Today the 21st of May is Ascension Day, a key date in the Christian calendar.  Prior to it being adopted by the Church it was an important date and event in the Pagan year.   Today would also  mark the start of the Derbyshire Well Dressing Season. 

The Pagan belief was in the  need to ‘Bless’ the life giving purity of the waters from these natural springs and wells in the villages.   A need for purity that may ring rather true today.

 Tissington village would in a normal year be packed with people, both for the Blessing of the Village Wells by Church Leaders.  Then a Procession round to each Well.

It is quite a spectacular. Sadly in these trouble times this cannot happen.  So I have cheated and adding two links to todays page.  They recap  visits  in earlier happy times.  Take a look at this rather unique event.

https://davidoakes-images.com/2019/06/04/petal-power/

https://davidoakes-images.com/2018/05/15/pagan-traditions-and-a-quintessential-english-village/

I hope you find the tradition interesting 🙂

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

21sy May

(C) David Oakes 2020