Pagan Heritage Day 2013

Today's educational event went pretty well, with glorious weather and a steady footfall of people coming along to say hello and make contact ~ some new pagans, some just curious. We also had our first negative snit (not bad for all the years we've been running) with some old trout with disastrous dental work wanting to know why we had a banner outside bearing the logo 'Ipswich Pagan Council'... erm, because this is a meeting of the Ipswich Pagan Council I tentatively responded (whilst wondering what other possible reason she thought we might have such a banner up for). To which she said, "So you're not Christian then?" This astounding insight confirmed, she said, "well you wont get to Heaven then", and spun on her heel and left... presumably with an air of smug satisfaction at her own dazzling riposte.
That mini blip aside, everyone else was thoroughly nice and we had some good stories (the Greek tale of Priapos, and the Heathen story of the Gifts of the Gods) and a selection of impressive songs. I particularly liked the one about Black Shuck. The artwork on display was also rather eye catching, with quite a few people commenting on Little Tel's deer head.
We have a few possible ideas for ways of revising the event next year (particularly to make it less labour-intensive for the stallholders) and perhaps of using the event to improve links with the pagan communities of Colchester, Bury, Mildenhall etc. as well as promoting some general PR for the wider world.
This evening I have been having some much-needed R&R listening to the Doctor Who Prom on BBC Radio 3, and wishing that I was there to see it!

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