| Three very wet
days preceded the Festival of Beltain on 1st
May. Wicker Man builders Simon Jay and Alistair
Incledon-Webber battled torrential rain and high winds to
finish filling the wicker skeleton. Local artist
Madeleine Allison had to retire to the dryness of the
great roundhouse to create the face which was finally put
on the body on Friday afternoon. See pictures of the Wickerman being built Ancient Farm staff and volunteers wrestled with marquees in the pouring rain in an effort to get the site ready for the Festival. Saturday dawned dry but very overcast as the finishing touches were put in place. And then the sun came out! Around 900 people enjoyed the beautiful evening, listening to the Celtic bands and the story teller, watching poi demonstrations, eating roast pig, having their faces painted, exploring the roundhouses and viewing the wall paintings in the Roman villa before the main event of the evening took place. Druid for the evening Tim Concannon explained the significance of the Festival of Beltain as a celebration of new life in spring and a sacrifice to ensure good produce and a plentiful harvest before the Wicker Man was set alight by conservationist, writer and TV presenter Robin Page. For a while the 30ft high Wicker Man burned slowly but suddenly, as the fire jugglers and accompanying drummers reached a dramatic conclusion to their display, the whole figure burst into flames. Darkness fell, leaving only a smouldering heap of ashes – but the crops are growing well! |
Butser Ancient Farm is open to the
public on the last weekend in the months
March – September
Created 14 February 2003 - Updated 07 May 2004