The Enigmatic Tale of Glastonbury Dragons and the Wild Hunt Revealed

The Glastonbury Dragon Wild Hunt is an annual community event and cavalcade that takes place in Glastonbury, usually on the Saturday closest to Samhain (the Celtic festival marking the end of summer and the start of winter, around October 31st).

The story and meaning of the event combine the local dragon folklore with the broader European folk motif of the Wild Hunt:

The European Wild Hunt Folktale

The ''Wild Hunt'' is an extensive European myth about a spectral, sometimes a terrifying,

procession of supernatural riders sweeping across the night sky, often led by a deific or legendary figure (like Thor or Lucifer). It is associated with:

The passage of the seasons and the cycle of the death and reincarnation.

The time when the veil between the human world and the spiritual world is at it's thinnest.

A harbinger of battles, plague or major changes.

The Glastonbury Adaption: The Battle of the Dragons

The Red Dragon (Summer): Represents the lighter, warmer half of the year (Beltane to Samhain)

The White Dragon (Winter):Symbolizes the darker, colder half of the year (Samhain to Beltane)

The event culminates in a symbolic battle between the Red and White Dragons which, represents the turning of the seasons---specifically the transition into the winter.

Key Characters and Elements:

Gwyn ap Nudd: The procession is often led by an enigmatic figure representing Gwyn ap Nudd, the Welsh Celtic ruler of the Underworld (Annwn) and the King of the Faeries. In the Glastonbury tradition, he is the leader of the Wild Hunt of Avalon, guiding the transition.

The Battle:

The climax sees the dragons clash, with the White Dragon prevailing in the autumn (Samhain) to signify the arrival and supremacy of the winter season.

The Procession:

The event includes drummers, morris dancers, Green men, and the dragons parading through the town to the Tor or a nearby pasture for a final ceremony.

In short, the Glastonbury Dragons Wild Hunt is a modern, community--driven pagan celebration that uses the local dragon motif to visually recreate the ancient Celtic interpretation of the year's cycle and the powerful, untamed forces of nature associated with the coming of winter.

Glastonbury Dragons Wild Hunt