Question

During one variant of this holiday, an oatcake called a bannock is divided into nine “knobs” and eaten. Engineering students in Finland took (-5[1])up celebration of another variant of this holiday during which celebrants drink sparkling wine and a homemade mead called sima. In some celebrations of this holiday, men armed with dry brush and blackthorn mock-battle men armed with willows, birch, and (-5[1])(*) young ferns. A bishop of Cashel named Cormac wrote that to protect herds from disease, cattle were driven between two bonfires on a variant of this holiday named for a “lucky fire.” On the Wheel of the Year, a variant of this holiday directly opposes Samhain (-5[1])(“SAH-win”); that variant of this holiday, (-5[3])Beltane, is celebrated a day early in modern times at Edinburgh with processions led by the Green Man. For 10 points, name this spring festival during which a “queen” is crowned and revelers dance around a namesake (10[1])pole. (10[1])■END■ (10[4])

ANSWER: May Day [accept Beltane or Bealtaine before mention; accept Walpurgis Night; accept Calan Mai; accept Vappu; prompt on May 1st or May Eve; prompt on answers describing the beginning of summer] (Though Walpurgis Night is formally May Eve, it is sometimes merged with May Day celebrations, as in Finland.)
<AY, Religion (Any/Other)>
= Average correct buzz position

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