19/04/2026
BELTANE APPROACHES.
As I drove up to Dode yesterday I noticed the first buds and blossom appearing on the hawthorn bushes and it brought home to me just how close that most glorious and joyful time of the year, Beltane now is.
Another name for hawthorn is the May Tree, named after the merry month in which it blossoms and did you know that around this time, the young leaves are edible? The country name is ‘bread and cheese’. My dear mother was particularly partial to it’s nutty flavour, explaining that during the ‘lean years’ following the First World War it helped supplement the diet of many rural families!
This year Dode is holding two celebrations.
The principal, on Beltane Eve (30th April) celebrates the sunset and just a few hours later, on May Day itself (you’ll have to get up early) celebrates the sunrise!
Beltane Eve is already officially ‘sold out’. I say officially, because you see, although we have room for many more people, our little car park is fully booked and a promise of nearby ‘fair weather’ parking in a nearby field, fell through - so if you haven’t been lucky enough to obtain a ticket that includes your car, you can still purchase tickets but only if you can get someone to drop you off, cycle or walk through the glorious spring countryside or if you’re feeling flush, perhaps get a taxi!
The ‘Eve’ celebration gathers at 6-30 pm and will, as always, follow the traditional format featuring Dode’s celebrant Paul and the WolfsHead and Vixen morris side, but with the addition of Kensei Taiko, the Japanese drumming group, who, you may remember, joined us last year at Midsummer.
May Day morning, is an altogether quieter affair, (we don’t want to disturb the dawn chorus or the neighbours) gathers at 5am. Again due to parking, it is ticketed but free to attend.
Full details are on our website.
I sincerely hope that you have managed to obtain tickets and look forward to greeting the summer and many old friends in a couple of weeks time.
Blessed Be - Doug.
