Wicker man since 1986, an effigy of a man has been burned during Burning Man, a week-long annual event currently being held in Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Wicker man A wicker man was a large wicker statue reportedly used by the ancient Druids (priests of Celtic paganism) for sacrifice by burning it in effigy. The main evidence for this practice is one sentence in Julius Caesar's "Commentary on the Gallic war", which modern scholarship has linked to an earlier writer, Poseidonius. Modern archaeological research has not yielded much evidence of human sacrifice among the Celts, and the ancient Greco-Roman sources are now
Mananan festival Mananan festival The annual Mananan International Festivals are cultural events held on the Isle of Man. There are several events throughout the year including the Mananan International Festival, the Opera Festival, the Oboe Festival and the Viola Festival. Events are held mainly in the Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin on the Isle of Man. The Mananan festival was founded by John Bethell in 1975 and is supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council. John Bethell has directed the festival from its beginning. Patrons have included Sir John Betjeman, The Earl of Harewood and Lady Barbirolli. The present patron is