As the sun reaches its zenith for Alban Hefin, join us for a ceremony, picnic and eisteddfod of music!
Sunday 19th June 2022, 10:30 - 12:45/13:00
About Alban Hefin
The Summer Solstice is the time of maximum light – when the countryside around us revels in colourful and fragrant splendour. This time is known in the Druid tradition as that of Alban Hefin – ‘The Light of Summer’ or ‘The Light of the Shore’... At Alban Hefin, the spiral of the year has expanded to its widest point and now the hours of light are as long as they will ever be (from the OBOD website).
Alban Hefin is the Druid celebration of the Summer Solstice, when the sun brings the longest day and shortest night of the year, the high point of Summer. It is a time for rejoicing in the warmth and light, for breathing in the Summer air, and for joining together in community and fellowship.
Festival outline
This Alban Hefin, Corr Réisc Grove would like to celebrate the invigoration that the summertime brings but in particular, give thanks for the chance to enjoy a period of joy and simple fellowship this year, after the turbulent times of the last two years. As such, this year, we would like to host a ceremony as normal, followed by a picnic and eisteddfod that focuses on music, be it chanting, singing or listening to the talent of our many bards and artists!
If any OBOD or non-OBOD members would like to dress up in any white robes they may have for ceremonies please do so or simply come dressed in bright and colourful threads.
We'll also be having a go at some old Celtic and British games and customs of the season.
Picnic feast
If you feel that you could contribute in some way towards the following, as a participant on the day. it would be greatly appreciated:
Food: prepared at home or purchased (with an awareness of allergies and appropriately labelled for vegetarians, pescatarians and vegans);
Drink: prepared at home or purchased (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic; labelled)
Napkins, cups, cutlery.
Rugs or picnic blankets
There is no requirement to bring anything or to take part in having something to eat and/or drink; anyone is welcome to simply bring their own food and/or drink to consume themselves, too.
Eisteddfod
Gifts of music - however that might be offered - will most welcome and there will be an opportunity to sign up to share said offering of creativity once the ritual script is circulated.
Again, there is no requirement for you to do so: just an ask for all attending that together, we support these bards with our attention and applause as they share their talent and inspiration with us.
Meeting place
We will meet outside the Cambridge Museum of Technology, facing the river, between 10:15 and 10:45.
Location for gathering itself
We usually wait for around 10-15 minutes at the location above before heading into Stourbridge Common. To join us if you are running late, walk straight into the Common, keep straight as you pass a children's playground to your right and as you enter the open fields down a wide dirt track, look to your left for a group of trees. Hopefully, you won't miss us!
First time with us?
If you have never attended or taken part in a pagan/druidic/OBOD ceremony, worry not! Our ceremonies are flexible, open to whatever you would like to contribute and inclusive of all identities. There are simple ceremony roles to have a go at, with pre-prepared lines to read out, but there is no obligation whatsoever to do so. If you'd like to have an idea of what's involved, please get in touch with us.
Preparing
All registered attendees will be sent a link to the ritual script online, with details of what to prepare/bring, a few days before the event. We will usually bring key items for the ceremony, as well as paper copies of the rite, that can be read from on the day.
We are mindful of the weather and dress appropriately, bringing water, a hat, suntan cream, coat and waterproofs, etc. Come rain or shine, hail or snow, we will meet!
Keep in touch
Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date with this and future events and please do get in contact if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing you to celebrate Alban Hefin,
Corr réisc Grove.
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