Tuatha de Bhriain

Official date for Imbolc planning meeting.
Meeting to be help at the home of Guthrum and Finoulla.
Directions, contact info and map are available here to logged in members and friends.

The Wickerman ceremony

Samhain is our most popular event, regularly drawing participants from local reenactment groups as well as from upstate NY (and recently from as far away as Alabama!).

Event Details

• Samhain will be held in our traditional campsite. A map is available for TdB site members and official friends. If you need directions and cannot access them here, please contact your sponsoring member.
• Site fee is $20.00 for the weekend, which includes the feast on Saturday. $5.00 for day trippers. Those remaining after 9 pm will be expected to pay the full 20 bucks. Members: remember we pay dues at Samhain, but this covers site fees for the entire year.
• As this is a camping event, please remember to bring any gear conducive
  to your medieval-ness and survival. Amennites include water faucets, bathrooms and showers (though these are a long hike or a short drive away from camp). The site is discretely wet so please bring period drinkware (i.e. keep all hard stuff well out of sight). As always, we strive for a strong medieval atmosphere so please help us by concealing all mundania and remaining in persona after nightfall.

Schedule of events

• Friday (all day): Arrival, setup, general merriment, welcome stew
• Saturday day events:
  • Mask making with Momus - Samhain is a dangerous time to be out of doors, as the dead walk the land. As is the tradition, many of us disguise ourselves with masks or face-paint so that we may venture out of doors unmolested by the spirits, so remember to bring materials to fashion a disguise! Help out by bringing enough supplies to share
  • Pumpkin carving with Brogan - we will try to bring enough pumpkins and knives
  • Brewing session with Colin - bring your own ingredients and brew bucket
• Saturday Nightfall:
  • Feast of the dead - Roasted pig, vegetables, breads, barley, and pottage with beer and cider.
  • Elections
  • Wickerman Ceremony - there will be room inside the Wickerman for you to place gifts or notes you wish to send to those in the other-world.
• Saturday Evening:
  • TdB Gambling
  • Bardic Circle with Momus and the Fomorians - bring "something good or something bad" to share with the group!
• Sunday: Pack up

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We met so many great musicians and music lovers at the Pennsic War and several of them were interested in getting a copy of our Book of Song. Since it's not straightforward as to how to find it from the main page of this site, I wanted to post this to make it a bit easier for them.

The Book of Song page is http://tdbcelts.org/node/371. On that page you can find links to audio files, printable song lyrics (most with chords), the song feed podcast (on iTunes), and a link to the Book of Song in paperback on lulu.com.

Direct link to purchase the 2009 Book of Song

Gobae's ForgeGobae the smith has volunteered to come down and give us a demonstration of blacksmithing. All are welcome but if you want to do a project let Guthrum know so that he will have enough materials.

Some images from the hammer in can be found here.

For several days the Druids sat in council, carefully reviewing the omens and portents both observed and carried by messengers riding the swiftest horses. The clouds hung heavy in the sky hiding the brilliance and warmth of the sun which would otherwise have dried the dirt paths and open gathering spaces. On the day of the festival our Chieftan rode forth to survey the ceremonial grounds alone. As he approached the grove he began to rue his decision to take the trip without escort for many hands would be needed should his chariot become stuck in the slippery track that led to his Clann's traditional site. Rain began to fall and it quickly became clear that the Druids' warnings should be heeded. Brogan managed to extricate himself from the slippery ooze that would be the Clann's main thoroughfare and sought higher ground.

Our Beltaine event heralds the beginning of the warm half of the year! We move out of doors and set up camp underneath the stars for fires, food, and song. Yes, I said fires, for there are traditionally two (2) fires burning at this event. The Beltaine page has more general information regarding our yearly feis of Beltaine as well as links to related articles.

SITE MOVED! Beltaine will NOT be held at our traditional camp due to inclement weather! Guthrum and Finoulla have graciously offered to hold the event at their house instead. A map to the location is available to logged in members here. Crash space is limited but available.

Friday night: indoor hanging, music, and dinner
Saturday: indoor / outdoor (under dining flys) feast and festivities