You may have been celebrating the old holiday the old way. Which is to say, there was a pagan tradition that roundly welcomed the return of the warm season. We will speak softly, just in case. The old festival of Bacchus was transmogrified into a Christian celebration in Germany under the tender ministrations of St. Walpurgis. We talked about her yesterday, as the day named for her was filled with warm sunshine, clear skies and green shoots erupting from the pots Grace moves around the back deck for maximum solar exposure.

There was, regrettably, no Bacchanalia to accompany Walpurgis. The Roman deity Bacchus was no teetotaler, though that term regrettably describes a more mellow Refuge Farm these days. A bacchanalian party used to be a wild, wine-soaked, rowdy affair. Our celebration was more in tune with the vagaries of the plague year, but at least in tune with memories of the old spirit. Green is back. The earth is warm. The sky is welcoming.

The Staff Meteorologist was adamant on that score. But she pointedly reminded the entire crew that although St. Walpurgis blessed the onset of May Day, the eve of it, if you will, her blessing continued right through the magnificent day and lasted unto the last bright rays of the solar orb sank behind the newly-risen greenery of the new season.

The old Romans celebrated their day of Bacchus with wine, songs, dances and more wine. It was so lavish in scope that it ran into the domain of another deity, that of Dionysus. He was the Greek spirit who contributed to life with wine and crazy parties. Most of the staff remembers those, and some hope they may return as we “get back to normal.” Whatever that might be, and whatever saints and deities might bestow upon us.
We looked for Bacchus, just in case he was lurking about, but the last foot patrol could not identify him or any other domestic threat.

Perhaps we will be lucky later in the season. The Meteorologic Officer was uncertain about that matter, but suggested provision of additional staff could ensure we are ready for whatever is to come. We naturally thought about lunch.
Welcome to the season of green and growing life!

Copyright 2021 Vic Socotra
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