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May Day Bonfire

May 13, 2009 at 2:29 pm
By Margaret Taylor '10

Nowadays, May Day is an obscure holiday, kind of like “Root Canal Appreciation Day” that is listed in the student planner (May 14, by the way).  “May Day” is actually the modernized name for Beltane, an ancient Pagan holiday that celebrated the coming of spring and fertility.  You do know what May poles really stood for, right?

Carleton’s Druid Circle and Folk Singing Club celebrated this holiday’s pagan roots, though without the May pole, over the mid-term break.  A sure sign that summer is coming is that it took some planning ahead to get to the Hill of Three Oaks after sunset.  There they build a big bonfire, sat around it singing folk music, toasted marshmallows, and generally had a wonderful time.  It’s really true.  Minnesota’s six months of winter are finally over.  And summer vacation will be coming before you know it…