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The Third Oberlin Annual Beltane Festival
Saturday,
April 28
11 A.M.
Tappan Square
Free and Open to the Public
For
more information, contact Joseph Andriano
(440) 774-7188
Sponsored by the Oberlin Pagan Awareness Network
Media
Contact:
Betty.Gabrielli@oberlin.edu
(440) 775-8474
April 25, 2001--The Oberlin College Pagan Awareness Network (PAN) will hold its third annual Beltane Festival Saturday, April 28 on Tappan Square beginning at 11 A.M.
Beltane (or May Day) is a Celtic festival celebrated halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Beltane, meaning 'bright fire' or 'lucky fire' is held on May 1st (May 15th in Scotland) and celebrates the start of summer, the crop and pasturing season. Although scholars are noncommittal, many believe Beltane honors the ancient continental Celtic sun and healer god, Belenus.
The Oberlin festival will include games; a drumming circle; an all-day and all-night bonfire; candle, jewelry and book vendors; a sundown ritual and performances by student musicians.
"We are all very excited about the festival this year," says PAN president Joseph Andriano, a junior philosophy major from Northport, New York. "We believe it will be an excellent opportunity for pagans in northeast Ohio to network and celebrate this important holiday."
"The festival is a new Oberlin tradition as well as a mini-renaissance faire," Andriano adds, "widely enjoyed by members of both pagan and non-pagan faiths in the three years since it began."
"Although this festival is a celebration of a pagan holiday, one of our primary missions is education," said Erin Allen, a first-year student from Meridian, Massachusetts, and an officer in the Network. "We encourage members of all faiths to join us for the festival. We do not preach any religion; instead we invite people to learn about the many faiths represented in our community by enjoying a relaxing afternoon on Tappan Square."
The Oberlin Pagan Awareness Festival is a chartered student organization at Oberlin College. Membership in the Network is open to all members of the College and community. Along with hosting an annual festival, the Pagan Awareness Network brings speakers to Oberlin, educated the community about pagan issues, and offers support to local pagans.
Media Contact: Betty Gabrielli
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