"ERTHA" IS CELEBRATED AT THE "WINTER SOLSTICE. "AT THIS SEASON ALL IS JOY, AND EVERY PLACE WHICH SHE VISITS IS A SCENE OF FESTIVITY. IT IS SAID THAT ON THIS NIGHT SHE VISITS THE HOUSES OF HER FOLLOWERS BY DESCENDING THROUGH THE SMOKE IN THE CHIMNEY AND LEAVING SMALL GIFTS FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD. DURING THIS PARTICULAR PERIOD, TRIBES WOULD LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS AND HOSTILITIES WOULD BE SUSPENDED. AND AS THE FESTIVE SEASON ENDED, THE SAME PRIEST WOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY OF THE GODDESS TO HER OTHER WORLDLY ABOARD.
THESE PREPARATIONS INCLUDED NECESSARY SACRIFICES. FINALLY THE GODDESS LEAVES FOR HER ABODE THROUGH A SECRET LAKE AND THE RITUAL IS PERFORMED WITH THE HELP OF SLAVES WHO ARE ALSO BELIEVED TO BE CONSUMED BY THE LAKE AS HUMAN SACRIFICES. THE BELIEF WAS THAT IF THE GODDESS RETURNED HAPPY AFTER HER SOJOURN SHE WOULD ENSURE A BOUNTIFUL SEASON FOR THE NEXT ONE YEAR.
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