Beltane at Thornborough Henge 2008
Sunday 4th May - Starts 1pm
Admission FREE - Everyone Welcome!
At Thornborough Henge, near Ripon, in North Yorkshire, England.
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Latest News about the event:
The Merry Month of May is Upon Us...
A time to celebrate life and love and all things good.
So come on down to Thornborough Henge and help us to bring in the summer in the festive tradition of Beltane!
The Sacred Brigantia Players present a Mystery Play:
The Fall & Rise of John Barleycorn
(with apologies to Robert Burns, for this twist in the tale!)
We invite children coming to the event to bring water pistols
so that they can participate in the Mystery Play!
Explore the three Henges at Thornborough:
Beltane at Thornborough Henge 2008
A celebration of seasonal change and ancient mystery at one of Britain's most important prehistoric sacred sites.
Sunday 4th May - Main Ceremony Starts 1pm
Admission FREE - Everyone Welcome!
Get directions to Thornborough Henge
What to do and what to bring..
Beltane at Thornborough Henge is an informal gathering for anyone who wants to celebrate the beginning of summer and the beauty and magic of the land we live in!
We encourage everyone to dress-up in their most exotic festival clothing: cloaks, head-dresses, masks and other costumes help to create a real spirit of Beltane.
Anyone attending the event is also welcome to 'do their own thing' and celebrate Beltane in their own way.
Musicians, performers, didgeridoo players and drummers, please come along and help us to raise energy on the day.
Camping is available for the entire bank holiday weekend, with further festivities and activities at the campsite.
Having a stall at the event
Stalls at the event is absolutely FREE (no need to book). All that we ask is that stall-holders do something to contribute to the ambiance of the day (use you imagination!).
Helping out with the event
We are always looking for people to help out with this FREE event, doing anything from stewarding the car-parking to having a speaking (shouting!) role in the ceremony itself.
The Mystery of Thornborough Henge
Thornborough Henge is a 5000 year old stone age monument consisting of three giant circular earthworks of a type and style found throughout the length Britain.
The entire monument is over a mile in length, the layout of the three Henges resembling that of the three stars of Orion's Belt. 5000 years ago on the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) the three henges would have aligned almost perfectly with the stars of Orion's Belt (a constellation appearing only in winter) when viewed in the direction of the mid-winter sunset.
The interactive aerial map shows the central Henge at Thornborough. Two further Henges lie to the north and south (the northern Henge is now completely covered by trees). Use the controls in the top left to zoom in and out and pan around to explore the triple Henge complex.
Find out more about Thornborough Henge
The Ancient Festival of Beltane
Beltane is one of four Celtic quarter-days that mark the passing of the seasons in the year. It is celeberated at the beginning of May, the other festivals are: Lughnasa (August), Samhain (November) and Imbolc (February).
The festival is associated with fire, courtship and the renewal of nature following spring. Beltane or Mayday was traditionally celebrated throughout the north of England and beyond as a season of 'hilarity, merry-making and good humour'. (Lancashire Folk-lore, 1882)