Paganistan: Notes from the Secret Commonwealth
In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.
How to Get Into the Car: Summer and Winter
The Minnesota Foot-Tap
How to Get into a Car: Summer
(Beltane to Samhain)
- Open car door.
- Sit in seat.
- Swing feet into car.
- Turn on ignition.
- Drive off.
How to Get into a Car: Winter
(Samhain to Beltane)
- Open car door.
- Sit in seat.
- Lift feet and tap together two or three times. (This is called the Minnesota Foot-Tap.)
- Swing feet into car.
- Turn on ignition.
- Turn on heat.
- (If necessary, get out of car and brush snow/scrape ice off windows. Then open door, sit, lift, and tap as above.)
- Drive off.
Commentators differ on the precise reason for the Minnesota Foot-Tap.
Some have compared it to the Shinto practice of clapping twice before prayer, so as to draw the given kami's attention.
Some hold it to be an apotropaic gesture that wards off the various hazards of Winter driving.
All commentators agree that, if nothing else, it serves the practical purpose of knocking snow and slush off the boots.
Some maintain that, as in The Wizard of Oz, the gesture embodies a prayer to be somewhere else.
Winter is halfway over, which means that there's still plenty of Winter weather ahead.
Safe driving to you and yours. Beltane is coming.
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