Ooh, a post!
We received a letter recently concerning today's Imbolc Fire Festival, as the procession will be going down our street. I just had to share an excerpt from it (with place names removed):
Dear Resident,
As you may know the Imbolc Fire Festival will be held this year on Saturday 7th February. There will be a procession that will start from (PointA), proceed to (PointB) and finish at (PointC). The procession will be led by 3 'druid' type Characters, with samba bands and stilt walkers mixed with the procession. Some people will be carrying withy lanterns. The procession will be followed by entertainment; a fire 'circus' accompanied by the Fox Drummers and a singing group and a short drama, a battle where Jack Frost is overthrown by the Green Man welcoming the sun and followed by a firework finale.
Now, I don't know that much about Imbolc beyond what I read on Wikipedia, but a couple of things stood out as being odd here. "'Druid' type Characters", right, that fits, as do "withy lanterns". "fire 'circus'", sure, Imbolc is a fire festival from what I understand. "Jack Frost is overthrown by the Green Man", well, okay, I understand the spirit of this even if it appears that this year Jack Frost has decisively won the battle as we're covered in a foot of snow. But, SAMBA bands?! What on earth does that have to do with anything?!?!
I'm also intrigued as to how the stilt walkers are going to manage on the snow and ice. Chains on the stilts? Super-grippy stilts? Hmm. Think I might have to dig out the withy lantern and check this procession out. :o)
I love my village. It's absolutely bonkers.
Dear Resident,
As you may know the Imbolc Fire Festival will be held this year on Saturday 7th February. There will be a procession that will start from (PointA), proceed to (PointB) and finish at (PointC). The procession will be led by 3 'druid' type Characters, with samba bands and stilt walkers mixed with the procession. Some people will be carrying withy lanterns. The procession will be followed by entertainment; a fire 'circus' accompanied by the Fox Drummers and a singing group and a short drama, a battle where Jack Frost is overthrown by the Green Man welcoming the sun and followed by a firework finale.
Now, I don't know that much about Imbolc beyond what I read on Wikipedia, but a couple of things stood out as being odd here. "'Druid' type Characters", right, that fits, as do "withy lanterns". "fire 'circus'", sure, Imbolc is a fire festival from what I understand. "Jack Frost is overthrown by the Green Man", well, okay, I understand the spirit of this even if it appears that this year Jack Frost has decisively won the battle as we're covered in a foot of snow. But, SAMBA bands?! What on earth does that have to do with anything?!?!
I'm also intrigued as to how the stilt walkers are going to manage on the snow and ice. Chains on the stilts? Super-grippy stilts? Hmm. Think I might have to dig out the withy lantern and check this procession out. :o)
I love my village. It's absolutely bonkers.