[x]

Browse More Like This

More from ~ArwensGrace

View Gallery · View Prints

Featured in Groups:

Not currently featured in any groups.

Details

Submitted: November 14, 2006
Image Size: 153 KB
Resolution: 424×600

Thumb

Statistics

Comments: 48
Favourites: 211 [who?]
Views: 8,818 (0 today)
Downloads: 3,467 (0 today)

Camera Data

Make:NIKON
Model:E4300
Shutter Speed:10/47 second
Aperture:F/3.7
Focal Length:14 mm
ISO Speed:209

Shop For This Camera

[x]

The Holly Kingby ~ArwensGrace

Digital Art / Photomanipulation / Conceptual

No photo stock used,thankyou to Chris Roberts for letting me photograph and manipulate him

Sparkle brushes by the lovely

"The myth of the Holly King/Oak King probably originated from the Druids to whom these two trees were highly sacred. The Oak King (God of the Waxing Year) kills the Holly King (God of the Waning Year) at Yule (the Winter Solstice). The Oak King then reigns supreme until Litha (the Summer Solstice) when the two battle again, this time with the Holly King victorious. Examples of the Holly King's image can be seen in our modern Santa Claus. He dons a sprig of holly in his hat, wears red clothing, and drives a team of eight (total number of Solar Sabbats) reindeer, an animal sacred to the Celtic Gods (deer). Mistletoe and holly came into modern Christmas celebrations through the memorializing of this battle. The holly with berries are hung in honor of the Holly King and mistletoe in honor of the Oak King. Although the Holly King and Oak King are mortal enemies at the two Solstices - Yule and Litha - it should be remembered that they are actually two sides of one whole, and neither would exist without the other."