NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... ain bow. This theory is also seen in tribes of Africa and civilizations in Brazil. It is an important figure in rites of initiation and rainmaking, carrying often a dangerous and destructive character. The rainbow is said to be the cause of draughts in those parts of the world.
The rainbow draws the water up to the sky, from where it falls down to the earth again. This in itself is not a bad thing but since the water is drawn up from everywhere, rivers, lakes and wells, it is a danger to humans. The water could bring with it fish and other forms of life including human beings. A tale in Germany relates the story of a curious shepherd boy who was drawn up by a rainbow along with his whole flock of sheep.
Another evil myth associated with the rainbow is the thought that if you point at the rainbow your finger will fall away, mortify or rot. Although this theory does not fit with the others it is still a common belief in many countries. (Kemp, 153) The thought that treasures lie at the other end of the rainbow is one that is often associated with small Irish leprechauns who will grant you three wishes and surrender their pot of gold unto the finder. The ends of the rainbow are said to lead to hidden treasures. This idea originated somewhere in old Europe. In places such as Silesia, an obscure area of eastern Europe, it is said that the angels put the gold there and it can only be recovered by a nude man.
Although the laws of physics find it absolutely impossible to walk under a rainbow, in believed in the same region of old Europe that anyone passing beneath the rainbow would be transformed, man into woman, woman into man. (Kemp, 127) The colors of the rainbow are symbolic of different things throughout the different cultures as well. The seven colors are often remembered by such phrases as ROY G BIV or in England as Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain. The colors have been used as a way to predict the weather, Much like the saying "Red sky at night sailors delight... " there are sayings in other cultures that focus on only two of the colors of the rainbow. Two such sayings have been translated roughly to "When the rainbow is red, it will not rain, when green, it will rain" and: "The clearer the red color of the rainbow, the more wind. " However, one can find an opposite meaning for nearly every color so forecasting's such as these have been pretty nearly abandoned. To Iranian Muslims, even the brilliance of the colors in the rainbow have significance.
Prominent green means abundance, red means war and yellow brings death. The Arawak Indians of South America recognize the rainbow as a sign of good fortune if seen over the ocean and a sign of bad luck if seen on land. Tribes of northeastern Siberia see the rainbow as the tongue of the sun. More locally, many North American Indian tribes regard it as a bridge between the living and the dead. (Parkhurst, 183) Folk songs in Eastern European cultures also refer to the colors of the rainbow.
One of these songs has been translated to: "A blue cloud is rising from the bog, from the bog blue, from the earth red, It's not raining from the blue cloud, it's raining from the clay colored. What's there in the clouds? There is a rainbow in the clouds. What's there between the rainbow? There's a goose between the rainbow!" Other songs such as these use metaphors for the rainbow such as a maiden sitting on the edge of a cloud, or the goose replaced with a woman. (Schweizer, 212) Modern culture also plays upon the mystical reputation of the rainbow in movies such as "Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. " In both the book and the film, Dorothy's house is lifted by a tornado and carried to the Land of Oz, which is described as over the rainbow. The theme song of the film, entitled (appropriately enough) "Over the Rainbow" contains lyrics that lead the listener to envision a mysterious land that lies beyond the rainbow.
These lyrics read "Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that I dare to dream really do come true. " Dorothy then goes on to have all kinds of adventures in Oz which lead her to wish for her home back in Kansas. Another very popular movie that led to an even more popular song was "The Muppet Movie. " With the help of producers such as Jim Henson, Kermit the Frog sings about the rainbow connection. This song describes the rainbow as an enigma; something that cannot be described yet definitely and objectively exists. This song asks us "Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side? Rainbows are visions but only illusions and rainbows have nothing to hide. " Overall, the use of rainbows in mythology, beliefs and forms of entertainment has been great throughout history.
As people continue to believe in the power of rainbows as a symbol of renewed hope and luck, the stories will pass down in a modern form of oral tradition. Parents will tell their children the stories they were told, and show them the movies that they used to love. The magic that can be explained and expanded upon catches people's attention because it occurs so infrequently. As Kermit the Frog sang in "The Rainbow Connection": All of us under it's spell, we know that it's probably magic. " Both children and grown-ups alike will always watch for rainbows from their rooms and car windows. To quote Kermit the Frog one last time: "All of us watching and wishing we'd find it. I hope that you " re watching too.
Someday we " ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me. Bibliography: Bibliography 1) Irwin, Eleanor. Color terms in Greek Poetry. Toronto, Canada, 1974. 2) Kemp, M. The Science of Art. New Haven, London, 1990 London. 3) Parkhurst, Charles. & Feller, Robert L.
Color Research and Application. New York, New York, 1982. 4) Scweizer, Paul D. The Art Bulletin. New York, New York, 1982.
Free research essays on topics related to: rainbows, rainbow, york new york, tribes, colors
Research essay sample on York New York 1982 York New York Rainbow
