WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MARCH 9 -15, 2022 UCW 15
EVENT
Arnette Park will play host to
the second Fayetteville Pagan
Games, held March 12 and begin-
ning at 11 a.m. e Pagan Games
celebrate the Pagan communities
in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and the
surrounding areas. is year, the
games are Norse-themed, with
different events focused on Norse
mythology.
"ere is a large Norse Pagan
community here in Fayetteville and
Fort Bragg, and I knew this theme
would drum up a bit more atten-
tion. It's not Norse Pagan exclusive;
anyone can jump in," said Danny
Hirajeta, the organizer of the event.
Hirajeta explains that the Pagan
Games is a way for different groups
to come together. Hirajeta has been
a practicing Pagan for over 20 years,
but when he came to Fayetteville,
he felt a disconnect between the
different Pagan groups.
"I used to have to drive up to
three hours toward the coast be-
cause that was the only way I was
going to be able to interact with
pagans, and I thought, we should
have something like [the Games] in
Fayetteville," he said.
e first Fayetteville Pagan
Games held in 2020 were Greek-
themed, and Hirajeta enjoyed host-
ing the festivities. Initially, the idea
was to center the games around the
Pagan holiday Imbolc, traditionally
in February. Imbolc is the celebra-
tion of the return of spring, a time
when people begin to focus on new
plans and a time when the earth
starts to warm back up. However,
the weather last time didn't quite
cooperate. e event will be held
a month later than the holiday this
year to ensure warmer weather.
"We decided to push the games
forward because last time it was
incredibly cold and incredibly wet
and a little miserable. People were
falling in the mud, and everyone
did think it was hilarious, but it was
pretty cold. So, we decided to push
it out almost a month to hope-
fully not have it be that way," said
Hirajeta.
e games are a mix of physical
challenges, luck-based games, skills
and relays. e day will begin with
an opening ceremony followed by a
game called "Well of Mimir." Runes
will be placed in the bottom of a
water-filled tub, and participants
will be shown a rune symbol they'll
have to look for in the bottom of
the tub.
e poetry contest is a highlight
of the Pagan Games and a relay
race conducted in cardboard
Viking longboats. e day finishes
with "Blind Archery," based on
the story of Baldr, a god thought
to be indestructible. Baldr met his
end when killed by Loki, an archer
named Hodr the Blind and an ar-
row with mistletoe. Participants
will blindly shoot three arrows at
targets with Baldr's image at the
center. A spotter will play the part
of Loki and help the blind archers
find the target.
"All of the games represent Norse
mythology or stories or history.
It gives the game meaning, so we
aren't just doing whatever. We have
something to attach it to," said
Hirajeta.
e general public is invited to
watch the Pagan Games. ose
who wish to participate can find
tickets and game information at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fay-
etteville-pagan-games-2022-tick-
ets-220298226927.
Tickets to participate cost $8
in advance and $10 at the event.
ere will be three prize bundles
and an overall champion prize
bundle, with items donated from
local Fayetteville stores, includ-
ing Pressed NC, Garnet Skull, and
Moon Garden Apothecary. e
event is for anyone 18
and over.
Second Pagan Games to
be held in Arnette Park
by ALYSON HANSEN
ALYSON HANSEN, Staff Writer.
COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin-
gweekly.com. 910-484-6200.
An individual blindly shoots arrows at
targets with Baldr's image at the cen-
ter. (Photo courtesy of the Fayetteville
Pagan Games Facebook.)
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