There was dancing. There were drums. A bonfire on the island of Kampa, touched the night with sparks and a faint haze of smoke; it was a good fire—hearty and young. In spots flanking the Vltava River, and the largest of her islands, fires burned. Music and chattering voices filled the night. There was singing. There was food. In a truncated circle formed by musicians and onlookers, two young men worked magic with kerosene and lanterns, with flaming batons, maces and other implements of a fire-artist's discipline. Musicians, a gaggle of them wove tunes with drums and bagpipes, and something of an ocarina, made from the buffed and shiny horn of a goat. Dancers whirled around the fire-artists, throwing themselves into hazy silhouette: caressing ecstasy with their movements. A procession made their way to the bonfire and sacrificed bundles of straw: effigy witches. They bowed respectfully to the flames and crossed themselves in Catholic fashion, making prayers to the Heaven and the tripartite God of their belief. Oblivious to the prayers of Prague's pious minority, one young man spun fire, on the ends of two sturdy chains. He moved with fluid, serpentine grace, something ancient in his poise, in the way in which he charmed the primordial force of fire. He danced with it, as if the burning force itself had expressed the wish for a companion in a hallowed dancing place. He smiled and turned astonishing capers, and the fire turned with him. He laughed, and the flames laughed with him. **** This picture was made bare hours before this post, and as I sit here, having written a description of the night, I can still smell smoke on my clothing. Here in Prague, it is Bonfire Night, the night effigy witches are burned, according to Christian tradition...but in Prague, the Christian tradition has fallen from favor, and among those who claim any faith at all, it is an ancient faith that calls this night Beltane--or the Czech equivalent. And in the spirit of Beltane, I'm posting this image, as a way of marking my own, personal veneration of this day. As always, thank you for viewing, reading and commenting.