festivals

Blaidd Oct 24, 2002 13:09:34

No I dont mean music.

Have to ask. Does anyone know of anywhere that the main sort of fire festivals such as Beltaine etc are actually upheld? I mean traditionally, with fires, naked bodies etc - oh come on, you're supposed to be believers in the older faiths aren't you!.

I try to mark the festivals on my own - no not like that, but it's so much nicer to share.

Not unless that's what the condoms at Waylands are all about!!

;-}

FourWinds Oct 24, 2002 13:14:17

Replying to Blaidd

I believe that there are meetings at the Hill of Uisneach in County Westmeath, Ireland for the Beltaine Fire Festival.

Uisneach (pronounced "Ushnick") was where the Irish Fire Druids had their eternal flame ... alledgedly.

jimit Oct 24, 2002 13:28:35

Replying to Blaidd

As next Thur. night is one of the old festivals (Not necessarily a fire one, hang on , Nov 5 Iseem to remember has a few conflagrations, I wonder if they are conected?) I wondered how/if people around this forum are going to celebrate it?
Personally I'm going to Avebury (it's closeish) with a couple of ladies to get our collective heads together/out of it and put the world to rights, at least for one night ;-)

P.S. NO offerings will be left!!!

Jimit

fitzcoraldo Oct 24, 2002 13:48:18

Replying to Blaidd

no locations but lots of useful info regarding festivals.
It was first posted on this site so if you do a search you may come up with more.
http://www.geocities.com/~huathe/festivals.html

Kammer Oct 30, 2002 10:01:43

Replying to Blaidd

October 31st is our wedding anniversary (and not by coincidence).

:-)#

Sadly this year we will be celebrating by getting into a car with our two grumpy sons and driving down a motorway for hours. No nakedness is planned.

:-(#

Got to go to a wedding in Edinburgh. Must try and find something archaic to look at while I'm up there. The problem is that we won't have our own transport out of the city, or much time.

Ho hum.

Kammer x

Martin Oct 30, 2002 13:04:17

Replying to Blaidd

Edinburgh!
The Beltane Fire Festival has been going on up Calton Hill since 1981 (I think- I was there in 82, and I don't think that was the first one). Back then it was started by the Ministry of Works AKA Test Dept. as a way of re-establishing the old rites and faiths. It was basically a small marquee with a huge Beltane Bonfire- folk did turns in the marquee etc and Beltane Bannock was cooked for all of us. All very quaint. Nowadays- it's huge- a victim of it's own success perhaps- I've not been for a few years, but there are thousands upon thousands of folk go. Last time I went was a bit chaotic and the procession went anti-sunwise which I thought was a bit odd. Afterwards many folks head up Arthurs Seat to watch the sun rise and wash their faces in the dew (and join the Christains who hold a Mayday ceremony up there!).
Check out the rather goo Beltane Fire Soc website;
http://www.beltane.org/
I do believe they'll be performing their Samhuinn festival tomorrow night....
I'd like to think that in the more rural and obscure locales of Scotland that mnay of the fire festivals, rites and traditions are upheld, but I fear it may be rose-tinted specs! Have you got F. Marian McNeill's "Silver Bough"?? It lists all Scottish festivals from national to local- was written in the late 50's, but still a fascinating read,
Hope that's of use,
Martin