Articles — festivals

Emily Post never wrote about proper behavior at Pagan rituals. Fortunately, there's always been common sense (and the Golden Rule) to guide us. Even so, a lot of people get nervous about attending Pagan rituals. Especially if they're not Pagan or have never been to one before.) What am I supposed to do, or not do? Are there any special rules that apply only to Pagans? Mostly, you'll find that being polite at a Pagan gathering is the same as being polite at any other public occasion. The following eight etiquette tips aren’t rules. Pagans hate rules. Instead they are...

In just a few short weeks, the Summer Solstice will be upon us. The longest day of the year is a special occasion for Wiccans and Pagans, who mark our calendar by the movement of the sun and moon. Soon, Pagans all across the Northern Hemisphere will be celebrating the peak of the sun’s light. Summer Solstice is also known as Lughnasadh or Litha in Wicca. Lughnasadh is one of the four Quarters (or Lesser Sabbats) on the Wheel of the Year. It is the most powerful day of the year for the Sun God. In other words, Summer Solstice...

Summer is coming, and that means plans for Pagan Pride 2017 are underway. As you probably know, Pagan Pride Day isn’t just one day—it’s an entire season stretching from August to November. Pagan communities across North and South America host weekend events to gather their members, raise money for charity, and educate the public about Pagans and Paganism. Now is the time to make plans and get involved! What follows is a roundup of the Pagan Pride Day gatherings expected to happen in the United States this fall. The first events on the list are all larger (~500+) Pagan Pride...

Local news media never know quite how to cover Pagan events, and the unease is mutual. Decades of being ignored (except during Halloween season) and misrepresented have left plenty of Pagans shy around the press. After all, no one wants to be baited, be ridiculed, or show up on the evening news with “area cult member” under their name. When a reporter interviews local Pagans and snaps a few photos, the resulting news story will typically contain one of the following: A blandly well-meaning overview of Pagan beliefs, complete with some quotes from “totally normal” Pagans. Or, a thinly veiled...

One of the best parts of attending any festival is putting together a killer outfit. Faeries especially love fashion, frivolity, and the art of disguise. But budget, weather, and travel concerns can have any faery feeling less than magickal. Costuming for outdoor festivals is challenging, but it’s worth it when you get to run around with other faeries in a beautiful natural setting. Are you going to Faerieworlds? Glastonbury? Or another faery festival or Renaissance faire? Here’s some ideas to help plan the faery costume of your dreams. Inspiration Maybe you already know what kind of Fae you want to...