Madonna Oriente - The story - Encyclopedia II

The following section is a story as reported by the two women. Sibillia reported that from the age of sixteen, each Thursday evening she was invited to Madonna Oriente's secret festivities. According to Pierina de' Bugatis, these were usually held in the tidy, clean and elegant houses of the rich. If the house was tidy, it was blessed. There were always numerous participants, both alive and already dead, including those that were beheaded or hanged and that were ashamed to raise their head due to this. Besides people, a pair of each animal species also had to come, except for donkeys and foxes. The donkey was not allowed to be present because of its close connection to Christ and the Lady saw herself as equal to him among her fellowship. As to the foxes, the reasons are not clear. Breaking these rules would mean the end of the world.

During the festivity, people ate, drank and danced. Many animals were slaughtered and cooked, but their bones and the skin were not to be damaged. They were collected in a bag and at the end of the meeting the Lady stroked the bag with the head of a baton and all the animals were revived. If a bone was missing, it was replaced with the wood of the elderberry.

Beside the entertainment, the Lady of the East also taught her followers secret knowledge; the use of herbs and other medical knowledge, finding stolen things, fortune-telling and countering evil charms. The followers were likewise permitted to teach these arts to other people, under the condition that they not tell them about their fellowship.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The story", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page