Sunday is the main day, and also our last full day. The Opening ceremony is on around midday. Here we will cast the circle and call the quarters, East, South, West and North and welcome them to witness the ritual, the Beltane fire needs to be lit, but first we have to chase off Jack Frost.

Handfasting weddings are done after the main fire is lit, this time we had 2 Beltane fires and we were all invited to walk through the two. This is to drive off the cleanse ourselves for the new energies, and new starts of spring.

The afternoon sadly became a wet fest, so we retreated to the tent for a while. Tidied up and got ourselves ready for some tea, and coffee to warm up. And once again put fire clothes on ready for the last night of fire dancing, drums and stories.

We watched the sunset in the henge, we felt the sun as it peeked out before going to its bed. The warmth on our skin was heavenly, a promise of better days to come. Can’t believe it’s all over already. Monday is a solely pack up and drive home day. I didn’t want it to end, but alas my body can’t wait for my bed and hot water bottle.

This year on Monday I got to visit an event I had wished to visit for well over a decade. The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, it’s in a small village nearby, and over the years we have just missed due to health issues. But this year we did it!! And it didn’t disappoint.

So what is Abbots Bromley Horn Dance?? It’s a rural pagan ritual dance that ends the summer and steps us into autumn. It’s been going since 1226! It starts with them collecting the horns at 8am and the day carries on until 8.30pm with market stalls and food, ice cream available too. But we couldn’t possibly do all day, so we headed out at 4.30pm.

The Horn Dance is one of the few ritual rural customs to survive the passage of time. Today the Horn Dance, which takes place annually on Wakes Monday, offers a a glimpse into traditional English folklore that is passed down from family member to family member. Often you will see father and son in the group.

The folk dance itself is a troop of six deer antler dancers, there is a fool holding a pigs bladder (that’s inflated like a balloon) a bowman to fire at the hobby horse, a hobby horse and Maid Marian – all played by men traditionally, but I’m sure I spotted a female member this year??, including the fair maiden. They dance to music played on a melodeon, which is a form of accordian, and they dance a route that goes around the village and houses.

We make the walk around, though I’m infinitely slower than these guys and I’m not carrying super heavy antlers, and dancing. But we know the route and we know they are stopping off at the pubs.

Once back at the pub, the main Horn dance rests and grabs a pint and we stroll around and come across some Morris troops, so we watch them while sitting down on a bench (much needed sit down)

The evening is drawing in, feels so early and the first sign the nights are drawing in and autumn is here. The sky puts on a beautiful pastel sunset, as the next Morris dancers grab some willing participants from the audience to join in with a dance.

The Deer Men return and give us there final dance before they do the walk to the church for a small service and to return the antlers for the year.

We nick off as they file into the church, so we could drive off home and not get stuck in a traffic jam. I am thoroughly exhausted but thrilled I had finally be a part of this history. Feels good to preserve this heritage and culture of ours. Pagan roots need to be saved.