, or even if it occurred at all.


Blessings )O(

Answer 3

A Wicker Man Ritual

For the group ritual of the Wicker Man, we constructed a two-foot high little man out of grapevines. It is easy to find a roll of grapevines at most any craft store, and usually you can find small balls already formed. For our man we used a small ball for the head and a larger one for the body. A small roll of vine was soaked in water to make it soft and pliable and then it could be twined to bind head and body together and then constructed arms and legs. The "man" then has plenty of openings into which papers can be stuffed. He was displayed next to a jar of papers and pencils as everyone arrived. Before ritual they were asked to meditate on the onset of the season of sacrifice, when the grain of the harvest must die in order to provide food, and to reflect on something that they needed to give away and share in order to make space for new and added growth in their own lives. They were to write a symbol of what they would sacrifice and then stuff it inside the Wicker Man's body. At the central point of the ritual, the priest who was Lugh said the following:

Often we are faced with sacrifices that we must make. We come to realize that something we have must be given to others in order to open space within lives and souls for new growth. In thinking of what that may mean for you, you have placed the symbol of your personal sacrifice within this "Wicker Man," symbol of the sacrifice of your God. Meditate upon your own sacrifice and offer it willingly to the fires of Spirit with your pledge that you will go forth to carry it out also within your Life.

The Wicker Man was then put into the Sabbat fire, while we raised and released energy by drumming. Then the High Priestess blessed the cakes and cider:

Blessed be the sacrifice of the Lord of the Grain, the grains that have been reaped that you might eat. Blessed be the fruits of the vine of harvest. As you receive, share with the person next to you, sunwise around the circle, and savor the joy of sharing. When all have been served, we will offer a toast of thanksgiving and then taste and savor with love and gratitude. Be sure to save a small portion of both food and drink to return to the Earth, with love and gratitude for her abundance.

WICKER MAN

Classification: Object of Sacrifice; Magical creation

Creator: Ancient Celts and/or the Druids, Morgan le Fay and Mordred the Evil

User/Possessors: Ancient Celts and Druids, Morgan le Fay and Mordered the Evil

First Appearance: The Gallic War-by Julius Caesar; (in the Marvel Universe) Black Knight I#4 (September, 1990)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The original Wicker Man (Men) served merely as a prison/container, which could then be set on fire to immolate those trapped within it.
The creation of Morgan le Fay was composed of magical energy and was a mobile creature of destruction. It drew demonic life by sapping the life force of those trapped within it. In addition to possessing vastly superhuman strength, it could tap into other sources of magic and project destructive beams of energy from its eyes. It also served as a prison, and attacks against the Wicker Man could injure, or even kill, those within it.

History: see the comments and associated links for a detailed real world history

On Earth-616, the Wicker Man was a giant humanoid figure contstructed out of wicker, in which people and/or animals were placed, and then set on fire. This may have been done as punishment for the foulest criminals, as was done by the ancient Celts, or as sacrifices to bloodthirsty gods, as was done by the Druid sects.


(Black Knight I#4) - In London, Morgan and Mordred cast a spell sweeping up a mob of people who had gathered below. The people were contained within a Wicker Man of magical energy, which Morgan then set against her enemies: the Black Knight (Dane Whitman's body inhabited by Sir Percy), Dr. Strange, and the Valkyrie. Strange uleashed a spell at the Wicker Man, but recalled it--at much pain to himself--when he realized it would harm those inside. The Black Knight attacked it, but it grasped his sword, drew on its power fired an energy blast that incapacitated all three of its opponents. Strange and the Valkyrie were imprisoned within the Wicker Man while Sir Percy was forced to swear allegiance to Morgan and Mordred at the threat of the deaths of all within the Wicker Man.
Percy was bound by honor to carry out his oath, but Dane Whitman was bound by no such oath. Realizing this, Sir Percy removed his helmet, restoring Dane Whitman's mind and control. Swiftly, Dane thrust the Ebony Blade into the Wicker Man's head. Whitman wasnearly overcome by the magical energies released, but the spirit of Sir Percy merged with the Ebony Blade, allowing him to tolerate them. The Wicker Man then dissipated, freeing all those trapped within. The Black Knight then used the energies absorbed by his sword to drive off Morgan and Mordred, forcing them back into the Astral Realm from which they had escaped.