Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 27, 1916.djvu/405

 The Magical and Ceremonial Uses of Fire. 2)77

There is a fairly general belief among the Greek peasants that connection between the dead and this world is not broken off at death, but continues until the body is quite dissolved, and so long the lamp is kept burning.^

We have now seen what an important part fire plays in the life of mankind all over the world, from the threshold of life to its close, even following the departing spirit into the Great Hereafter. The survey and analysis of its cere- monial uses is an immense subject, and it is impossible to deal with it at all adequately in a brief space of time. But if this small and very unworthy contribution to a great subject should prove of any use or interest to others more capable of doing justice to it I shall feel amply rewarded, and in the meantime beg to thank the Society very heartily for allowing me to bring the matter before their notice.

^J. C. Lawson, Modern Greek Folklore and Ancient Greek Religion, p. 51 1.