Tune in at 12 AM, May 19th and hear the Gypsy Scholar present the fourth installment of the Orphic Essay-with-Soundtrack series entitled, “Beltane / May Day: A Holiday for Pagans & Workers.”
This 4th part is a transitional musical essay in the series, moving from the seasonal pagan May Day (i.e., Beltane) to focus on the sociopolitical Workers May Day and, therefore, demonstrating the latter’s historical roots in the repression of the central feature of May Day festivities ( i.e., the maypole) by both the premodern Puritan and Catholic church and state, not only because of the overall unruly, transgressive character and “seething paganism” of the May Day festivities of the common people but, more threateningly for the ruling class, because of the increasing instances of the maypole festivities becoming rallying stages for social insurrection.
Be sure to check out the fantabulous “Beltane / May Day” webpage that’s dedicated to this musical essay series located on the Tower of Song website at revradiotowerofsong.com.
