In Slavic countries, birds were thought to bring the spring with them when they returned on 9 March, the holiday of Strinennia. Special cakes are also made in the shape of birds, which is thought to ensure their return. They are carried around the village amidst the singing of Vesnyanki (invocations to spring). Children are given pastries shaped like birds to toss into the air while saying, “The rooks have come!”
Here in England, most of our summer bird visitors don’t arrive till next month, but the rooks have been with us all year, and in the garden I’ve seen signs that out native birds are preparing to nest and breed, gathering moss and twigs, singing in the trees and bushes for mates.
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Author: annafranklinblog
Anna Franklin is the High Priestess of the Hearth of Arianrhod, which runs teaching circles, a working coven, and the annual Mercian Gathering, a Pagan camp which raises money for charity. She regularly speaks at conferences, moots and workshops around the country. She is the author of many books on witchcraft and Paganism, including the popular Pagan Ways Tarot, Sacred Circle Tarot, The Fairy Ring, Herb Craft, Magical Incenses and Oils, Personal Power, A Romantic Guide to Handfasting, Familiars, The Oracle of the Goddess, Hearth Witch, The Path of the Shaman and The Hearth Witch’s Compendium. Anna’s books have been translated into nine languages.
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