The most widely held theory about the origins of theatre is that it evolved from rituals created symbolically to act out natural events, thereby bringing them down to human scale and making the unknown more easily accessible. Individuals would express themselves through rhythmic movement using some kind of adornment to depersonalize the body. The earliest known evidence of this is in the cave paintings and engravings at Les Trois Frères in southern France. Dating from the Late Paleolithic Period (about 40,000-10,000 BC), these ancient manifestations of art depict half-human, half-animal figures in animated poses. The figures appear to be dancers wearing the heads and skins of animals, suggesting the early use of mask and costume. Certainly the mask has been one of the most potent means of transcending one's own being or of representing other planes of existence, and in many parts of the world it holds great power and fascination to this day.

The natural elements were given personalities, which were in turn abstracted as spirits and gods. By wearing masks and moving in certain patterns, individuals could impersonate these deities. Sacred dances were performed to influence the course of nature--to bring rain, to facilitate a good harvest or a hunt, and to drive out evil. But one of the most important patterns was the enactment of the cycle of the seasons, dramatized by a battle in which winter gave way to spring. A year-king figure was ritually killed and supplanted by a new king. At first this was probably a human sacrifice of propitiation; later the killing was mimed. In a further development of this theme, the two kings were reduced to a single figure who underwent a process of repeated death and resurrection. This interpretation is used to explain the mock battles in such continuing folk traditions as the European mummers plays or the multiple deaths and rebirths of such figures as the Padstow Horse in Cornwall, England.

---

 

 

Click Here to return to the main page

Brief History of the Welsh Faerie Folk	What is the Ogham Alphabet?
What is Welsh Witchcraft?	Are there trees sacred to Witchcraft?
What is the difference between Shamanism and Druidism?	Do Witches perform Human Sacrifice?
What is the Faerie Faith?	What is Wicca?
What God's do Welsh Witches Worship?	What are Druids?
What are the Precepts of Merlin and Taliesin	What is the Difference between Witchcraft and Druidism?
What is Reincarnation?	What were the Sacred animals of Witches and the Druids?
What are the Tylwyth Teg Symbols?	Was Stonehenge built by the Druids?
What are the Welsh Witchcraft Holy Days?	Did the Druids build Glastonbury?
Is there a Welsh Celtic and Druidic Timeline	Did Druids build any of the Sacred Sites?
What is a Seeker?	Are there Modern Druid Organizations?
What is a Neophyte	Are there Modern Witchcraft Organizations?
Is there a List of Witchcraft Words and Terms?	What is a Priest or Priestess
Do Witches worship Nature?	What are the Celtic Nations?
Where are Welsh Resources?

There have been visitors to this page since January 1, 2005

Author:  Originally by Taliesin einion Vawr, Revised by Celtic Church of Dynion Mwyn, Inc. Copyright © 1977, 1992, 2003 by Celtic Church of Dynion Mwyn, Inc.   All rights reserved. Revised: 26 Jun 2008 14:33:04 -0400

This Site was Created by Celtic Church of Dynion Mwyn, Inc. For information on all individuals and organizations listed in this website, or the name of a contact person in your area that can give you further information on the Celtic Church of Dynion Mwyn, Let us hear from you! Click here to contact us.   You may also call us at 000-000-0000 If you access our voice mail, we will call you back collect if long distance. Or, you can write Dynion Mwyn, P.O. Box 672125, Marietta, GA 30006-0036

Click here to go to the Welsh Witchcraft Page