May the 1st, Beltain.

Hosted once a year, we gather as history and art is recreated for us.

Julius Cæsar had told of how british people would construct a Wickerman as an offering to their gods. Within these wicker structures, crops, animals and even human sacrifice were closed into them, and burnt to please the gods. If successful, next years harvest will be successful.

Now, in Butser Ancient Farm, it's recreated. Sacrifices replaced by wishes.

Before we arrived there, we took a visit to Portsmouth Castle.


The hills in the background, they're part of the Isle of Wight


Like every other occassion, we go straight to the Wickerman to see what he looks like.
This year they constructed him to be a replica of the film's, as a tribute to the actor who passed away.


And then we will walk around the village.




They had birds of prey for flight displays, they do every year. I seem to have lost the photo of the harris hawks, though...




This was fun to watch. They also educated the crowd about the weaponry.


Morris Dancers.



They even got some of the crowd to join in; this was the first time I danced for over ten years and this photo is dreadful!

Belly Dancers, this year they danced with Fallow Deer Antlers, it was beautiful.




Then the moment we've all waited for; crowds started gathering around 8:30pm, and it was lit at 9:10pm.