Sunday morning, Beltane, the first morning of May…and we were in Glastonbury. After a leisurely breakfast, Alienora prepared for her role as Priestess in the morning’s proceedings. We would meet the others in the town for the start of the day’s festivities. By the time we arrived in the town, the place was already buzzing.
The morning began at the Market Cross, where the Mayor, Jon Cousins, Glastonbury’s Town Crier, David Greenaway and our friend, Morgana West would open the day. One of the first tasks would be to light the Unity Candle. The light is a representation of inclusive acceptance and its flame is lit by groups of all faiths, beliefs, paths and denominations as a symbol of unity in a divided world. It is a spark that echoes a greater Light that shines within all of us and, because of that, when you are asked to light that flame, there is a true feeling of reverence.
This year, the Unity Candle was lit by one of our friends, visiting from California. This was entirely appropriate, as this particular May Day was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love. Diana had been there…at the heart of it and living in Haight-Ashbury where it all began.
In 1967, Yana Zegri painted the Evolutionary Rainbow on a wall in the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco that shows a stage of evolution in each color. It was a rainbow that was chosen as the symbol for this year’s May Day celebration, a perfect symbol for ‘unity in diversity’.
Once the candle was lit, there was music from the choir, Morris dancers and children, light and colour. Many people were in costume, had their faces painted or were wreathed in hawthorn flowers…May blossom. Morgy had left enough branches on her desk for me to weave a makeshift wreath too and her office smelled like heaven.
The flower has a double significance in Glastonbury, where the legends tell that Holy Thorn grew from Joseph of Arimathea’s staff when he planted it in the earth on Wearyall Hill. The story goes that Joseph, a wealthy metal-merchant, had a history of trading in these parts and had brought the boy Jesus with him on one trip, landing in the harbour at Pilton just a few miles away. After the Crucifixion, it was to the tomb owned by Joseph that Jesus’ body was borne. Later, the legend says that Joseph came to Glastonbury and was granted twelve hides of land on which to build the first Christian church.
For all the overtly pagan look to the May Day festivities, it seems rather beautiful that the two traditions entwine. The Green Man is, amongst other things, a symbol of rebirth and resurrection nd as such is often found in our churches. So too is the dragon, though in Glastonbury, the dragon has its own stories to tell that have more to do with the land, water and the unseen forces of nature.
The Maypole, carved with runes and symbols, was once more carried into the square before the procession set off up the High Street, heading for the slopes of the Tor. Alienora was with them in her office as one of the priestesses. There was, sadly, no way I would make the climb, so we remained behind in the town, watching the people and the costumes. But the day was far from over and there would be more to see that afternoon…
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
What an awesome community event. We don’t have anything like that here 😕
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Old traditions, Jess, given new life 🙂
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I’ll have to come over one year and take part!
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It is well worth the trip:)
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thanks, Michael 🙂
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Reblogged this on Sun in Gemini.
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That looks awesome!
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It was, Ritu….and the day only just begun 😉
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Such fun!!!
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
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Thanks you, Jaye x
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magical place…magical day…
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Oh it was 🙂
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Wonderful photo and you convey the atomspher perfectly! 💜😉
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It was a vibrant, life-affirming atmosphere 🙂
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Lovely 💜
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🙂
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It’s on my bucket list to climb the torr, I will do it. xxx
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It has to be done, Adele…it is a magical place. xxx
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I hope so, Sue. xxx
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❤ xx
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Pingback: May Day… | by divine-design
Sounds wonderful Sue. Quite a spectacle.
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It was, Fransi. So many ancient traditions married with more modern ones and such a good natured celebration too.
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Really sounds wonderful.
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It really was 🙂
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What a lovely and interesting event! May Day isn’t celebrated where I live unless you are in Kindergarten. What a fabulous event for you.
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The roots of the spring festival probably go back too far to trace, though many of the customs remain in vestigial form. Oddly enough, although the celebrations were banned by the Church in many places as being of pagan origin, it was often the churches that reinroduced the customs.
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I am so envious. Happy for you, I mean. I’ve only been to Glastonbury Tor once but I will never forget the feeling of that place. And is wasn’t May Day, either. This sounds amazing. 😍
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Once is enough for it to get to you 🙂 It was a fabulous celebration, Sarah…and more to come on what went on later, on the slopes of the Tor itself. 🙂
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Looking forward to that!
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🙂
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Visit Glastonbury is on my list. Lovely to read of such an ancient tradition.
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It is well worth a visit, Brigid and has so many close ties with your name too.
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I would also love to visit the music festival…
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That I could probably live without, though I wouldn’t mind seeing some of the bands.
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😊
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What spectacle! What fun and spirit!
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Oh yes 😀
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One thing about living in a relatively “new” country is the lack of ancient anything, unless of course you are Native American. For the rest of us, ancient means another time and place. I’m glad it all went so very well for you all!
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It was a good weekend.
The artefacts may not have the same connection for many in your country, but the land is just as ancient. x
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I love Glastonbury, and the energy and vibe of the town at different times of the year like Beltane make it particularly special.
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I love the place too…it is quite unique.
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In its own little bubble, where anything goes and everything is accepted.
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Which is just what I love about the place…that and the history and myths.
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