Moonraking 2009
on Feb 18 in General by DanIt’s Moonraking week in our village. I went into detail about Moonraking last year, but in short it’s a week of family based activities held over the winter half term holidays which culminates in a big procession of home made lanterns through the village on Saturday night. Here is the official site.
These are a couple of my photos from last years Moonraking:
The Moonraking festival was one of the reasons we chose to move to our village. I think these little traditions and events are fantastic scaffolding on which to hang a childhood; and they also foster a real sense of the importance of community. The Holmfirth Torchlight Procession looms large in the memories of my own childhood, and I hope the Moonraking festival will have a similar presence in my kid’s consciousness.
Last year we were just spectators at the parade, but this year we’re intending to be part of it. Yesterday Amy and I went down to the community center to begin construction on our lantern. The theme is “lunar landings” to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, and so keeping with the astrological motif we’ve decided to make a star. The fact that a star is probably the easiest lantern to make has absolutely nothing to do with it and I’ll sue anyone who says otherwise.
It might be the easiest lantern to make, but that doesn’t mean I found it easy to actually do. The framework for the lantern is made from willow sprigs bent into shape and taped down. It’s an exercise in methodical working and manual dexterity. However unfortunately both of those traits are solely lacking in my skillset. While I was taping one bit down the other end would invariably spring up, causing much gritted teeth and muttered profanities.
Amy was a big help in restraining various twigs while I frantically slapped tape on them, but her attention was being competed for by a large slab of chocolate cake I’d bought for her; and so twig wrestling often took second place.
Some of the lanterns being made by other people were simply fantastic. I was particularly impressed by a Dalek being made by a family a couple of tables over from us. Next year I might be a little more ambitious in my plans. I took some photos of the workshop on my phone but they didn’t come out too well:
We didn’t have time to complete our lantern yesterday (by covering it in tissue paper) so Kerry has taken Amy down to the village this morning to finish it off. She is under the deluded impression that this will somehow give her a co-creator billing but as we all know, any fool can glue tissue paper to a willow framework; it’s the bending and sticky taping them which takes the real skill.
I’ll try and get a decent photo of the finished product when we bring it home later this week.
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I’m anti-community and actively shun any of the activities and fairs that my town puts on.
Avitables last blog post..$100 by any other name would still smell as sweet
OK–that ranks about a 12 on the coolness factor! (scale 1-10)
Ed (zoesdad)s last blog post..At Least I Know Where I Stand
Man, they’re a bunch of weirdos in Slawit. ;-)
Rols last blog post..25 (Part 2)
That’s actually pretty cool.
I would be tempted to bring hairspray though.
Xbox4NappyRashs last blog post..Yes & No
I agree with you. The village festival should be brought back everywhere. Our Summer Gala was an event everyone looked forward to – even though it always rained.
I miss village life now I’m older (I said old-er) and wish we lived in one.
The scrotes round here would set fire to them or drive their Corsa’s at speed through the parade – morons.
gails last blog post..MOT and New Shoes
Very cool indeed.
Kevin Spencers last blog post..Doh
Love it.
I help put up the Christmas lights in our village, and there was a cracking night with Santa coming through the village as they were switched on. The boy loved the sweets he got from Santa, but told anyone that would listed that Daddy put the lights up. Living in a village is fabulous, just what I want for our family. Good luck with your lantern.
SingleParentDads last blog post..This Time, Racing For Chocolate
The lanterns are fabulous. I love that sort of thing. We’re all terribly anti-social Down South ;o)
That first picture in particular is really good!
(un)relaxeddads last blog post..Dennis Johnson – “Tree of Smoke”, Helen Tursten – “The Torso”
“I think these little traditions and events are fantastic scaffolding on which to hang a childhood …”
1.) Great turn of phrase. Well said.
B.) You live in a village. A village? With a lantern festival? So, um, do the elves and dwarves co-exist peacefully? And are there hobbits, too?
III.) Yes, I’m jealous. I’m generally a city mouse, but that whole “village” thing sounds way too quaint and charming.
Daddy Scratchess last blog post..Two lips
That certainly is very cool.
And to think, before this i just thought Moonraking was a Bond movie.
Jamess last blog post..The Ugly Truth about Love
Good stuff. We don’t have anything that cool here in our ‘village’. perhaps maybe if we started referring to our town as a village we’d be on our way
PGs last blog post..Itza Product Review! And a Bitza of a Giveaway!
If I’m ever invited to visit you I hope it is during Moonraking and not chicken coop cleaning.
Whits last blog post..No Cats Up In This Cradle
Sounds like a really great festival.
I don’t live in a village, but I these festivals give (little) villages always a nice charm. Thankfully we’ve also got some festivals which are at least half as cool.
Arjans last blog post..Yes-man!
Avitable – anti-community eh? I suppose that’s as good a way as any to refer to a restraining order.
Ed – My scale goes up to 11
Rol – You don’t know the half of it. Apparently there is a strange one armed misanthrope living on the opposite side of the valley.
Xbox – You sir are a vandal.
Gail – I haven’t been to a moonraking where it’s rained yet, but I’m sure I will.
Kevin – Yup
SingleParentDad – You’ll have to plan a visit up north for next year.
Penelope – Oh yes, and a bunch of Jessies too if rumors are to be believed.
(un)relaxeddad – Thanks. There is a prize of £25 for the best photo this year, so both Kerry and I will be taking our cameras.
Daddy Scratches – I think it’s officially a village, it comes close to being a small town but I don’t think it’s quite there yet. I prefer the word village anyhow.
James – I must admit it was very tempting to try and build a Jaws lantern.
PG – It’s all in the vocab.
Whit – You’re always invited Whit. You can stay in the coop.
Arjan – Amsterdam has a year long drugs and prostitution festival doesn’t it?
it’s a general *and very foreign ;)* misconception that it’s only Amsterdam.
Arjans last blog post..Yes-man!
You see, this is why us “townies” tend not to roam west of Leeds during twilight hours.
Have you found an outsider to put inside the wicker man this year ?
Garys last blog post..The miracle of the video recorder
Arjan – Ahh, so you’re all a bunch of drug taking prostitutes then :)
Gary – Not yet, in fact we were wondering if you were available?
The strange, one-armed misanthrope takes exception at Penelope’s comment that she’s more anti-social than me.
Rols last blog post..Oh. My. Moz!