Will there be a Maypole? Or May Day festivities? Will Morris dancers be stepping merrily outside of Westminster Abbey?
I didn’t watch Diana and Charles’ wedding (being but a gleam in my father’s eye) but I did watch the divorce, the scandals and the funeral. While I’m not certain I will watch the Royal Wedding live as it starts about the time I will stumble sleepily home from Beltane festivities, I can’t pretend I’m not excited about it.
The Monarchy of England is a symbol, and it’s a symbol that often reflects the evolving character of the English people. Most of us remember the outcry from the people regarding how the Queen responded to the death of Lady Di, and if you are too young go and rent The Queen with Helen Mirren. Roughly 100 years ago the British monarchy dropped it’s German titles and changed it’s House name to Windsor in response to the actions of the Kaiser, and several years later a King abdicated not merely for love but because he sympathized with the rightly unpopular Nazi party.
The choice of May Day is an important symbol. It’s a very traditional English holiday and very joyful. It’s themes of spring and celebration befit a Royal family that need that infusion of fresh life. Considering the strides made by Druids in the UK, it feels quite fitting the marriage should take place on the “holiest” day of the year for many Pagans.That said, it would have been nice for the head of one of the Pagan organizations to be invited as a courtesy, as were important representatives of other faiths.
Will Kate wear flowers in her hair? I guess we will have to wait and see.
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