The Ganja Faeries

Last Update: April 4, 2009 7:00 PM

2009

Ganja Faeries are the spirit of the MardiGrass Cannabis Law Reform March and Rally. They dance behind the Bundjalung people who traditionally welcome the protesters to their country each year. The ganja faery dance has itself become a tradition simply because the laws remain unacceptable to all self respecting ganja users, be they Bundjalung, faeries or otherwise.

Each year the dance community in Nimbin come together to choreograph a routine for the march and the result is a riot of colour and rhythm on the day. You are welcome to join us. One week before MardiGrass (last weekend in April) there will be a dance workshop held at the Nimbin Dance studio especially for the march, on the Saturday. No experience needed, just enthusiasm. Ask around town when you get here. Start dreaming up your costume now – the common thread is green, in all its shades, in all styles, in all your glory! Ganja Faeries are all different but all the same. Check out the past years photos and the video footage. If you can’t get here in time for the workshops you are urged to simply join the march and stand up and be counted in all your greenery.

Ganja Faeries MAY PARADE 2008 Nimbin MardiGrass

Ganja Faeries are the light spirit of the herb, the essential humour of indulging in it, the cheeky and naughty side, if you like. They're the ones who tickle your funnybone and make you laugh, and dance with you awhile along your way, then appear again in your dreams. They share a collective wisdom of living with cannabis. They help you to remember that the herb is healing in many wonderful ways and that the drug laws are very stupid. If you like, YOU can be a Ganja Faerie.

MardiGrass 2009 Program

MardiGrass 2007 Photos

By Jane Treasure

I’m a believer. When I was a kid I found Faeries at the bottom of my garden. They were mucking around in the spinach, wore dresses of sky blue and spinach green and were busy, noisy, and chattering. They were Faeries with attitude. Faeries are like that.

Nimbin has its own transmogrified tribe of women who share the Faerie dreaming. They’re the Ganja Faeries. At the first Mardi Grass parade in 1993 they were there as individual Faerie spirits. In 1994 they had gathered into a Faerie Federation and were in the parade on a Faerie float, awash in green, sparkles, wings, junior Faeries and the beautiful green Ganja Faerie. They were here to stay and it was going to be fun. Cannabis Law Reform and celebrating the female spirit of the Sacred Herb Cannabis is the green sparkly tie that binds them. They love having fun and dancing, are spirited, independent and sometimes noisy. Faeries are like that.

They magically appear during Mardi Grass. You might see them dancing on a float or in the parade, performing a stage show in the Opening or Closing Ceremonies, flitting into Mardi Grass events or resting their feet and drinking coffee. The Ganja Faeries gather before Mardi Grass to Workshop Themes, Choreography, Music, Costumes and performances. They might decide to perform a fabulous Dancing Stage Production or simply slip into their tutus, glitter up and have a quick dance step rehearsal 10 minutes before the parade begins. It all depends on Faerie energy. If they decide to do a stage performance, rehearsals can begin up to two months before Mardi Grass. From the Ganja Faeries their won Chaos Theory emerges with exciting, colourful, innovative and fun performances. We’ve seen the Marching Faeries, The Darling Buds of May, The Prohibition Faeries and the Winning Buds.

The Ganja Faeries weave two traditions into their performances. The ceremonial hookah is combined into performance and smoked on stage. What funsters those Faeries are! By a miracle a very pregnant Faerie appears before Mardi Grass and becomes the honoured fertility symbol – The Ganja Faerie Queen. There’s been the magnificent pregnant, dancing, decorated bellies of Jenny, Biskit, Gorji and the other radiant Queens. Pregnancy, needs to begin in August so pop it in your diary!

Ganja Faerie costumes are a "joint" effort. They have a magic supply of Faerie bits and green tutus. The costume supply grows every yearly and there’s always busy Faerie fingers sewing green ruffles at the last minute.

There’s no upper or lower age limit in the Ganja Faeries. It’s a state of mind, not body. So, if you like rehearsals, dancing (often bare footed in the mud, wearing a green tutu and glitter, being on show, facing the international press and having a great time; maybe you’d like to be a Ganja Faerie.

Thanks to all the women who have been Ganja Faeries and those who still slop on a tutu. They are part of the Nimbin institute that is the Ganja Faeries.

Faeries are like that – bless them.

Biskit's 2006 MardiGrass Faerie Poem