Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Pagan Tama

Home
Pagan
A Secret Sunrise Beltane Celebration

A Secret Sunrise Beltane Celebration

Last updated on: April 30, 2017 at 10:21 pm by Megan Manson

A Secret Sunrise Beltane Celebration 2017-04-30T22:21:31+00:00 Megan Manson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Beltane is subversive. More so than Samhain, in my opinion, even though the latter may seem pretty subversive with its skulls and darkness and trappings of death and the otherworld. But Samhain is somewhat softened by the child-friendly costume parties and trick-or-treat of Halloween, as well as its association with the Christian All Saints’ Day. In contrast, Beltane has no real Christian equivalent and moreover, it has yet to experience the sanitising, mainstreaming effect of commercialism like Samhain or Yule. Beltane, or its secular equivalent May Day, is still a day of anti-establishmentism and breaking taboos. It’s a time of rowdy and drunken music festivals, of passion and sexuality, and of marches for workers’ rights and protesting the establishment in London.

Communists marching in London on May Day

It therefore seems befitting that a subversive festival would inspire some secretive rites. Where I live in Kent, May Day is quite a big deal. One of Rochester’s biggest festivals, the Sweeps Festival, is a Beltane festival in all but name and it is hugely popular. On May Day morning itself a variety of rituals, usually in the form of Morris Dancing, take place throughout wild places in Kent to celebrate the rising sun. Some of these dawn festivals are large and well-known, like the dances at Bluebell Hill: the site of a Neolithic longbarrow which attracts crowds of Pagans and non-Pagans alike.

But there are many other May Day dawn celebrations in Kent that are something of an “open secret” known only by locals. I won’t reveal all of these here, to protect their mystery and sense of intimacy. But there is one that I think I can share publicly without fear of spoiling it, as it’s one that’s not so much a secret as simply little-known. And that is the congregation of Morris dancers at Windmill Hill, the highest point in the town of Gravesend.

Beltane dawn over the River Thames, as viewed from Windmill Hill.

I discovered the Windmill Hill May Day dances as most people do – completely by accident. Three years ago, I decided to go up to Windmill Hill to see in the rising sun at Beltane, simply because it’s the highest point in my hometown with good views over the River Thames. So while I was pouring some libations and making offerings to the trees there just before dawn, I was really surprised to hear the tell-tale jangling bells of Morris dancers who suddenly arrived and began to make preparations to dance.

St Clement’s Clogs

There are two Morris sides who take part in these May Day celebrations each year: St Clement’s Clogs Morris and West Hill Morris. Small they may be in number, but they are extremely passionate about what they do. They have been holding the Windmill Hill dances for 20 years. Despite the relatively small audience, usually consisting of bemused dog-walkers among a few dedicated fans, the dancers are always cheerful, friendly and enthusiastic, despite the early hours and often cold and rainy conditions!

West Hill Morris

The dancers always bring fresh flowers and greenery to mark out their dance area, and they usually dance for about an hour. At the end, they invite audience members to take part in their dancing. Although not specifically Pagan, there can be no doubt that there is something deeply meaningful in what these Morris dancers do. They are continuing decades of tradition, not for the benefit of large crowds but for themselves as Morris dancers, and the dedicated onlookers who know their secret.

windmill01

So when you’re thinking about observing the May Day dawn but you want to do something different from joining the larger, more popular celebrations, consider simply visiting some prominent point like a hilltop in your local area. You may well run into people who are there for the same reason. And if not, why not get some friends together and start your own May Day morning tradition, be it Morris dancing, a maypole, or a Pagan ritual. You never know what you might start…

Previous Post

March 29, 2017

Pagan, Shinto & Spiritual Book Reviews March 2017

Next Post

April 21, 2017 Making Anzac Biscuits For Beltane and Anzac Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art, Craft & Expression Musings & Miscellaneous Nature & Science News & Reviews Ritual & Festivals Secularism, Politics & Human Rights Shinto & Japanese Religion Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Samuel's mother promise if God gave her a son?

Select your answer to see how you score.

To offer a burnt sacrifice To move to Jerusalem To fast for 40 days To dedicate him to the Lord