Beltane - Valpurgis

1st May

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night,

https://www.learnreligions.com/beltane-4159809,

and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day,

for more information about the festival.

We Dance Up The Sun

by Charles E S Fairey

We danced up the orange lustred dawn

With Morris Men and trumpeting hunting horn

With Maypole and flower clad hawthorn.

We danced up the Sun into Summer’s Days

We washed in the glory of his floodlit rays,

With Green Man, Oak King and the Queens of May

As our ancestors did since they were sons of clay.

With splendid glory we surveyed the horizon

With mead and ale we frolicked drunken orison

And Old Nick watched us with horns emblazon.

“For it is the Dawn of the Summer” we heroes sang

The hills, the valleys and the plains with echoes rang,

With the melodies of Border’s violins and drum

And into the Morn’, we danced up the Sun.

We danced around the Beacon in honour of Bel

Whilst the spiralling fires dispel Winter’s icy spell,

And later, the cocks shall seek their Beltane’s Belle

And in Summer Days to come, we’ll have a story to tell.

Great glory to the purity of the May Queen

Great rejoicing to the fertility of the Man of Green,

Deliver our lands and crops from the grip of Great Holly

As we listen to the tales of the enduring legend of Molly.

Come dance with us around the village thorn

And with flowers and rags to her branches adorn,

So to Mighty Sun we must rejoice and reverently cheer

For Beltane’s May and Summer comes but once a year!

Please see the Poem Video with associated photographs for Beltane (May Day) 2015

@ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2IzPNpslW4

Please also see the 'Domesday Morris' Dancers Video for Beltane 2015

at Wedgwood's Monument (N. Staffs)

@ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyVHCd5wcWw

"The fair maid who, the first of May

Goes to the fields at break of day

And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree

Will ever after handsome be."

- Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme

"Now the bright morning-star, Day’s harbinger,

Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her

The flowery May, who from her green lap throws

The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.

Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire

Mirth, and youth, and warm desire!

Woods and groves are of thy dressing;

Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.

Thus we salute thee with our early song,

And welcome thee, and wish thee long."

- John Milton, Song on a May Morning, 1660