Beltane is one of the four major fire festivals of the Wheel of the Year. Pagan in origin, the Wheel charts the passage of time through the main solar events——the Summer and Winter Solstice, and the Autumn and Spring Equinox——fire festivals mark the four midway points between these events with Celtic beginnings. Living by the Wheel of the Year means honouring nature——and cycles of birth, death and rebirth——through the ancient cultural celebrations of its festivals.
Beltane falls on May the 1st——seen as the gateway to the lighter half of the year and the six summer months culminating in Samhain (or Halloween) and the first day of Winter——Beltane heralds the beginning of summer when nature hits its peak and stirs coequal festivity and celebration.
Glastonbury Beltane Festival 2024——saw some incredible manifestations of belief and artistry, and this ongoing portrait project captured some of the individual expressions making up the collective celebrations of the day. Green Men and Maidens, Celts, Pagans, Wiccan, Romani, Druids and Others——come together to weave the Maypole and drink Mead, light fires to Bel, chant Cymraeg song and dance in the sunshine——an event skilfully MC’ed by the indomitable Glastonbury Town Crier, David Greenway.
portrait of beltane…
Tribby, The Mead Man 2024 Karen 2024 David, Glastonbury Town Crier 2024 Kat 2024Tayah 2024Finn 2024Björn Boarhunter 2024Laura 2024Lexxi 2024Sabina 2024Stan 2024Adam 2024Tim 2024Ceilidh 2024Sonya 2024Charmaine 2024Björn & Lexxi 2024Courtney 2024Sal 2024Becky 2024Caroline 2024Charmaine & Sonya 2024A huge thank you to Ceilidh and the Horde members, The Glastonbury Border Morris Dancers, Tribby Carter, Karen Ellis and David Greenway for your time, artistry and generosity of spirit.