“I was awoken by a large gathering of men chanting in unison for close to an hour”

by Prince Of Petworth March 22, 2016 at 3:00 pm 38 Comments

chanting
Photo by PoPville flickr user brunofish

“Dear PoPville,

I’m just curious if you have received any reports of a loud disturbance coming from Meridian Hill Park last night between 10:40-11:30 PM? I live at the bottom of the park and was awoken by a large gathering of men chanting in unison for close to an hour. This also occurred in the Fall and after an hour or so I saw cop lights and the singing/chanting stopped. I didn’t see any cops last night although I called the non-emergency police line to report this disturbance. It seemed to have broken up on its own.

I was at a loss for what this gathering was until my co-worker pointed out it could be a Wiccan gathering on the solstice. This makes sense since the last one I heard occurred around the Fall solstice and yesterday was the Spring solstice.

Have any intel on this??”

tacopuss

Solstice-related, possibly?
- Makhnovisti
  
  Equinox, not solstice, right? It’s tied to Ostara/Eostre, where Easter gets its name.
  - tacopuss
    
    Whoops yeah that.
- wdc
  
  Almost certainly.
  I heard rumors of a Zoroastrian first day of spring celebration (you know, fire leaping) in Dupont Circle.
- TJ
  
  Only if very poorly timed.
  Also, the spring equinox this year was March 20, so having an equinox ceremony on March 21 would be a day or so late as well.
  Maybe a lost Mormon choir team on spring break
Neighbor

I heard this too – though closer to 9:30. I was walking my dog on W at the edge of the park. It sounded like a men’s choir. They must have had quite the gathering if it was going on that long.
Me

Howard fraternity stuff?
- CHGal
  
  My thought as well.
- Me
  
  How was this not the first thought? Lol
- Philippe Lecheval
  
  That would be my guess as well. Their fraternities seem to do a lot of stuff that involves loud, repetitive yelling/chanting for nauseatingly long periods of time.
  - anonymous
    
    Sounds like any fraternity or group of sports fans. Not specific to HU
neonsparkles

Is it wrong that I’m hoping for something creepy and scary?
- A. Nony Mouse
  
  There’s a huge Freemason temple just a few blocks away. That can’t be a coincidence!
- anon
  
  I find fraternities creepy and scary enough, frankly.
- anon
  
  Definitely more scary and dangerous (to women anyway), year round, than a bunch of pagan celebrating the equinox.
accendo

Except that Spring and Fall are Equinoxes, not Solstices, but a likely possibility!
- V
  
  that i did not know! learn something new everyday
navyard

Just curious, what is the police non-emergency number you speak of? I’m always told (repeatedly) to call 911 because there is NO non-emergency number for DC.
- Anon
  
  +1
- popfan
  
  311, right? That’s what my building tells you do for things like noise complaints.
  - textdoc
    
    911 has been the number for ALL police calls in D.C. — emergency and non-emergency — since something like 2008.
    - mdtodc
      
      This is true. They direct noise complaints to 911… not the most efficient or logical.
- Chanting Bear
  
  I think its just 311. Thats what i was told to call after an auto accident with no injuries.
- wdc
  
  311 gets you the city’s call center, and the biggest automated phone tree thing ever, for things like reporting a burned out street light, or requesting pothole repair, or reporting unpermitted construction.
  911 gets you police, fire, or ambulance, for any reason, emergency or non.
Matt

Sounds like something out of Welcome to Nightvale
Kathryn-DC

I believe what you hear is Bet Mispachah performing evening sabbat in the park. They invite anyone to attend. Unless there is another group that is also doing ritual there, it’s possible.
illuminated

it’s the season of sacrifice. expect “issues “between March 19 and April 1.
- north star
  
  3/22 (32 counsel)
The Stonecutters

Who made Steve Guttenberg a star
- No. 908
  
  Who holds back the electric car?
  - textdoc
    
    Hahahaha! The first thing I thought of when I saw the headline was the Stonecutters.
Kathryn-DC

Actually, given the hour, it can’t be sabbat, it must be something specific to solstice. But just so you know, there is at least one religious group that does do rituals in the evening in the park.
Emmaleigh504

Where’s that Wiccan guy that wrote up a post that one time?
- wdc
  
  Where’s IDGI? He can check Wiccan Dog Sitter’s calendar.
vannessie

People are not allowed in the Dog Park. It is possible you will see Hooded Figures in the Dog Park. Do not approach them. Do not approach the Dog Park.
GabeYo

Carcosa, death is not the end, rejoice.
A.M. Thompson

Solstice ceremony of some kind, I’m sure.
todd

What do you get when you give a Chicken to a Wiccan? A Wiccan Chicken.

My son’s ( 6 years) joke. He laughs every time.

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