Glastonbury Beltaine celerbrations

It's my 25th year of celebrating Beltaine at Glstonbury: and so, early this morning I journeyed up to Somerset in order to climb Glastonbury Tor before dawn and welcome in the Summer. There were about a 100 or so of us hardy folk up on the Tor; braving the icy wind which frequently accompanies this occasion we stood and waited. Usually, Rollo the Arch-Druid is on hand to lead the Beltaine ceremony, though unfortunately he was absent this morning; Rollo's presence was missed, as his ceremonial style is warm and always raises a smile. Still, a horn was blown, a cheer was raised as the Sun rose above the horizon and summer was welcomed in. It would have been nice to have participated in a ceremony, I always like feeling that connection with others walking a similar path; though I think just being here, making the effort, is ritual in itself and I'm sure everybody made their own connection to the moment and in that way we were all joined in ceremony. Although Rollo was missing, as usual the Cam Valley Morris were on hand to dance in the Beltaine Sun; they've been in attendance for over 30 years, only missing the year of the foot and mouth outbreak. It heartening to see our old country folk traditions enduring, though I wonder if young blood is still drawn to participate.

Later in the day, down in Glastonburys town square, a crowd of 200 to 300 people have gathered for a take on the traditional ceremony to welcome in the May Queen and Oak King; accompanied by Green men, the Holly King and other characters, the story of the changing seasons was played out with laughter, cheering and all round festivity. Afterwards the assembled crowd, led by the May Queen and Oak King, with Green men carrying the traditional May pole, make their way up the high street and along to the White Spring at the base of Glastonbury Tor. Drums banged and penny whistles blew as our merry band proceeded. As I walked amongst the crowd I found myself looking at my fellow revelers: there were the genuine pagans types, the Witches and Druids; there were the cos-play hay nonny nay types dressed in their colourful finery; the foreign visitors happy to participate in the spectacle; the locals for whom this is the norm; the hedonists who'd be at any party and a whole load of other characters, there for their own reasons, and some just caught up in the moment and swept along by the crowd; a real mixed bunch of folk, all different, though all enjoying and taking part together. It can be done, people can all get on. What's more, I saw no Police, no road closure signs or anything; cars and buses merely stopped and let the crowds pass by, and I wondered, why can't this happen everywhere? Why does there have to be so much red tape, so many hurdles to jump over from the establishment when similar things are tried elsewhere? On reaching the springs the crowd rested before carrying on to a nearby field to erect the maypole, dance and celebrate the remains of the day away; it was here I took my leave. 

A mix day of traditional old country folk celebrations, with modern twists, we need to see more of this type of thing going on; it unites people, builds a sense of community, keeps traditions alive and developing as well as reconnecting us with the seasons and nature; all things sadly lacking from modernity and causes of our current social dysfunction and spiritual malaise.