Pagan Festivals

El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is Mexico's popular two-day holiday honouring the dead. Oaxaca, 550 kilometres southeast of Mexico City, is one region where this strong holiday tradition survives.

About a mile down the promenade from Brighton Pier, people congregate and gaze out over the silent beach towards the calm silhouette of a wicker king. They throng in the gathering darkness of the year's longest night, kids and adults jostling and stretching to get the best view. Except for their shuffling and whispering all you can here is the wind, and the slow ominous tattoo of the single drum.

The festival of Floralia began around the year 258 BCE. Pagan Romans celebrated for six days, from April 27th to May 3rd, honouring their Goddess of Spring and of Flowers, Flora.

Me, I haven't rebounded on Earth since the Stones. Not yet. I'm a day back and my head is still somewhere on that wind, rain and mist-filled Plain of Salisbury. The Y2K solstice party seemed to be full of good vibes.