The May Queen Celebration at Brimming Horn Meadery: Honoring Tradition and the Spirit of Spring

As the sun cast its golden light upon Brimming Horn Meadery, we gathered in reverence for an ancient tradition—a celebration of renewal, community, and the timeless cycle of nature. In the spirit of the old ways, my friend Michael and I stepped forward as Greenmen, clad in the essence of the forest, embodying the wild and sacred guardians of the land.

But this year, our ritual carried a deeper sense of honor, for we did not crown just one May Queen, but two.

Two Queens, Two Blessings In keeping with age-old European customs, we crowned a maiden and a young girl, each chosen to rule over the season’s warmth and growth. The maiden, a symbol of blossoming beauty and wisdom, carried the grace of those who walk into the fullness of life. The young girl, embodying innocence and joyful wonder, represented the fresh bloom of spring itself—a reminder that growth begins anew with each season.

To be chosen as May Queen is an honor, a call to represent the light and abundance of the changing earth. With floral crowns placed upon their heads, they stepped forward—radiant, strong, and revered, marking the moment as a tribute to nature’s balance between youth and wisdom, past and future.

The Dance of the Maypole As the May Queens took their place, eight ladies and girls encircled the Maypole, weaving a dance as old as time itself. Their movements were fluid and graceful, ribbons flowing like threads of sunlight and shadow, crafting patterns that honored the rhythm of nature and the cycles of life.

Each step, each turn, was a testament to tradition, a dance that has been passed down through generations—a celebration of joy, unity, and the sacred renewal of the earth. As the ribbons wove together, so did the spirit of the festival, binding us to the legacy of those who danced before us.

A Celebration of Ancient Customs To celebrate the May Queen Festival is to honor the wisdom of our ancestors, the power of nature, and the bonds of community. Here, at Brimming Horn Meadery, we lifted our glasses of golden nectar, sharing in the joy of tradition, the laughter of friends, and the promise of the season.

As evening fell, and the echoes of music and revelry softened into the night, two May Queens reigned, the Greenmen stood watch, and the spirit of the old gods remained ever present. May the light of spring shine upon our Queens. May the forest remember our dance.

And may the tradition never fade…