Butser Beltain Festival and Wicker Man 2012
The ancient festival of Beltane is revived and celebrated annually at the reconstructed Iron-Age village of Butser in Hampshire (they spell it Beltain here). A huge wicker man is constructed, then burned at sunset following the Celtic tradition. Beltane is associated with Bel, god of light, fire and the sun and the tradition is a fertility rite linked to the turning of the year to ensure a fruitful harvest.
For more more information on this - and other - British traditions, visit http://www.calendarcustoms.com/
