In the February of 2016 at
our private Lambtide observance, members of the Hearth of the Turning Wheel
discussed planning for our next gathering. We eventually decided on an outdoor meeting,
incorporating our Vernal Equinox Observance into picnic. The intention was to
hold a relatively small and select gathering and by making the ritual part of a
picnic, we were free to invite non-Pagan friends and family, including
children. Although the children would not be taking part in any organised
ritual, their presence would make the event a social one and mitigate the need
for childcare.
The proposed date was
Saturday the 19th of March 2016, the day before the Equinox and we set up a
Facebook event page to enable invitations. Our chosen location, indeed one of
our favourites, was Elvaston Castle Country Park. An estate now owned by
Derbyshire County Council but once the country seat of the Stanhope family,
holders of the Earldom of Harrington and formally a major local landowner. I
have arranged events at this park in previous years, at one time I was well
known locally, as the organiser of the Elvaston Castle Pagan Picnic in the Park
(see link below).
So from an official start
time of 1 o’clock we gathered on the terraces near to the manor house and
enjoyed horseshoe tossing and boules, in the latter game I was roundly
thrashed. Not that it mattered, we were all having a good time.
At 3 o’clock or thereabouts some
of us took a break from the afternoon’s activities, while the children and those
not participating in ritual, continued with the picnic and games. The remainder
gathered near our picnic spot under the trees and it was noted that we had a
very acceptable involvement of some ten or eleven. Which I judged to be a more
than adequate number for an invitation only event.
Here we held our Vernal Equinox
Ritual, a somewhat simplified and scripted one, the text of which I had used previously
at a gathering on Stanton Moor in 2015 (see link below). Present at both the
picnic and the ritual, were persons who had travelled a not inconsiderable distance.
This included not only friends from Nottingham but also members of the Hearth
of Albion, who had travelled from Lancashire to be with us. Links to the Hearth
of Albion websites can be found below.
After the ritual we joined
the rest of our group for more games, we were introduced to the art of Egg Tapping
and then judged the best painted hardboiled egg. After these two competitions
we gathered on the bank to Egg Roll. Almost twenty people, adults and children,
rolled hollow chocolate eggs down the terrace. The winner being the individual
whose egg rolled the furthest without breaking.
Unsurprisingly the majority
of the eggs broke up on the descent, the sight of chocolate eggs shattering
into what one person described as shrapnel, was quite spectacular. We had to
pick up the debris and it was spread broadly. The second round of egg rolling
was for the children only but I am not sure who enjoyed egg rolling the most,
the grown-ups or the children.
After all of these activities,
there was little time left before the park closed and time was indeed getting
on. The day however, was judged a major success. The day had been very
enjoyable and a pleasure to see many old friends that sadly, we do not see as often
as we would wish.
RELEVANT BLOGS AND WEBSITES
The Elvaston Castle Pagan Picnic
in the Park:
Stanton Moor, the Vernal
Equinox and the Partial Solar Eclipse: Friday the 20th March 2015:
The Hearth of Albion on
Facebook:
The Hearth of Albion primary
website:
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