This year the Beltane celebration at Butser Ancient Farm was a true spectacle. It was an event that perfectly blended ancient tradition, modern pagan culture, and a touch of the paranormal.
The Return of the Wicker Man
The highlight of the evening was, of course, the burning of the Wicker Man. This year’s effigy, a towering figure over 30 feet tall, was designed by environmental artist Mark Anthony Hayden Ford to represent Ötzi the Iceman, a "stargazing, Stone Age funky guy" complete with a medallion and funky trousers. For Mark, the project was more than just a creative endeavor; it was a deeply personal one. A lifelong resident of Sussex with family roots in the land dating back centuries, Mark shared that he placed a part of his late dog's ashes into the effigy as a final farewell, a poignant act of closure that perfectly aligned with the spirit of the fire festival.
The wicker man's design and construction were a testament to historical authenticity, built without scaffolding, just as it might have been 2,000 years ago. Watching it burn was a powerful experience, a visual representation of purification and the cyclical nature of life.
The Sound of the Old Ways
The atmosphere was set by the music of Damh the Bard, a prominent figure in the pagan folk scene. Dave, whose stage name is a stylized pronunciation of "David," has been writing songs since 1995, inspired by the need for more pagan songs to be sung around campfires. He sees the recent growth in pagan music and events as a natural response to a world where people feel disconnected from the natural world and their own history. He believes that humanity is "essentially storytelling animals," and that this ancient, mythic way of life provides meaning that has been missing for many.
For Dave, Beltane is a celebration of the land's fertility and vibrancy—a time when the male and female energies of life come together. He described it as a time of renewed green, the return of the swallows, and the hedgerows "dripping with May," emphasizing that it's a celebration of where we fit in with the cycles of life, not just a human festival.
A Haunting in the Villa
As the night drew to a close, the Weird Wessex team found themselves in the Roman villa, a modern reconstruction on the farm grounds. The villa, despite its newness, has a strange reputation. It is said to be haunted by the spirit of Peter Reynolds, the farm's founder, who passed away before his dream of building a villa could be realized.
Staff members told stories of seeing Peter's figure walking through the village and in the villa itself. One story, in particular, was about a crying baby—a tale tied to the discovery of an infant's remains buried beneath the threshold of an ancient villa, suggesting that spirits can attach themselves to a place, regardless of its age.
The night was filled with moments of wonder and reflection, from the spectacle of the burning wicker man to the quiet, eerie stillness of the Roman villa. The Beltane festival at Butser Ancient Farm is a powerful reminder that the old ways are not gone, but are alive and thriving, waiting for us to reconnect with them.