Share

Why we still need to celebrate the seasons

Photo by Daz’s Photography

As we mark the autumn equinox, find out how Hawthorn & Hare Morris celebrate the changing seasons...
A photo showing a group of Morris dancers in green and brown clothing with leaf crowns kneeling and standing in a group smiling at the camera

Photo by Hawthorn & Hare Morris

As a dancer with Hawthorn & Hare Morris, I love to celebrate the turning of the year.

It's easy to move through modern life without paying much attention to the seasons beyond checking the weather forecast. Yet for most of human history, the changing seasons shaped daily life. People watched for signs of spring, celebrated the height of summer, gathered the harvest and prepared for winter. The natural world provided the rhythm of the year, and communities came together to mark its most important moments.

At Hawthorn & Hare, that connection to the seasons sits at the heart of everything we do. Inspired by the Celtic Wheel of the Year, we dance, sing and celebrate at key points throughout the annual cycle. From the fire and energy of Beltane to the abundance of Lammas and the reflection of Samhain, these festivals remind us that our ancestors didn't simply observe seasonal change - they celebrated it.

Those celebrations were about much more than marking a date. They brought people together. Across Britain, communities developed traditions that reflected the time of year and the landscape around them. Maypole dancing welcomed the return of summer. Harvest festivals gave thanks for food gathered from the fields. Wassailing brought neighbours together in winter to bless orchards and wish for a fruitful year ahead. These customs strengthened community bonds and helped people feel connected to the places where they lived.

A photo showing a group of Morris dancers in green and brown clothing with leaf crowns standing in a group in a field with countryside behind

Photo by Hawthorn & Hare Morris

One of the things I love most about dancing with Hawthorn & Hare is seeing how these traditions still resonate today. People are often drawn to the music, colour and spectacle, but what they're really responding to is something deeper: the opportunity to share an experience, celebrate a moment in the year and feel part of a community.

In many ways, that's something we've lost. We still celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and national holidays, but far fewer of us gather simply because the season has changed. Yet the natural world continues its cycle around us. Trees turn gold, migratory birds arrive and depart, fruits ripen and leaves fall, whether we notice or not.

Today, on the autumn equinox, day and night stand briefly in balance before the darker months begin. It's the perfect moment to revive some of that spirit of seasonal celebration.

That doesn't mean recreating ancient traditions exactly as they were. It might be as simple as gathering friends and neighbours for a shared meal using local autumn produce, taking a walk through one of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s beautiful nature reserves to enjoy the changing colours of the landscape, lighting lanterns as evening falls or sharing stories around a firepit.

A photo showing a group of Morris dancers in green and brown clothing with leaf crowns dancing in a field holding poles with countryside behind

Photo by Hawthorn & Hare Morris

The details matter less than the intention. Seasonal celebrations remind us to pause, notice the world around us and spend time together. They help us to appreciate each season of our own lives, knowing that our own autumn years are just as beautiful as our springtime. That's something Hawthorn & Hare celebrates throughout the year, and perhaps something all of us could benefit from bringing back into our communities.

Related blog posts