Bright Fire
Posted by Lanea on Tuesday, May 1st, 2007
Beltaine is the Irish word both for the month of May and for the festival that commemorates the height of spring. Literally translated, it means “bright fire.” I could talk about what Beltaine is all about, but I’ll just show you instead.
First, Rowan, Etaine and I crossed the Potomac at White’s Ferry:
And then we went to see sheep at Kiparoo:
And calves:
And chooks:
And then came planting, with Kayo’s help:
And then things got really fun. We went to John the Farrier’s, where our pals had already raised the roof on the long-hall. It’s wonderful, but you have to just trust me on that. The camera only comes out every so often in Celt-land.
We got a visit from Connal and Fionnula, who is chock-full of baby:
And we raised a Maypole:
If you have kids, take them to dance a Maypole. Please. It’s astounding how much they like it. Once it was wrapped, we got to the tough part. I’m guessing most of you haven’t tried to ring a maypole, but it makes slam dunks seem sooooooo easy.
Sometimes, people try hard.
And sometimes, people try to try (language starts to get a bit adult about this point).
And sometimes, climbing becomes necessary.
Filed in blather,Celtic,dance,Travel | 6 responses so far
megon 02 May 2007 at 12:27 am 1Well, happy May, then.
I suppose it wouldn’t be sporting to put the ring on the ground, around the hole, and then just put the pole through it? Thought not.
laneaon 02 May 2007 at 7:42 am 2Yeah, that would be cheating. Climbing it is sort of cheating, but Aes had already thrown the ring and gotten it stuck on the top of the pole, so figured she had pretty much already made herself the May Queen for this year, and it was time to go drink some beer and burn things.
Junoon 02 May 2007 at 10:00 am 3Wait, if you ring the pole you’re the queen of the may?
That’s a little….um….symbolic?
Junoon 02 May 2007 at 10:02 am 4Of course I wandered around yesterday muttering “first of may, first of may…etc.” So its a universal obsession.
rhoon 03 May 2007 at 7:08 pm 5Oh what fun – loved the videos — but is that first black sheep with the tie on that is smiling at you also winking at you — what a flirt!
fiberliciouson 08 May 2007 at 10:27 pm 6Happy, happy anniversary, dear one. Looks like you had fun. Miss you over at the knitting – were your ears ringing?