For various historical and emotional reasons there are only four [1] of the conventional "pagan" holidays that I typically observe, these being the Summer and Winter Solstice, Beltane and Samhain. In general folklore these have survived as Midsummer's Day, Yule (Christmas), May Day, and Halloween (or All Saint's Day if you aren't an American), although, as they are based upon important dates on the agricultural/astronomical calendar, most inhabitants of the Southern Hemisphere celebrate them six months out of sync with our Northern Cousins (although there are some Ultratraditionalists that feel that if it was good enough for their purported ancestors to worship on these days then it is good enough for them, even if it no longer makes logical sense to do so). Now one of the things I like about "paganism" [2] and pagans in general is that it is a very postmodern "religion," [3] consisting heavily of what you bring to it, and thus having a very large number of different observances. For example, when two pagans get together to do something like this there are usually at least five different happenings: the two that each individual thinks they are doing, the two that each thinks the other is doing, and the one that actually occurs. The mathematical combinations explode as you add more people to the mix. Add to that the normal human egos and prejudices (especially the need of some to attempt to control things [4] and establish hierarchies [5]). This makes a "public" [6] celebration of these festival holidays somewhat problematical. Now the nice thing about the pagan scene in South Australia is that it is incredibly relaxed, especially when compared to the pagan scenes in other states (and double-especially when compared with the pagan scenes in many parts of England and America [7]). Whilst there are, as there are in any other collection of people, those who are particularly ungenerous and like causing problems (either because they have their own agendas to push or because they simply like causing trouble), as a whole the community (at least those unafraid to gather together), are generally very good people (and those that aren't generally give up in disgust at their seeming inability to gain traction for their arguments and go away and celebrate privately anyway). This makes the local public celebrations of such holidays celebrations in truth. In other words, fun. However they are still religious celebrations for many of the participants and need to be respected as such, albeit religious celebrations with far less dogma than most. That, combined with the innate exclusivity of most pagan circles, and my inability to cross a threshold without an express invitation [8], means that I generally don't attend public celebrations of such holidays. And those that I do tend to have a much-more mundane focus to their celebration (such as Spiral Dance's (now traditional) Midwinter Yule Ball, the English Ale Morris Festival and Giant's Parade, and previous FUPA Beltane Dinners). However this year I was expressly approached by the organiser and asked if I was coming (admittedly she may have been worried at getting enough people to attend <grin><wink>), so I went. The fact that she was willing to kidnap me the night before from a Cock-Eyed Molly gig (in order to get me to the site [8]), helped immensely. This year it was held on a country property (home, really) recently acquired by one of the participants, and he (and the organiser and volunteers) had done a great deal of work getting the site ready for the ritual (and influx of people). The ritual circle was impressive and in an ideal location, surrounded as it was by working fields (and I suspect that over the next year or so the owner will actually make it a permanent circle), and one of the old outbuildings made an excellent gathering/dining place. Add to that an overgrown old rose garden (which in it's wild state was very evocative), and a hill from which we could fly a kite invoke the air spirits with a colourful plaything (<grin>) That, coupled with the boundless enthusiasm of the host (who is naturally incapable of any speed slower than a blur), promises good things for the future. (to be continued) [1] Actually I technically observe six, but I dislike the energies (emotional resonances?) of the two Equinoxes (Vernal and Autumnal), so usually pull the sheets over my head on these days... Still, that could be considered an observance of sorts. <grin> [2] Being the group of people that I normally classify as performing "a modern recreation of earth- (agricultural-) based cults making use of Western European ceremonial magical techniques and thinking." The quotes in the main text are intentional, btw. [3] Most pagan groups are not religions, since I tend to define a religion as inclusive (welcoming everyone) and paganism tends towards exclusivity (making it a cult by my definition). However whilst my definitions make sense from an anthropological point of view, the modern media usage of either term often projects a very wrong feeling in the listener/reader when these terms are used. [4] People, actually, just in case you thought I was referring to something mystical. [5] With them at the top, naturally – the practice of paganism is often rife with the "too many chiefs and not enough indians" syndrome (with the indians usually being of the form of "guru-followers," to boot). This is why many practioners are "solitaries" doing their own thing (especially now that the internet allows them to readily exchange recipes ideas. [6] Although generally this is a loose definition of the term public, especially considering the prejudices of some followers of certain religions (especially those who consider "pagan" to be a pejorative term and "the enemy"). [Because it says so in their texts.] [7] Especially when you consider that you are talking to someone with more than their fair share of Discordian leanings. Hail Eris! [8] Probably because I take the idea of hospitality and guest laws very seriously due to my upbringing (an armed society is a polite society because it evolves rituals to defuse antagonism <grin>), and not, as a few people have suggested, that I am, in fact a vampire (even given the evidence that I'm a Malkavian at heart [in-joke]. [8] The added difficulty that most of these gatherings are held in the country and for very good historical reasons I don't like driving or even being driven (and double-especially when it involves travelling on country roads shared by semis), is definitely another reason I tend not to go. | ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reverancepavane![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2008-11-26 07:20 am (UTC)I know why such things are held in the country, or at least I can think up some damn good excuses, but sometimes... Yeah, sometimes I'd like to be able to easily go.
I remember one particular gathering of people when I had to catch two buses (totalling 1.5 hours, and not any longer, because I caught the connections perfectly) to get to someone's place where I could get a lift so as to be at the event at the time I wanted to be there (lunchtime, for some fun stuff and socialising) and not six hours later (when Bastard had got home from work, and had his nap, and most of the non-Atheist stuff had been got out of the way)...
a second helping of ate
Date: 2008-11-26 11:23 am (UTC)And I am much more mellow about it now. Although mellow is probably not the correct word to use; I only babbled incoherently and repeatedly on the trip back. Hopefully I didn't bore people too severely. Then again, you know what it used to be like for me and cars (and the reasons for why it is so, if I remember correctly). And, naturally, it being Beltane just made it that little bit worse. <sigh>
Unfortunately, the easy option, such as walking home from Bridgewater in the wee hours, to take a not so random example, is no longer an option these days.
Speaking of which, are you intending to head up to Spiral's ceilidh at Verdun for dancing fun? Hopefully I should be recovered enough by then to go dancing. Although it may take me another day or two before I can complete the above posting without overly wincing. <grin>
Re: a second helping of ate
Date: 2008-11-26 11:11 pm (UTC)Re: a second helping of ate
Date: 2008-11-27 01:21 am (UTC)No worries, just idyll curiosity. Have fun dancing like a mad dancey thing!
Re: a second helping of ate
Date: 2008-11-27 06:44 am (UTC)Re: a second helping of ate
Date: 2008-11-27 09:08 am (UTC)By the later half of such events most people have drifted into groups/partners that they are comfortable with dancing through the evening. And they've already done all the introduction things with each other and thus are usually not overly enthusiastic to going back to the early part of the social agenda for the evening. It's very much human nature.
Of course, you could refuse to let anyone in unless they promise to dance with you later in the evening...
I really have to take up dance properly again sometime (if only to twirl you around the dancefloor competently <grin>). The only question is how to do it without being haunted by the ghosts of dead partners. <sigh>