The May festivals were popular throughout pagan Europe. The celebration of fertility and fire was common to the various religions. The Nordics celebrated two gods in the rites of fertility: Thor and Freyr, the latter being, not infrequently represented by a phallus. Freyr was the god who reigned in Alfheim, the land of the elves.
The Nordic elves, on which Tolkien was based to create his elves, were gods, but closer to men than the gods who inhabited Asgard. The Ljosalfr, Elves of Light , were of transcendent beauty, admirable warriors and often visited humans and traded and engaged with them. There are age-old tales of elven villages hidden in the forests, whose entrance was franked only a few chosen men. the Prince and later King Högni was the son of an elf, who visited his mother and queen. The Swedish province of Bohuslän has a tradition that its inhabitants are descendants of elves, so they are more beautiful than most humans.
Elves were essential figures in fertility cults, honored in the fertility of fields, animals, and women.
Thranduil, the Great Elvenking, beautifully portrayed in this art with an eventual companion elf, inspires the Beltane spirit of this Festival.
Send us during this week your work on the theme of the May Festival. Art, film, writing, edit, anything. Send us @dailythranduilproject and / or tag #ThranduilMayFestival , #MirkwoodMayFestival, #thranduilmayfest - Hail to the King!