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Becoming a Crone

(65 Posts)
Teetime Wed 22-Nov-17 18:33:02

A friend yesterday told me she had just had her 70th birthday and felt just Ok about it. However, her friend who had also had a 70th birthday is a Druid and on her birthday she was honoured with a ceremony where she was sat upon a throne with flowers in her hair, poetry and music in her humour played in her honour and she became officially a Crone. This is a term of utmost respect and honour apparently according for seniority, age and wisdom. Any Crones here. I will be 65 after Xmas and in the Spring a Great Grandmother- I feel like Lady Bracknell.

W11girl Thu 23-Nov-17 14:28:05

A bit harsh MOnica, but I have to agree with you. Wisdom does not come with age, it comes with experience of life and what you have done with it.

Eglantine21 Thu 23-Nov-17 13:10:34

Oh well, I expect it rained on you anyway. grin

Jalima1108 Thu 23-Nov-17 13:05:10

sorry Eglantine

Jalima1108 Thu 23-Nov-17 13:04:55

Eglantine I was on holiday in Cornwall (home was sunny Devon grin)

Eglantine21 Thu 23-Nov-17 12:56:11

Jalima. Damn, damn.

Eglantine21 Thu 23-Nov-17 12:55:48

Jail a got Cornish lanes to wander down. I had to make do with Putney high street!

Magrithea Thu 23-Nov-17 12:53:18

Here in Wiltshire we have a Crone of Avebury who is equivalent I think to the status of our local Druid!

sluttygran Thu 23-Nov-17 12:26:30

I’m 69, so am preparing to take up the position of Crone quite shortly.
I’m off to CronesRUs for a hairdo, mani/pedi and a spray tan, then new clothes, shoes, makeup etc.
We crones are about as sexy as it gets, so look out gents! grin

annodomini Thu 23-Nov-17 12:00:01

As long as it's considered a pejorative term, I will reject the appellation 'crone'. However, when my sister and I were addressed by a NZ Maori bus driver as 'elder ladies', I rather liked being an 'elder' although not in the ecclesiastical sense.

Anniebach Thu 23-Nov-17 11:54:16

I would be happy to be a crone, the wise bit troubles me ?

Teetime Thu 23-Nov-17 11:49:18

I am told their is quite a large Druid community here in Melton Mowbray - who'd a thunk it?

radicalnan Thu 23-Nov-17 11:46:13

Violette, there is always scope for a new religion, I am prepared to join yours. Where do I sign up?

VIOLETTE Thu 23-Nov-17 11:22:33

Ha ha ! I love it ...always thought I was a bit of an old crone ....love the hippy aspect ...now where can I find a Druid commune to join ??? ..I once looked up communes to live in ,,but they required someone who could DIG and plant veggies, whereas I was rather hoping to join one where they just let me lie on a chaise loungue all day and feed me with grapes .....and put a few fresh flowers in my hair now and then .....or am I expecting too much >> better get out the besom ....envy

MissAdventure Thu 23-Nov-17 11:20:37

I'm not old enough to be considered a crone, yet, and I'm already far too fat. My face is quite haggared though. (My predictive text wanted to write that is is 'hammered', which also sounds a fair description)

maddy629 Thu 23-Nov-17 11:20:18

I am a witch, I've just turned 73 and I am a crone, it means one who is wise. I am proud to be both, being a crone is an honour, although I could do without the arthritis.

Jalima1108 Thu 23-Nov-17 11:18:31

Ah, but that would preclude men from joining and we need some of them

MissAdventure Thu 23-Nov-17 11:17:50

A new name - Cronesnet?

Jalima1108 Thu 23-Nov-17 11:17:40

It has to be fresh flowers radicalnan or else it's cheating!
I remember wandering along Cornish lanes, picking flowers for my hair and singing 'If You're Going to San Francisco' in the 1960s.

If I did that now I'm a Crone I could be arrested.

Jayem Thu 23-Nov-17 11:14:21

Just looked up crone in my online dictionary . It says an old woman who is thin and ugly!!

And a hag is a witch, especially as one in the form of an ugly old woman.

Also short for hagfish.

Oh well! At least I am not thin! Or a fish.

trisher Thu 23-Nov-17 11:11:47

The druids must have adopted it at some time as it appears in 1390 .
Lots of stuff about the word on Wiki, but I really liked this
In Cuban traditional folklore old women often appear as helpful characters, as in the tale of the sick man who can't get well until he meets an old woman who advises him to wear the tunic of a man who is truly happy. According to writer Alma Flor Ada, "They tend to be the ones who keep the family together, who pass on the traditions, who know the remedies that would cure the different illnesses".
I'll be that sort of crone

GadaboutGran Thu 23-Nov-17 11:02:57

Another example of how a word describing women gets twisted into a term of abuse. Shakespeare has a lot to answer for in that respect.
Let’s reclaim the word crone to it’s true meaning!

Carolb25 Thu 23-Nov-17 10:54:53

Oo, Radicalnan, you put that so well! I feel a bit mean thinking that way. After all, they're only doing what makes them happy, but ...

AlieOxon Thu 23-Nov-17 10:51:43

I'll happily be a Crone! (77)

POGS Thu 23-Nov-17 10:38:20

Ah but which one Mary?

radicalnan Thu 23-Nov-17 10:37:55

Glastonbury is full of old women dressed like rainbows becoming crones....................seems to me like a bit of attention seeking, if they think they are wiser and closer to nature because they are done up like dog's dinners in hippy clothes made in sweat shops with silk f lowers in their hair made by child labour, then they are not at all wise.

All part of the Wiccan buy yoursel into wisdom culture which I have very little time for.