As the nights lengthen and the veil between worlds thins, a sense of magic and mystery settles over the land. This is the time of Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival that marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. For anyone seeking to feel the weight of this sacred season, there are few places as potent as Glastonbury, a town where myth and reality are impossible to separate.
Walking through the streets of Glastonbury, one feels as though they’ve stepped out of time. The town's very identity is built on a foundation of ancient folklore. We explored two of its most famous landmarks: the White Well and the Chalice Well. One, a dark cavern, holds the promise of the unknown, while the other—known for its rust-colored, iron-rich water—is said to be the final resting place of the Holy Grail itself. Drinking from the spring, you are part of a pilgrimage that has been going on for thousands of years.
What makes Glastonbury so special is not just the past, but the vibrant, living traditions that thrive today. We learned from a local Dragon Herald about the town’s annual Samhain parade, where the red dragon of summer battles the white dragon of winter. It’s a powerful and visual reminder that these old ways are not static; they are born on the land and continue to evolve with each new generation.
Our journey also took us to the heart of the legends. We scaled the iconic Glastonbury Tor, a hill said to be the entrance to the Otherworld, ruled over by Gwyn ap Nudd, the king of the Faerie. And we explored the ruins of the Glastonbury Abbey, which has its own compelling, if slightly cynical, tie to the legends of King Arthur. The "discovery" of Arthur's tomb by the Abbey's monks in the 12th century is a fascinating example of how a town's history can be a powerful source of both myth and much-needed income.
Glastonbury is a place where every myth has a physical presence, and every tradition has a living pulse. Whether you believe in the stories or just enjoy a good tale, a visit to this town around Samhain is a journey into the heart of ancient wonder.