Talk:Well dressing

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Untitled[edit]

It's my understanding that "well dressing" refers to a variety of methods of decorating holy wells, and is not limited to England. Thoughts? --Kathryn NicDhàna 06:55, 19 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It'd be great to hear of any other examples; I've only ever heard of it being used to describe this particular method of decorating wells. Warofdreams talk 11:46, 19 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with Kathryn NicDhàna. I found this article in the English folkore category and was surprised to see it was about a particular English custom. I say "particular" because even in a solely English context the term 'well dressing' covers more widespread customs and practices. 'Well dressing' is a term commonly used by folklorists to describe the custom of decorating wells - or trees or bushes growing over them - with rags, pins, and other ornamental material in Wales, Scotland and Ireland as well. Similar customs are found in other countries too. The term is certainly not restricted to England. This is an interesting article, but perhaps it should be renamed 'Well dressing in England' with the redirect being made into a stub, for now, on 'Well dressing'? Enaidmawr (talk) 00:13, 7 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, the article should either be generalized with more international examples (e.g., http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osterbrunnen) or it should be renamed 'Well dressing in England'. Doremo (talk) 04:23, 10 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Pagan origins?[edit]

Can anyone find any researched historical evidence that this was a pagan custom. I have searched on this and all I can find is vague speculation like "[its origins] are said to lie in pagan tradition", "some say that...", "according to many sources...", "may even have their roots in...", "thought to have originated in...", "there is a possibility that...". As far as I can tell it seems to be a widespread urban myth with no actual scientific substance to it. But I may have missed something...Bermicourt (talk) 18:25, 23 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

While we badly need better references, veneration of wells is, well, well attested. For a recent source, see section 3 of Ken Dowden's European Paganism ("Focus I: Spring, Lake, River"). :bloodofox: (talk) 18:29, 23 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately for us today, pagan times had no printing presses, news media or internet, possibly no anticipation there would be a wikipedia, so you are more likely to get published sources supporting or disproving pagan origins (eg in learned society journals) rather than from the times themselves.Cloptonson (talk) 15:54, 17 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The Black Death and Tissington - might 1348 be too early for it to strike Derbyshire?[edit]

The well dressing as a thanksgiving for Tissington surviving the Black Death arguably could not have happened in 1348; the plague was only recorded to have arrived in England at Weymouth in the summer of 1348 and the plaque did not cover England until the middle of 1349.Cloptonson (talk) 06:51, 17 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]