Table 1 Religious/Community Issues
From: Rituals, ceremonies and customs related to sacred trees with a special reference to the Middle East
Issue | Druze (n = 34) | Bedouin (n = 29) | Arab (n = 45) | Field observ ations (n = 26) | References from the Middle East & adjacent areas | References from other Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religious/social/leaders & meetings | 23.5 | 31.0 | 26.6 | 0 | Â | Russia (31):128); Sierra Leone (138):311); Tanzania (34:16, 35:41); India (139:238, 140:17); Korea (141:9); Indonesia (142:45); American indians (143:13) |
Animal sacrifice (when vows come through) | 50 | 48.2 | 42.2 | 7.6 | Lebanon (144:334); Syria (145:290) | India (40:344) |
Pilgrimage/Zayara/family gatherings | 11 | 13.8 | 13.3 | 23.0 | Israel (146:113) | Â |
Rain-making ceremonies | 0 | 27.5 | 15.5 | 0 | Arabia (62:11–12); Algeria (147:41); Tunisia (54:521,519; 147:242) : | Ancient Rome (12: I:232); Tanzania (34:16,37,41); Kenya (148:143,145; 47:139–140); Sudan (29:464); Uganda (149:38; 48: passim); East Africa (150:263); Tanzania (52:476–477); Zimbabwe, (125:6; 151:379; 46:362; 358, 361; 152:291); Ruanda (153:82,86); Chad (57:229–235); Senegal (35:420); Mozambique (122:237); Centra Africa (49:53–55) India (40:330; 51:67; Papua (53:386,387) |
Passing judgment under the tree | 0 | 27.5 | 4.4 | 0 | Ancient Israelites (Judges, 4:5) | Germany (154:85); Morocco, France, Switzerland (14:145); Somalia (155:169); India (27:59); Japan (156:28) |
Sulkha (conciliation of quarrels) under the tree | 0 | 20.6 | 0 | 0 | Â | Â |
Leaving water under the tree | 0 | 13.8 | 8.9 | 23.0 | Kurdistan (157:384) | Scotland (99:75,76); Russia (106:322); India (115:20, personal observation. 10.2.07); |
Decoration of tree (leader's pictures) | 14.7 | 0 | 0 | 7.6 | Â | Â |
Official religious ceremconies under the tree and/or grove | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | Ancient Greece (158:219 note 417); Guinea – Bissau (159:389); Siera Leone (139:311); Zimbabwe (61:6); Liberia (160:1222); Mozambique, (122:9); Inner Mongolia (129:283); Okinawa (161:48,49) |
Using parts of trees tree's in daily religious rituals | 0 | 0 | 0 | Â | Â | India (115:20, 93: passim) |
Sacrifice to appease supernatural beings | Â | Â | Â | Â | Biblical times Hosea (4:13) | Ancient Crete (162:128); Ancient Greece (163:74; 158:220); Russia (31:94; 106:321, 164:114); Siberia (165:853); Inner Mongolia (129:281); Ghana (166:69); Liberia (160:1222); Nigeria (167:425); East Africa (168:52, 148:263); Kenya (169:155); Liberia (160:1222); India (170:294); |
Performing rites of passage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Â | East Africa (45:4; 171:57); Kenya (169: passim); Liberia (160:1222); Sierra Leone (172: 159,160); West Africa: (173:63); India (76:91, 174:50; Nigeria (175:80,81); |