Memories of...
Sacred Crossroads Summer Sun King Festival 2004

Our Sun King Festival & Competition was Sacred Crossroads' first major event.
Lots of fun was had by all as you will see...

Our festival banner, painted by Amanda (Goldwater)

 
George was our main chef for the day, as we provided meat or veggie burgers and hotdogs for our hungry festival-goers.

Samantha & friends put on a puppet show about the Oak King and the Holly King as they fought over the hand of the Goddess...
But later the kids decided to put on a show about the gods Justin and Cameron, and the goddess, Hilary Duff. Umm... Okay...
The original story will be available soon as a storybook to help fundraise for the community centre.
There was also a children's ritual put on by Karwen, which even the adults loved! (Sorry, we're trying to only post non-recognizable pix of the children.)

We had face painting, and even our security team got in on the fun! This is Todd, a volunteer.

And then we held the long-awaited:
Sun King Competition!!!

In ancient times people chose the "best of the best" from among the young men of the tribe to serve as a living offering to the Gods. It was a great honour to be elected, and the man chosen was treated as if he were the personification of the God himself - during his tenure as King. However, if there was famine, a bad harvest, illness, war or other threats to the well-being of the tribe the King was sacrificed to the Gods in the belief that he was saving his people.

Sacred Crossroads wishes to revive this custom - although without the human sacrifice. The children made sun effigies to be sacrificed in the Sun King's stead next year when he must pass on his crown...

Our new Sun King, proudly displaying his sacrificial suns...
His cape was kindly made by Jean MacLean and beaded by Maahet RainDragon. Check out the back in the next photo.

Our King shares a victory dance with some maidens and children.