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Pagan Pride Day is one of various annual festivals held worldwide celebrating Paganism, Wicca and modern witchcraft. They are held in

• San Francisco
• Berkeley, California
• Indianapolis
• Central North Carolina
• Florida
• Northern Nevada
• Greater Pittsburgh
• New York City
• Ottawa
• Portland, Oregon
• Savannah, Georgia
• Rome (Italy)
• Houston, Texas
• Buffalo-Niagara Region, New York

The event is celebrated in many other locations as well. The festivities are as varied as the communities which organize them. Some events are as simple as an open picnic or cook-out held in a local park. Some events are full-fledged festivals which rent venues with performance stages and food facilities. There are, however, several common elements.

First and foremost is the promotion of education about and understanding of the various facets and forms of Pagan religion. At these events, the general public is invited and there is usually a table of reading materials regarding various topics relating to Paganism. These may seek to dispel common misconceptions about Pagans and their worship or they may explore parts of the belief systems of which many outsiders would otherwise be unaware.

The second most common aspect is charitable work. Many Pagan Pride coordinating committees choose a local charity to support with fundraising and/or donations through their event. These charities might be organizations related to environmental conservation, animal rescues, food pantries, shelters for victims of domestic violence or other such causes. Pagans have great interest in such organizations as a general rule.

All Pagan Pride Day events aim to be very family friendly. There are rules regarding what can and cannot occur at such events to this end. Many events provide a safe children's area where young Pagans can participate in various creative and entertaining activities. The children might learn to play rhythm toys with a volunteer musician. They might make wands or other ritual tools for their own use. Mask making is always a popular activity. There are usually spiritual aspects to the children's activities without being too serious or cumbersome for them to comprehend. Often older children help their elders keep tabs on the smaller children, thus learning responsibility via community service.

Many Pagan Pride festivals showcase local Pagan performers and artisans, allowing them to perform for the crowds or vend their wares. Some events offer open mike sessions where attendees can take a turn chanting, telling jokes, spinning tales, drumming, reading poetry or whatever else they would like to do to entertain the crowd as long as it's family friendly. It is an opporunity for those who may not get many chances in the spotlight to have it for a few moments without fear of riducule or persecution.

The overall driving atmosphere of a Pagan Pride Day event is one of fellowship, community, and acceptance. As is common with many Pagan events, it is requested that strife be left behind upon entering and that a general atmosphere of safety and peace be maintained during the event. For those who may be new to any of the many Pagan paths, Pagan Pride Day is often an event which leads to great transformation through the simple discovery that they are not as alone as they perceived themselves to be initially.

• Dagonet Dewr

• http://paganwiccan.about.com/b/a/109986.htm
• http://www.postgazette.com/neigh_south/20020925s51pagan0925p2.asp
• http://www.pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=2082
• Pagan Pride Project
• Italian Pagan Pride Day
• Houston Pagan Pride Day
• Buffalo Niagara Pagan Pride Day