Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-26
RAINBOW FOLK LORE.
BELIEFS CONC -RNING BEAUTIFUL
LUMINOUS PHENOMENA

LUMINOUS PHENOMENA
Divine Honors ard Worship Paid to the
Eow-Varicus Names Given-A Nessen-
ger from Heaven-The Road of Souls.
A Demon.
Many curious beliefs concerning the
TaInbow-the most beautiful Of the lumin-
Gus phenomena Of the sky or air-haye
prevailed in AL ages, and do still survive
The ancients have left on record many Of
these strange beliefs. They grew and
spread during the Middle Ages. The
symbolism OF Christian art employed the
rainbow as an ornament. Christ being
frequently shown seated on the many
colJred arch Of heaven.
Tine bow has been recognized as the
deity himself, and divine honors and wor-
ship have been paid TO it. Ancient Greeks
OF Delos offered cakes OF -four, meal and
dried fruits 10 the rainbow Iris, tae
charming and swift messenger of tine gods,
was the rainbow in early mythology, and
one Of the lesser divinities in Olympus.
In Samoa the rainbow is recognized as
the village god, and Pava GOD of war
appeared in its shining arch. Mozambique
Turks regard it as the bow OF Mouloucou
genius of good, and Turks as the bow Of
Cousa angel Of clouds In the Philip
pine Islands vows are addressed TO it, and
after rain prayers are said to it. It was
one Of the servants Of the sun in ancient
Peru, and niche was reserved for it in
the Quito temples. In Tahiti it is one of
the children Of the God T'aaroa.
When not regarded as the deity himself,
it is often believed to be in some way con-
nected with him, az many OF modern
names for IL indicate. CARDS consider il
the basket Of the God Joulouka;'
Samoyedes, 1.-THE edge Of the garment Of
supreme being" and Kamschatkans,
''the God Bloucay'' Its name In San
scrit was the "arm" or the bow Of
Indra," God Of the Elements In Finnish
It il called 'Ukko's bow Tsigane peas
ants call it the ring Of God" and Scla-
vonaus the ''seal Of God" Croatians, the
"belt, rod, ""foot, or ''stave of God, ~
while TO inhabitants of Archlngel, the
Walloon country, and TO Arabs and
Czecks it is the bow Of God" IL is
known in one part Of France as the
"girdle OF God"
Others credit the saints with power
through it, Various saints have been Sc
lected MS patronymic. In is st Marks
bow in parts Of Italy and France; st.
Martins ring" in other localities OF
France, ana his bow in still other
places, and in Spain also. In Belgium it
Is called "St. Mchael's humble bee" in
France "St Bernard's CROWN and in
Lorraine his body" in Provence and
Dauphny his bridge" 1t is st Leon
ards crown" in one place, his Carriage"
in another Basque folk lore records its
name as the "arm OF St. John" One
Arab name is the 'bow of the prophet"
In accordance with the tradition that
the rainbow was sign and promise to
Noah we find ii connected with his name
in many place, and frequently shall also
find il in weather indication. Sicilans
call it ''Noahs arch; provincial Rus
SLAMS, ''Noah's legacy and it is named
the boat of tine Holy delugc" in Franche
Compile. Regarded in many lands as II
messenger from heaven, or way to he
celestial REGIONS, the luminous bow is
named in accordance with these beliefs
In Old French and in modern Finnish dia-
lec:s it is the celestial arch, while in
Spanish it is the heavenly bow" in Ar
deche, the 'brdSe of the Holy Spirit"
in Welsh the arch Of the Trinity" and
in central Russia, the bow of pardon"
Ancient Eddaic lore named it "Bifrost
the bridge between heaven and earth,
over which the gods journey Later
Greek mythology represented 1t as the
road to tine gods by winch Iris Travelled
"Arcanum non lrin', sed viGm lridIs
asst says SueNinS.
In Austria !iunElrT, the rainbow IS the
bridge ny which -. tiiAS descendS from
heaven, and the thunder Ia the sound OF
j chariot Whec.s. Central ASIAN tribes
- call u 81 ti2S' Bridge, ana Rus
shth peasants ot ha1al name n the IN
cbneu brNEe- In one portion OF France
II - saiI TO be the SAadow OF u hsi"ge
WHICH exists between earth and heaven
In GrcehIani ana H.iVouia II Is tine road