In Celtic mythology, the Tuatha Dé Danann are associated with the Sidhe (shee) or faerie people. They are ruled by two courts, the Seelie (nice) and the Unseelie (not so nice) faeries. Legend holds that at night, at special times of the year, the Seelie Court rides. They are kings, queens, druids, bards, warriors, heroes, healers and craftsmen with supernatural powers. They live in the Otherworld, a place of magic and beauty, but are known to interact with people especially on the night of the ride.
A few nights ago Robin and I were invited to go with the Sidhe on their ride.
The day before, Robin had gone on a mangrove clean up. People here in Key West get together once a week, and are taken out on the ocean to the mangroves where they clean up trash. We’re not talking about Styrofoam cups. They get all kinds of thigs: washing machines, refrigerators, and engine blocks which are sold for scrap. As well as BBQ grills, lawn chairs, boat cushions, life jackets, and even a single K2 snow ski. It is primarily a locals activity as cleaning trash from the ocean isn’t appealing to tourists. Being that it is nearly June, (the start of Hurricane season) the island is down to mostly locals. While on the clean up, Robin made friends with a young woman who mentioned that with the full moon nearing, whether Robin was going for "the ride."
Robin had no idea what this woman was talking about, so she explained. Just as every evening on Key West has a sunset celebration at Mallory Square, every full moon is celebrated with The Ride. As the sun sets on the first night of the full moon, people gather at White Street Pier with their bicycles, then everyone sets out in one long procession that travels a winding path throughout the city and ends at the Southernmost Point. By the way they gather, and greet one another with hugs, it is clear that most on the ride are locals.That said, anyone who wants to join is welcome, but to our knowlege this isn’t advertised anywhere, so in a way you need to be invited. As such, it felt like a secret gathering, and as many of the riders dressed in flowing gowns, tutus, capes, bejeweled diadems, crowns and feathered headdresses, they looked a bit faerie like. Bikes were illuminated with multicolored lights that swirled, while enchanting music played from mounted speakers.
Everywhere we went, people stopped wide-eyed, smiled, waved, and applauded. A few of the enlightened, often those trapped in their cars by the parade, shouted at us, “Happy Full Moon!” Others, the drunken tourists, shouted, “What is this? What’s going on?” “Full moon? Really? Cool!”
When the parade reached the Southernmost Point and the sea, everyone went for drinks at a nearby bar to continue the celebration. Now, maybe this was just another of the many quaint and quirky aspects of this island, but with all the banners flying from the bicycles, the music being played, and the regal costumes worn by those who seemed most in charge, I have to wonder if the magical and magnificent Sidhe never left the world at all. I think they’re hiding out in Key West.
Photography by Virginia Wark.