 |
 |
|
|
| | |
|
|
Radical Faeries’
Samhain celebration
Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Takoma Park, Md.
Contact Fritter, 202-265-0112
info@dcradfeys.org
www.dcradfeys.org.
Samhain Spiral Dance
Saturday, Nov. 5, 5:30 – 10 p.m.
Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church
3215 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD
Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
www.spiralheart.org
Leather Sabbat
Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 p.m.
D.C. Eagle
639 New York Ave., NW
www.dceagle.com
Party at the Jefferson Memorial
Friday, Oct. 28, 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.
www.openhearth.org
- According to Shea Thomas, chair of the board of directors for the Open Hearth Foundation, “Pagan relates to a family of [religious] paths that are earth-centered, including Wiccans, Druids, Asatru [think Vikings], Santerian - a whole spectrum of paths.”
- Pronounced “sow-in”, is the Celtic word for Halloween, and the celebration on which the American holiday is based. Many pagan traditions view this as one of the high holy days where celebrants usher out the old year and welcome the new. Most groups also pay homage to their ancestors by inviting them to the party and creating altars in their honor.
- No, there are no sacrificed chickens or infants among these groups. Many pagan rituals follow a standard order that includes, but is by no means limited to, gathering in a circle, creating sacred space by honoring the natural world, calling on divinity and ancestors, meditating and lots of singing, dancing, and wild drumming.
- All of the groups profiled for this article are welcoming of queer people. Many pre-Christian indigenous cultures revered same-gender loving folks as sacred necessities for the health of a community.
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| | |
HOME > ENTERTAINMENT > FEATURE
By: GREG MARZULLO COMMENTS
 
continued...
D.C. and Baltimore areas, the Eagle holds an epic party focused on raising funds for the hosting clubs.
“The clubs are all-volunteer organizations, raising money for gay charities and AIDS organizations,” says Bill Cappello, one of the bar’s owners.
Averaging between 600-700 people a year, the event fills the coffers of the clubs who have representatives at the front door handing out Halloween goodies and asking for donations. There is no cover charge for the evening’s festivities.
The Leather Sabbat is not a pagan event, but donating to a good cause on Halloween is nothing new to the holiday’s history. During the Middle Ages, beggars and children in Europe went door-to-door asking for “soul cakes” from homeowners, and it was considered bad luck to be uncharitable.
All those looking for both tricks and treats would be wise to remember that.
Many bars in town will hold a costume contest, but no one does it quite like the Eagle. Categories such as best leather, best uniform, and best original costume are all part of the fun, and the winners receive cash prizes.
The second floor of The Eagle opens at 9 p.m., and by 10 p.m. the party really gets rolling.
As for recommended attire, Cappello says, “It’s the one night where you can let it all hang out. It’s one of the times when leather guys can get together and show themselves off.” Expect chaps, armbands, harnesses and, of course, leather galore.
The Open Hearth Foundation is a non-profit pagan organization founded in 1999 for the purpose of creating a pagan community center in the D.C. area. The foundation sponsors Pagan Pride Day held in September, a Samhain drumming extravaganza and a large masquerade ball in conjunction with May Day.
For the last nine years, the organization has staged a yearly drumming and dancing ritual at the Jefferson Memorial for Halloween. People bring their drums, warm clothes and high spirits for a night of dancing and revelry.
The evening primarily consists of community drumming and dancing where everyone can get their primal groove on and party to the witching hour. Last year, nearly 150 people came out to feel the rhythm.
“Having a ritual at the Jefferson memorial, dedicated to one of the principle architects of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, acknowledges the religious freedoms we enjoy,” says Shea Thomas, a 38-year-old straight man involved with Open Hearth.
This year’s drumming event is partially led by Tigre, a well-known gay drummer in the D.C. metro area.
|
