Which pagan festival is being celebrated in the movie the Wicca Man?

Answer 1

It's "Wicker Man", and it is fiction. It is not based on anything real pagans would do.

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Answer 2

Oh, pumpkin! I do believe the film is called the Wicker Man. I've not seen the new one but wouldn't bother as the 1973 version is a classic and one of my favourite films. The occasion or Sabbat being celebrated is Beltane which happens on May 1st to celebrate fertility and healing, hence the maypole which represents the phallus. There is little evidence to support that the Pagan people practised human sacrifice. I find it sad that these rituals have died off because of Christian intervention, the Pagans had a much more healthy and respectful attitude to the earth and their own sexuality as they were regarded natural and not dirty.

ps I was alone on Valentine's too, another festival with Pagan roots, I believe.

Answer 3

I never did see the Nick Cage remake so I must go on memory from the original 1973 film.

There is no specific Pagan festival being celebrated to the best of my knowledge. There is a scene where the locals are dressed in costumes that might represent what you would see at Beltaine. Beltaine is a fertility, sun welcoming Sabbatt with the calendar date of May 1. Beltaine itself has nothing to do with the plot of the movie. Instead, it concerns the plight of the local people when they keep having bad apple harvests.

I would recommend viewing the original film over the remake. The climax has a good scare even though it hasn't got much to do with real Paganism or Wicca. It borrows a lot but that borrowing doesn't impact the real plot to any great degree.

Answer 4

The Movie is the Wicker Man and it has nothing to do with Wicca.
I believe the festival is Beltane or May Day but I'm not entirely sure. They are beginning the planting, so it makes sense. We do leap the fire and dress in costume and have parades and dance around the Maypole on Beltane traditionally, so it all fits.

Keep in mind though, this is a fictional story, though it is based on historical evidence. I assume you're talking about the first Wicker Man. The second one isn't worth watching.

Answer 5

The MAY DAY FESTIVAL, as featured in The Wicker Man, is a throwback to pagan rites of a thousand years ago (a bit of which continues today in Morris dancing) and are a highlight of this film. In the weblink below, we're told:- 'The pagan details - painstakingly researched by Shaffer (scriptwriter), were to be entirely authentic, although drawn from different societies at varying times.'

Answer 6

The Movie "The Wicker Man" is inspired by an actual Celtic human sacrifice ritual that was recorded by Roman Pagan (Pagans mind you, not Christians). Both Strabo and Ceasar wrote accounts of this practice, so there can be no doubt it actually happened.

According to Strabo (64/63 B.C.. - 21 A.D.. at least) in his Geography (4.1.13):

The Romans put a stop both to these customs and to the ones connected with sacrifice and divination, as they were in conflict with our own ways: for example, they would strike a man who had been consecrated for sacrifice in the back with a sword, and make prophecies based on his death-spasms; and they would not sacrifice without the presence of the Druids. Other kinds of human sacrifices have been reported as well: some men they would shoot dead with arrows and impale in the temples; or they would construct a huge figure of straw and wood, and having thrown cattle and all manner of wild animals and humans into it, they would make a burnt offering of the whole thing (trans. by Benjamin Fortson, in Koch and Carey 1995, 18).


And according to Julius Caesar (writing c. 15 March, 44 B. C..) De Bello Gallico 6.16):

All the people of Gaul are completely devoted to religion, and for this reason those who are greatly affected by diseases and in the dangers of battle either sacrifice human victims or vow to do so using the Druids as administrators to these sacrifices, since it is judged that unless for a man's life a man's life is given back, the will of the immortal gods cannot be placated. In public affairs they have instituted the same kind of sacrifice. Others have effigies of great size interwoven with twigs, the limbs of which are filled up with living people which are set on fire from below, and the people are deprived of life surrounded by flames. It is judged that the punishment of those who participated in theft or brigandage or other crimes are more pleasing to the immortal gods; but when the supplies of this kind fail, they even go so low as to inflict punishment on the innocent (trans. Anne Lea, in Koch and Carey 1995. 22).

It has nothing to do with Wicca since Wicca wasn't created until the 1950's or so. History of Wicca
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Answer 7

Oh yes - I forgot, Pagan's eat people, drink the blood of babies while they sacrifice them alive and do horrible things to farm animals.

There is no corresponding festival - it was made up. Probably half out of fear of the unknown Pagans.

There are a lot of people out there who do believe that Pagans had all sorts of festivals like these. Really and truly believe this. Some have ideas about the Druids carting away children from families who were unable to pay a tithe.

I like the freudian slip on the title.

Answer 8

In the Wicker Man it was the May Day festival which was celebrated.

Answer 9

It appears to be some kind of fertility rite. It's not clear what time of year the film is set as he disguises himself as Punch, a principal character of the May Day festival.. but there appears to be a harvest festival like gathering in of produce.

I think it's not meant to be one particular event but rather points to the strange other-ness represented by a neo-pagan cult.

And it's called the Wicker Man.

Answer 10

For Wiccans like others, it is August Eve. Some call it Lughnassahd or Lammas. It is the first harvest and a time for celebration. This time of year is a lot about being thankful for and enjoying the fruits of labor. It actually fits in quite well with what late summer is all about - lounging on the porch in the evening with a tall glass of iced tea and a slice of blueberry pie watching kids chasing fireflies.

Answer 11

None. The pagan trappings were made up for the movie.

And the title is "The Wicker Man" which is a BIG difference.

Pagan and Aztec influences were used to fabricate the fictional religion used in the film, but it was largely "cut from whole cloth."