CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" > <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/5-battle-of-summer-and-winter/" /> <link rel="profile" href="https://gmpg.org/xfn/11">   <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-93748-2"></script>  <script> window.dataLayer=window.dataLayer || [];dataLayer.push({"btb-page":"legacy"}); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-56MW5HV'); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-93748-2'); </script> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' />  <title>§ 5. Battle of Summer and Winter - Collection at Bartleby.com</title> <meta name="description" content="§ 5. Battle of Summer and Winter SOMETIMES in the popular customs of the peasantry the contrast between the dormant powers of vegetation in winter and their awakening vitality in spring" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="§ 5. Battle of Summer and Winter - Collection at Bartleby.com" /> <meta property="og:description" content="§ 5. Battle of Summer and Winter SOMETIMES in the popular customs of the peasantry the contrast between the dormant powers of vegetation in winter and their awakening vitality in spring" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/5-battle-of-summer-and-winter" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Collection at Bartleby.com" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2022-08-25T19:13:55+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2022-11-23T10:45:27+00:00" /> <meta name="author" content="ajeyaseelan" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="ajeyaseelan" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="4 minutes" />  <script> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=d9b66875866e77cb775eb3e3cb245402"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='preload' as='style' onload="this.onload=null;this.rel='stylesheet'" id='wp-block-library' href='https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=d9b66875866e77cb775eb3e3cb245402' type='text/css'media='all'/><style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='preload' as='style' onload="this.onload=null;this.rel='stylesheet'" id='listnav' href='https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/css/essay.min.css?ver=d9b66875866e77cb775eb3e3cb245402' type='text/css'media='all'/><link rel='stylesheet' id='bartleby-style-css' href='https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/style.css?ver=1.1.75' media='all' /> <script defer src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script defer src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script defer src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/js/bartleby-custom.js?ver=1.1.75" id="bartleby-custom-js-js"></script> <link rel="icon" href="https://legacy-cms-media.bartleby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/09/14172422/cropped-favicon-32x32-1-32x32.png" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://legacy-cms-media.bartleby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/09/14172422/cropped-favicon-32x32-1-192x192.png" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://legacy-cms-media.bartleby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/09/14172422/cropped-favicon-32x32-1-180x180.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://legacy-cms-media.bartleby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/09/14172422/cropped-favicon-32x32-1-270x270.png" /> <style id="wp-custom-css"> #bby-main .bby-content-left img { width: 129px; height: 100%; min-height: 135px; } .bby-single-content table td{ text-align: left; } @media(max-width:900px) { .header-splat .header-splat__logo-container-secondary { position: relative; } } </style> </head>  <header class="header-splat no-padding"> <div class="bby-container top-nav--slim no-padding"> <div class="columns small-2 full-height"> <a href="https://www.bartleby.com" class="header-splat__logo-container-secondary">  </a> </div> <div class="columns small-6 full-height"> <section class="navigation"> <div class="nav-container"> <nav> <div class="nav-mobile"><a id="nav-toggle" href="#"><span></span></a></div>  <ul class="nav-list"> <li id="menu-item-294751" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294751"><a href="/lit-hub/reference/">Reference</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294752" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294752"><a href="/lit-hub/verse/">Verse</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294753" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294753"><a href="/lit-hub/fiction/">Fiction</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294754" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294754"><a href="/lit-hub/nonfiction/">Nonfiction</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </section> </div> <div class="columns small-3 medium-4 header-splat__search-box-container position-relative full-height" style="padding-top: 15px;">  </div> <div class="sub-header-icon" onclick="openNav()"> <img src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/images/dots-menu.png" width="30" height="30" alt="dots-menu"> </div> </div>  </header> <div class="sub-header" id="sub-header"> <a href="javascript://" class="closebtn" onclick="closeNav()">×</a> <div class="row"> <div class="sub-ul"> <nav class="primary-menu-wrapper" aria-label="Horizontal"> <ul class="primary-menu reset-list-style"> <li id="menu-item-294739" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294739"><a href="/lit-hub/index-to-subjects/">Subjects</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294741" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294741"><a href="/lit-hub/index-to-titles/">Titles</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294742" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294742"><a href="/lit-hub/authors/">Authors</a></li> <li id="menu-item-175139" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-175139"><a href="https://www.bartleby.com/writing/">Essays</a></li> <li id="menu-item-175140" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-175140"><a href="https://www.bartleby.com/learn">Learn</a></li> <li id="menu-item-175141" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-175141"><a href="/lit-hub/rogets-international-thesaurus-of-english-words-and-phrases/">Thesaurus</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294743" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294743"><a href="/lit-hub/quotations/">Quotations</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294744" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294744"><a href="/lit-hub/english-usage-style-composition/">English Usage</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div>  <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-107907 single-format-standard wp-embed-responsive" itemtype="https://schema.org/WebPage" itemscope="itemscope"> <a class="skip-link screen-reader-text" href="#site-content">Skip to the content</a> <main class="main"> <br />  <section id="bby-main"> <div class="bby-container"> <div class="bby-content-wrapper"> <div class="bby-main-content justify-content-center"> <div class="bby-content-right"> <div class="bby-content-breadcrumb" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"> <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.bartleby.com"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a> <meta itemprop="position" content="1" /> </span>  »  <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/"><span itemprop="name">The Golden Bough</span></a> <meta itemprop="position" content="2" /> </span>  »  <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"> <span itemprop="name" class="atm-mk-uncursor">§ 5. Battle of Summer and Winter</span> <meta itemprop="position" content="3" /> </span> </div> <div class="bby-content-nav"> <div class="nav-prev"> <a href="/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/4-bringing-in-summer"> <i class="fa fa-angle-left" aria-hidden="true"></i> <label>Previous Article</label> </a> </div> <div class="nav-next"> <a href="/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/6-death-and-resurrection-of-kostrubonko"> <label>Next Article</label> <i class="fa fa-angle-right" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a> </div> </div> <div class="bby-single-content bby-single-content-post"> <p class="bby-entry-meta-fields"><br> <a href="/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/">Contents</a> -<a href="/lit-hub/bibliography/frazer-james-george-sir-1854-1941/">BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD</a> </p> <p class="text-center">Sir James George Frazer (1854–1941). The Golden Bough. 1922.</p> <b class="bby-single-big-font text-center d-block">Chapter 28. The Killing of the Tree-Spirit</b> <h1 class="text-center">§ 5. Battle of Summer and Winter</h1> <p id="1">S<SC>OMETIMES</SC> in the popular customs of the peasantry the contrast between the dormant powers of vegetation in winter and their awakening vitality in spring takes the form of a dramatic contest between actors who play the parts respectively of Winter and Summer. Thus in the towns of Sweden on May Day two troops of young men on horseback used to meet as if for mortal combat. One of them was led by a representative of Winter clad in furs, who threw snowballs and ice in order to prolong the cold weather. The other troop was commanded by a representative of Summer covered with fresh leaves and flowers. In the sham fight which followed the party of Summer came off victorious, and the ceremony ended with a feast. Again, in the region of the middle Rhine, a representative of Summer clad in ivy combats a representative of Winter clad in straw or moss and finally gains a victory over him. The vanquished foe is thrown to the ground and stripped of his casing of straw, which is torn to pieces and scattered about, while the youthful comrades of the two champions sing a song to commemorate the defeat of Winter by Summer. Afterwards they carry about a summer garland or branch and collect gifts of eggs and bacon from house to house. Sometimes the champion who acts the part of Summer is dressed in leaves and flowers and wears a chaplet of flowers on his head. In the Palatinate this mimic conflict takes place on the fourth Sunday in Lent. All over Bavaria the same drama used to be acted on the same day, and it was still kept up in some places down to the middle of the nineteenth century or later. While Summer appeared clad all in green, decked with fluttering ribbons, and carrying a branch in blossom or a little tree hung with apples and pears, Winter was muffled up in cap and mantle of fur and bore in his hand a snow-shovel or a flail. Accompanied by their respective retinues dressed in corresponding attire, they went through all the streets of the village, halting before the houses and singing staves of old songs, for which they received presents of bread, eggs, and fruit. Finally, after a short struggle, Winter was beaten by Summer and ducked in the village well or driven out of the village with shouts and laughter into the forest.</p><p id="2">At Goepfritz in Lower Austria, two men personating Summer and Winter used to go from house to house on Shrove Tuesday, and were everywhere welcomed by the children with great delight. The representative of Summer was clad in white and bore a sickle; his comrade, who played the part of Winter, had a fur-cap on his head, his arms and legs were swathed in straw, and he carried a flail. In every house they sang verses alternately. At Drömling in Brunswick, down to the present time, the contest between Summer and Winter is acted every year at Whitsuntide by a troop of boys and a troop of girls. The boys rush singing, shouting, and ringing bells from house to house to drive Winter away; after them come the girls singing softly and led by a May Bride, all in bright dresses and decked with flowers and garlands to represent the genial advent of spring. Formerly the part of Winter was played by a straw-man which the boys carried with them; now it is acted by a real man in disguise.</p><p id="3">Among the Central Esquimaux of North America the contest between representatives of summer and winter, which in Europe has long degenerated into a mere dramatic performance, is still kept up as a magical ceremony of which the avowed intention is to influence the weather. In autumn, when storms announce the approach of the dismal Arctic winter, the Esquimaux divide themselves into two parties called respectively the ptarmigans and the ducks, the ptarmigans comprising all persons born in winter, and the ducks all persons born in summer. A long rope of sealskin is then stretched out, and each party laying hold of one end of it seeks by tugging with might and main to drag the other party over to its side. If the ptarmigans get the worst of it, then summer has won the game and fine weather may be expected to prevail through the winter.</p> <div class="bby-content-meta-footer-entry"> <p class="bby-entry-meta-fields"><br> <a href="/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/">Contents</a> -<a href="/lit-hub/bibliography/frazer-james-george-sir-1854-1941/">BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD</a> </p> </div> <div class="bby-content-nav"> <div class="nav-prev"> <a href="/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/4-bringing-in-summer"> <i class="fa fa-angle-left" aria-hidden="true"></i> <label>Previous Article</label> </a> </div> <div class="nav-next"> <a href="/lit-hub/the-golden-bough-abridged-ed/6-death-and-resurrection-of-kostrubonko"> <label>Next Article</label> <i class="fa fa-angle-right" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section>  </main>   <footer id="bby-site-footer" class="bby-footer main-footer" itemtype="https://schema.org/WPFooter" itemscope="itemscope"> <div class="bby-footer-top-container d-flex"> <div class="bby-container d-flex align-items-start flex-row"> <div class="footer-top-left-container d-flex align-items-start flex-row"> <div class="footer-nav-wrapper"> <div class="widget widget_block"><div class="widget-content"> <div class="wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="105" height="30" src="https://legacy-cms-media.bartleby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/11/14172410/bartleby-white.png" alt="" class="wp-image-175150" /></figure> </div></div> </div></div><div class="widget widget_block"><div class="widget-content"> <div class="wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"></div></div> </div></div> </div> <div class="footer-nav-wrapper"> <div class="widget widget_block"><div class="widget-content"><ul> <li><a href="/lit-hub/the-oxford-shakespeare/">Shakespeare</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/the-holy-bible/">Bible</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/the-elements-of-style/">Strunk</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/nonfiction/">Nonfiction</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/quotations/">Quotations</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/reference/">Reference</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/lit-hub/fiction/">Fiction</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/anatomy-of-the-human-body/"> Anatomy</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/hc/">Harvard Classics</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/library/">Lit. History</a></li> <li><a href="/lit-hub/verse/">Poetry</a></li> </ul></div></div> </div> <div class="footer-nav-wrapper"> <div class="widget widget_block"><div class="widget-content"><div class="footer-social-links"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bartlebysolve/" target="_blank"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/images/facebook-icon.svg" width="7" height="15" alt="facebook"> </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bartlebysolve/" target="_blank"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/images/instagram-icon.svg" height="15" width="15" alt="instagram"> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bartlebysolve" target="_blank"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/images/twitter-icon.svg" height="12" width="15" alt="twitter"> </a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixjpE0Hapap4x0hKg7Fmfw?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/images/youtube-icon.svg" height="12" width="15" alt="youtube"> </a> </div> <div class="footer-app-details"> <h5>Get the App</h5> <p> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bartleby-homework-help/id1522219588" target="_blank"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/images/apple-store-badge.svg" width="130" height="43" alt="apple-store"> </a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bartleby.learn" target="_blank"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/images/google-play-badge.png" width="130" height="38" alt="google-play"> </a> </p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="bby-footer-bottom-container"> <div class="bby-container flex-row"> <div class="footer-bottom-left-container"> <div class="menu-footer-menu-container"><ul id="menu-footer-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-294745" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294745"><a href="/lit-hub/sv/the-top-150/">[Top 150]</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294746" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294746"><a href="/lit-hub/index-to-subjects/">Index to Subjects</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294747" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294747"><a href="/lit-hub/index-to-titles/">Index to Titles</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294748" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294748"><a href="/lit-hub/authors/">Authors</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294749" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294749"><a href="/lit-hub/library/">The Library of the World’s Best Literature</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294750" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294750"><a href="https://www2.bartleby.com/">Free Essays</a></li> <li id="menu-item-175157" class="ot-sdk-show-settings cpointer menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-175157"><a href="#">CA Do Not Sell My Personal Information</a></li> <li id="menu-item-175158" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-175158"><a href="https://www.bartleby.com/privacy">Privacy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-294944" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-294944"><a href="/cookie-policy">Cookie Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-175159" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-175159"><a href="https://www.bartleby.com/privacy#c-advertising">About Ads</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom-right-container align-items-center justify-content-end flex-row"> © 1993–2024 Bartleby.com </div> </div> </div> <script defer src="https://legacy-cms-assets.bartleby.com/wp-content/themes/bartleby-legacy-theme/assets/js/jquery-3.4.1.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="bartleby-jquery-js"></script> <script> /(trident|msie)/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && document.getElementById && window.addEventListener && window.addEventListener("hashchange", function() { var t, e = location.hash.substring(1); /^[A-z0-9_-]+$/.test(e) && (t = document.getElementById(e)) && (/^(?:a|select|input|button|textarea)$/i.test(t.tagName) || (t.tabIndex = -1), t.focus()) }, !1); </script> </footer>  </body> </html>