Weekend Celebrations

Jun 21, 2004

This was a busy weekend, and I don't think I knew just how busy it really was until it was all over. There was a lot to celebrate, it seems. The two major celebrations that most people are familiar with were Fathers Day and the Summer Solstice, each just happening to occur on the same day - Sunday, June 21st.

But I digress; my first celebration began Saturday evening, in Hyattsville at my friends Bill and Mike's. It was the first celebratory gathering this year of the gang who helps to produce Goatman Hollow. The producers hosted a fabulous cookout, haunted croquet that followed the path of last year's haunt through the woods, Goatman volleyball, hot tub Marco-Polo (for the kids) and last, but certainly not least, an end of the evening ghost story telling in a firefly enchanted forest. It was truly magical. Merci beau coup for the invite - I had a ball!

Father's Day: My father has been gone 4 years now, and I remembered him all through out the day and wished that there had been more time with him. I think that is the way we all feel about loved ones who have passed on. My friend Rich and I went to Blobs Park for a German celebration of multiple things: Father's Day, the Summer Solstice, belated May pole and many old world pagan customs, such as hopping over the bonfire to precipitate either a marriage or fertility (we left before this quaint custom began, can you guess why?) Our friend Tim performed with the Alt. Washingtonia , a local German dance/band group. Their performances included traditional slap dances, cowbell serenades, Alp horns and much polka-ing. Tim also celebrated father's day with his daughter Trystam.

So this weekend was the kick-off for Goatman Hollow, Father's Day, the official start of summer, the longest daylight day of the year, (the daytime hours are at a maximum in the Northern hemisphere, and night time is at a minimum.) the summer solstice, and Midsummer's Eve. Here's what our ancestors may have celebrated during this time of year:

• Ancient Celts: Druids, celebrated Alban Heruin ("Light of the Shore"). It was midway between the spring Equinox (Alban Eiler; "Light of the Earth") and the fall Equinox This midsummer festival celebrates the apex of Light, sometimes symbolized in the crowning of the Oak King, God of the waxing year. At his crowning, the Oak King falls to his darker aspect, the Holly King, God of the waning year..."
• Ancient China: Their summer solstice ceremony celebrated the earth, the feminine, and the yin forces. It complemented the winter solstice, which celebrated the heavens, masculinity and yang forces.
• Ancient Gaul: The Midsummer celebration was called Feast of Epona, named after a mare goddess who personified fertility, sovereignty and agriculture. She was portrayed as a woman riding a mare.
• Ancient Germanic, Slav and Celtic tribes in Europe: Ancient Pagans celebrated Midsummer with bonfires. "It was the night of fire festivals and of love magic, of love oracles and divination. It had to do with lovers and predictions, when pairs of lovers would jump through the luck-bringing flames..." It was believed that the crops would grow as high as the couples were able to jump. Through the fire's power, "...maidens would find out about their future husband, and spirits and demons were banished." Another function of bonfires was to generate sympathetic magic: giving a boost to the sun's energy so that it would remain potent throughout the rest of the growing season and guarantee a plentiful harvest.

Hmmm, who knew we crammed all this celebration into a weekend. No wonder I'm tired today!