The air crackles with anticipation, the scent of woodsmoke and a lingering chill from the winter months hanging on the breeze. Here at Butser Ancient Farm, we gathered for Beltane, a festival of fire, life, and the promise of summer. On this special episode of Wyrd Wessex, we, the Wyrdo's, spoke to the incredible people who make this event a truly unforgettable experience, from the crafters and storytellers to the very heart of the celebration itself.
The conversations we had weren't just about the festival, but about the very essence of what it means to be connected to the weird and wonderful. We heard incredible stories that defied easy explanation, proving that the ancient world is never as far away as we might think.
Voices of the Bronze Age
First, we spoke with Kate, a dedicated reenactor who brings the Bronze Age to life. While demonstrating the intricate process of crafting a knife sheath from antler and flint, she shared a story that truly shook her skepticism. Working late in a disused tunnel under the British Museum, she felt a distinct, physical hand grab her arm—a sensation she could not explain. Her account serves as a powerful reminder that some things simply cannot be rationalized away.
We also caught up with Vanessa, known to many as Pukubi, who works tirelessly to dispel the myth that our ancestors were messy or primitive. She passionately shared how the Bronze Age was a time of advanced technology and skill. For her, Beltane is a time of rebirth and a positive energy that sweeps away the cold of winter.
Stories from the Hearth
No festival would be complete without a storyteller, and we were thrilled to welcome back Jason Buck. A master of performance, Jason told us that his life has been dotted with strange, unexplained occurrences. He sees these moments not as single, spectacular paranormal events, but as part of a rich tapestry of life—a perspective that resonates with the natural rhythms of the festival.
Later, we were honoured to sit with Damh the Bard, a druid and musician whose deep connection to the land is woven into his songs. Damh spoke about his animistic beliefs, where the gods and spirits are not human-shaped entities but the very essence of the earth, the trees, and the ocean. He shared a profound experience of seeing what he believes was the horned god at a ritual—an encounter that proved that these ancient forces still acknowledge and interact with us.
The Heart of the Festival
At the center of it all were Mark and Rebecca from 2 Circle Designs, the creative minds behind the Beltane burn. They shared the meticulous planning that went into creating this year's wicker man, ensuring the burn was both spectacular and symbolic. Rebecca gave us a glimpse into her own home, where she and Mark have a "normal weird" ghost that turns taps on and off and rattles pans. Interestingly, they never felt a sense of menace, but rather a benign, ongoing presence. It was a beautiful example of how we can coexist with the unexplainable.
We also had the privilege of speaking with festival royalty, the May Queen and the Green Man. The May Queen shared her own haunting story of seeing her deceased grandmother at a window. The Green Man, from his time in the British Army, recounted a surreal experience of a civil war battlefield manifesting on an empty field—a truly mind-bending experience.
Beltane at Butser is more than a festival; it's a living, breathing connection to our past. It's a reminder that the old ways are not gone, but simply waiting to be celebrated and understood. We left with our minds full of new stories and our hearts full of the warm promise of summer.