We are approaching the Rogation days, or maybe we are already in them? Time for the May Dragon!
Because while most people just have their May Queens for May Day, we in France have also our MAY DRAGON! Yeah!
The Rogations days (ritualistic blessing of the fields and prayers to the sky and to the weather-saints) in France are connected to the traditional parade of the dragon. Sometimes the parade is displaced to other springtime Christian celebrations (Ascension or Pentecost), but it is always there. An ugly, terrifying, frightening dragon meant to represent the natural disasters threatening the crops and the community - but that in the past was vanquished and tamed, maybe killed, by some sort of saint who arrived to allow the creation of the city - and is now being fed cakes and coins by children to bring good luck and fertility...
The Tarasque of Tarascon... The Graoully of Metz... The Grand-Goule of Poitiers... All local manifestations of the good ol' May Dragon
