A Spring Solstice celebration

A Spring solstice celebration

The Spring Equinox is a point in the year where the length of day and night is roughly equal, marking the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. For many, it’s a chance to celebrate the return of light, energy and warmth; this was especially true in my corner of Devon after a winter of seemingly endless coastal storms and wild weather conditions. The Teignmouth Folk Preservation Society, formed in 2022 and providing a community hub for all things wild, traditional and folksy, are committed to preserving these often-forgotten rituals.

We met at 5pm, as the sun was beginning its final winter dip towards the horizon. After some welcome speeches and organising, our group moved along the promenade led by the spectacle of the giant wicker head*. For a handful of unsuspecting dog walkers and evening joggers, the ritual might have taken them by surprise; however a large number of onlookers joined in with the procession down to the beach - proving that traditions still have a funny way of encouraging people to join in.

Teignmouth back beach is somewhat famous for its sunsets and it certainly didn’t disappoint, with the distant silhouettes of Haytor and Saddle Tor providing a fantastic backdrop for the final part of the evening. Participants collected two rocks each from the beach, assigning past difficulties to one and future intentions to the other. As the sun finally touched the horizon, they left their ‘past’ rock on the sand before jumping over a line, holding their ‘intention’ stone as they went.

Enormous thanks to the Folk Preservation Society for making me so welcome and to all of the amazing people I met during this very special evening.

This work is part of my ongoing project Faith, Hope & Folk, which explores the communities keeping ancient and historic traditions alive.

*Large wicker head sculpture created by Lewis Prosser, an ‘absurdist basket maker’ based in Cardiff. The sculpture was originally part of Prosser’s Making Merrie, a project inspired by traditional Mummers plays.