SL ARTS & LITERATURE: Discovering an Ancient Celebration with a Virtual Twist.

The Yule Festival in OZLAND began December 10th and will continue through January 2nd , 2011. It boasts a vast array of events, an incredible festival site in the ruins of an Ancient Roman Fort, and a heart and celebratory spirit in the Celtic tradition. The Yule Festival is the first of eight such annual events produced by The Wild Fox Rovers that coincide with the Celtic Year. Poetry, Storytelling, Music and a Snow-person building contest all are part of this diverse celebration. This event caught my attention because of my interest in the bardic and oral storytelling traditions of the Celtic people. With the Festival being almost a month long, there is still plenty of time to catch the great events and enjoy the spirit of Yule in Second Life.
Yule, or mid-winter is the first celebration in the Ancient Celtic Year. The Winter Solstice (December 21) marking the shortest day of the year and a beginning of the lunar and solar cycles which lead through Spring, Summer and into Harvest, with the year ending at Samhain Festival in October when harvest ends and the agrarian world is seen to go to sleep or die till the suns return and rebirth in the Spring. There are eight celebrations in this cycle: Yule (December), Imbolc (February), Ostara (March), Beltane (May), Midsummer (June), Lughnasadh (August), Mabon (September), and Samhain (October/November depending on who you believe).

The Wild Fox Rovers, lead by Fox Ravenheart and Serene Bechir, will celebrate each of these in unique celebrations in turn in the virtual world. There is still a lot to see and do as part of this year’s Yule celebration. Check out their programs and the list of events between now and January 2nd and the organizers freely announce that they reserve the right to add more. Information notecards on schedule and programs are available at the landing zone at the festival site: http://slurl.com/secondlife/OZLAND%20NE/214/116/300


PROGRAMS:
**Yule Poetry, Literary and Art Anthology: Seeking submissions. Please see guidelines given by landmark or contact Serene Bechir.
**Snow-Person Building Contest: See contest guidelines or contact Fox Ravenheart.
**Freebie Item Hunt: Unique, holiday items in black cat containers hidden around the site from our vendors.
**Interactive Roman Fort with a version of the New Grange Tomb in Ireland, a sacred place on the Winter Solstice.

MON, DEC 20 * 9AM-10AM--- Open Mic Poetry Reading
Voice chat, Submissions will also be accepted for publication in Yule Poetry Anthology.

MON, DEC 20 * 9PM-10PM--- Open Mic Poetry Reading
Voice chat, Submissions will also be accepted for publication in Yule Poetry Anthology. **Deadline for Anthology Submissions

TUES, DEC 21 * 6PM-7PM--- Juggernaut Deceit Sings Live
Singing class rock songs with a gritty, blues style.

TUES, DEC 21 * 7PM-8PM--- Dusty Smythe Sings Live
Folk singer with old timey style.

WED, DEC 22 * 3PM-4PM--- Covenant Wylder Sings Live
Modern performer covering most styles.

WED, DEC 22 * 4PM-5PM-- Laidback Celt Sings Live
Unique, rocking style with a bit of country.

WED, DEC 22 * 5PM-7PM--- DJ FOX Seasonal Music and Stories
DJ Fox will be playing season music, modern/alt while story telling tales of the season.

FRI, DEC 24 * 8AM-9AM--- Russell Eponym Sings Live
The Welsh folk singer with the enchanting style and enchanting soul.

WED, DEC 29 * 5PM-6PM Geos Copperfield Sings Live
Entertaining mix of original material and crowd pleasing covers from the 60s to the current day.

WED, DEC 29 * 6PM-7PM Strum Diesel Sings Live
Free spirit and song writer, using his music to make the world a better place.

THURS, DEC 30 * 5PM-9PM--- DJ FOX Seasonal Music and Stories
DJ Fox will be playing season music, modern/alt while story telling tales of the season.***Snowman Contest Deadline – Snowman will be voted on. Linden Prizes.

SUN, JAN 2 * 9AM-10AM--- Brendan Shoreland Sings Live
British Folk Singer Live Performance

SUN, JAN 2 * 12PM-1PM--- Poetry Presentation by Serene Bechir
As part of the Yule Festival, Serene Bechir will read poetry on stream.

SUN, JAN 2 * 5PM-9PM--- Yule Wrap Party with DJ Fox
DJ Fox will be playing season music, modern/alt while story telling tales of the season.

For more information on The Yule Festival and The Wild River Foxes, contact Fox Ravenheart or Serene Bechir.

~Caledonia Skytower, Reporting
"Any ink is good ink, even if it is virtual"
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