Beltane

[andrewducker]

Someone has posted some fantastic pictures of the Beltane celebrations here.  Wow!

Comments

[heron61.livejournal.com]

Gods, that is very cool! I've never seen, either in person or in picture a pagan ceremony anywhere near that as impressive.

[andrewducker]

It's best when you can get close. Which was hard when there was about 10,000 people there...

[heron61.livejournal.com]

What group or tradition put it on?

[andrewducker]

Neither. It's a re-enactment.

http://www.beltane.org/ are the people behind it.

[akicif.livejournal.com]

Be fair. It's generally understood that most presently practiced forms of paganism are also reconstructed/reenacted....

[andrewducker]

I more meant that many of the people involved didn't actually believe anything.

Twasn't intended as a slight against those who do.

[akicif.livejournal.com]

The Beltane Fire Society is a fairly mixed bunch - some of us are pagan, some of us are performers, and others are just there for the party!

The procession and performances are vetted so as not to be blatantly inconsistent or inappropriate, though.

(I'm the left-most torchbearer of the group looming out of the smoke, btw)

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Oh, good lord, there is my stepdaughter half naked. I rather wish I hadn't seen that.

[andrewducker]

Funny old world, isn't it?

Still, I'm glad she's out there expressing herself, and not worrying about what her parents think.

[azalemeth.livejournal.com]

This may be - is - newbish, but, uh, what is beltane?

[andrewducker]

Spring Equinox. Well kinda. Check it out on Wikipedia, or here:
http://www.beltane.org/celticyear/beltane.html

[neriedes.livejournal.com]

ooh there is me, the white woman on the right corner *beams* it was such a great night

[andrewducker]

Thought it looked like you :->