Pagan symbols have been a part of human civilization for centuries, and they continue to be present in everyday life. These symbols, rooted in ancient beliefs and practices, hold deep meaning and are still used today for various purposes. One of the most well-known pagan symbols is the pentagram. This five-pointed star has been associated with various meanings throughout history. In pagan traditions, it represents the five elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit - and is considered a symbol of protection. It can be found on jewelry, clothing, and even home decor items.
The Magic Roundabout
In 1963, after devoting 25 years as a publicist for an advertising agency, Serge Danot, from the Clisson region of France, decided it was time for a change. From this decision Le Man�ge Enchant� (The Horse-gear Magic) was born. Assisted by his wife Josiane and an English friend, Ivor Wood, Danot made over 500 episodes between 1963 and 1967.
Serge Danot at work
The original programmes were filmed in a derilict house in Paris where the electricity used by the sets lights continually blowed the fuses. Using 24 frames a second, each five minute episode of The Magic Roundabout uses 7500 images.
First seen on French television on October 6th 1964, this programme was an instant success which its creator had not anticipated. Pollux (Dougal) was one of the most famous dogs, and still is today with his love of sugar and long hair. Z�bulon (Zebadee) with his spring and his famous "Tournicotti-Tournicotton" (time for bed), put, and continues to put, generations of children to sleep, the only difference is the decade.
Originally the BBC turned down this hit French series, as it would be difficult to dub into English. However the BBC�s Head of Children's Programming decided to pass it on to Joy Whitby, the producer of Playschool who then gave it to one of the presenters of the show to see if he could voice an adaptation. That presenter�s name was Eric Thompson.
Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson chose not to work from translations of the French script, instead making up the stories as he went along. He re-named the characters and introduced irony, wit and melancholy to the English language shows. Pollux became the curt Dougal In Thompson's hands, Pollux became the dry, curt Dougal we know and love hovering round the garden with a put-down for every event. Even the theme tune was speeded up for British production. Along with Dylan the newly hippified rabbit, the ever-cheerful Brian the snail, enthusiastic flower-chewing Ermintrude the cow and all the rest, Dougal and his friends were ready for English stardom. The 'new' series first aired in the UK on 18 October 1965.
The fact that the five minute programme showed just before the evening news guaranteed that the programme had a viewing figure of over eight million. The show was enjoyed by two generations, by the children for its innocent good fun and by the adults for its witty commentary. With its heavy sixties feel, the show soon achieved a cult status. The show contained a slightly dubious cast of characters. Dougal, the hairy dog who lived on an exclusive diet of, er, sugar, a spring with a moustache called Zebedee who arrival was announced with a boing and declared that it was �time for bed�, Dylan the rabbit who could be growing something other than carrots in his vegetable patch, Ermintrude the pink cow who had amazing neck flexibility, Brian the snail and his scarf, Florence the girl and their friends.
Danot�s wife has denied the link people have made between the show and drugs, claiming the drug culture of today didn�t exist them, but maybe Dougal�s sugar is just sugar, and Dylan�s mushrooms are just mushrooms.
After two years of The Magic Roundabout showing at 5:55pm the BBC attempted to change the time to one hour earlier, causing a huge response and forcing them to return The Magic Roundabout to it�s original spot. Even in the 1970�s, people still had opinions to express on this subject:
"I should like to know how the BBC thinks I am going to regain my equilibrium after teaching all day if there is no Magic Roundabout to come home to?"
52 unseen French episodes were bought for Britain by Channel Four. Unfortunately, Eric Thompson was dead by then, so Nigel Planner provided narration and script adaptation to these.
Nigel Planner
Le Man�ge Enchant� (Magic Roundabout) has been shown on over 98 TV stations world wide and translated into 28 languages, proving a true success.
"It comes from a simple history of the everyday life, with characters having humor, poetry and an anecdote to be as much close to the parents than children, which makes it possible to join together various generation for this famous animation."
- Danot
|History| |Characters| | The New Film | |Links|
It can be found on jewelry, clothing, and even home decor items. Another commonly seen pagan symbol is the wheel of the year. This symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and the changing seasons.
The Characters
"Slow down slow down,���.you'll have to explain it again,�.firstly what exactly is 'Escargo',�. "
"Snails are misused little creatures"
Brian is a snail. A snail with common sense, intelligence and good intentions. He credits the others in the gang as being cleverer than himself, but without this brave mollusc things would always turn out worst. Agreeing sometimes with Dougal�s more ridiculous ideas, he rectifies the situation by a �Do you think�� or �Maybe we should��
"I'm here, let joy be unconfined."
"Functional and pretty. Like me"
Dougal is often considered the main character in The Magic Roundabout . One of the best descriptions of him is from his amigo Dylan,". That crazy dog with the. like. way-out fur?" Dougal is a maltese Terrier and stars in his own film, Dougal and The Blue Cat. Dougal enjoys turning round and round in circles, upsetting Ermintrude and insulting Brian. He also has an addiction to, er, sugar cubes. He believes he is the brains of the bunch and is arrogant and has reached new heights in the field of rudeness. Underneath his shaggy fur and harsh tongue however, is just a big softie. Dougal has everything needed in a leading dog, including the ability to daydream, sarcastic wit and a droll sense of humour.
�I�m a rabbit.�
"But I'm a rabbit who sleeps, I'm not the hopping kind."
Ah, Dylan. This rabbit rarely awakens, and then only to play his guitar. Without him, the whole theory that The magic Roundabout is actually about drugs. In fact, the only episode Dylan is really crucial to is The Magic Mushroom Instantly recognisable with his big teeth and hands, Eric Thompson created his hippy persona, which is the main evidence for the drug theory.
"I'm an Ayrshire!"
"I've come over all unnecessary."
Ermintrude is unfairly described by Dougal as a ". Flower-eating monster," She is the girlie animal in the group. She has just a little crush on Dougal, but alas, it was not meant to be. Ermintrude likes to call everyone dear. She seems quite dim, but quite enjoys teasing others, with a wit to match that of Dougal�s. Besides, she can be as dim as she wants whilst she can still turn her head through 360 degrees!
"Whatever next?"
"Take your coat off," (To Dougal)
Florence has been mistakenly referred to as Dougal�s girlfriend. The creators may have come up with some strange things, but they weren�t that strange! Easily recognised by her big hands, big feet and bad hair, Zebedee brought Florence and some other children to the garden so that magic would return to Mr. Rusty�s roundabout. Florence is the child that generally features, while the others make occasional appearances. Pleasant and caring, Florence is found often worrying about Dougal.
"You're so young and trusting." � Ermintrude
"Children nowadays - really!"-Dougal
"Time for bed"
"I try to please,"
"It's nice to have satisfied customers."
Zebedee is a spring with a moustache. He knows what will happen before it happens, which can be quitew useful. He can restore order and always knows exactly what to do. The stranger things that happen in the programme (stranger than Magic Roundabout normality!) tend to be the result of his magic. He can also transform himself into anything he wants to be. At the end of each episode, he speaks the immortal words, �Time for bed.�
|History| |Characters| | The New Film | |Links|
Each portion of the wheel represents a different pagan festival or holiday, such as Ostara or Samhain. It can often be found on calendars, artwork, and even altar decorations used by modern pagans. The triple moon symbol is also pervasive in everyday life. It represents the three phases of the moon - waxing, full, and waning - and is associated with feminine energy and the goddess. This symbol can be found on jewelry, clothing, as well as spiritual and magical tools used by modern pagans. Additionally, the tree of life is a widely recognized pagan symbol. It symbolizes the interconnectedness of all living beings and the spiritual connection between the heavens, earth, and underworld. This symbol can be found on various products, such as home decor items, artwork, and even tattoos. Furthermore, the animal symbolism plays a significant role in paganism. Various animals hold specific meanings in different pagan traditions. For example, the owl is often associated with wisdom and intuition, while the wolf symbolizes loyalty and courage. These animal symbols can be seen in artwork, jewelry, and even as tattoos, as people embrace their pagan beliefs and connections with nature. In conclusion, pagan symbols continue to be present in everyday life, often symbolizing deep meanings and connections to ancient beliefs and practices. Whether on jewelry, clothing, home decor, or spiritual tools, these symbols serve as reminders of our connection to nature, the cycles of life, and our spiritual journeys..
Reviews for "Exploring the sacred geometry of pagan symbols"
1. Emma - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Pagan symbols in everyday life". I was expecting an in-depth exploration of how pagan symbols are integrated into modern society, but instead, the book felt like a collection of random information without any coherent structure. It lacked a clear thesis and jumped from one topic to another without providing any meaningful analysis or insights. The writing style was also dry and lacked personality. Overall, I found this book to be uninteresting and not worth my time.
2. Mark - 1 star
I found "Pagan symbols in everyday life" to be highly misleading. The title suggests that the book would provide a critical analysis of how pagan symbols are present in our daily lives, but in reality, it was just a compilation of random facts and history about pagan symbols. There was no coherent argument or thesis throughout the book, and it felt more like a boring textbook than a thought-provoking read. The author also failed to provide any practical examples or applications of how these symbols are relevant in contemporary society. I do not recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaningful exploration of pagan symbols in everyday life.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
As someone who was genuinely interested in learning about pagan symbols, "Pagan symbols in everyday life" fell flat for me. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any new or interesting insights into the topic. It felt like the author was simply regurgitating information from other sources without adding any original analysis or perspective. The writing style was also quite dull and robotic, making it difficult to stay engaged with the content. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a comprehensive exploration of pagan symbols in everyday life.