The Famous "Elvis Altar"

The Elvis Altar was created by a merchant couple as an affectionately humorous tribute to Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. This altar was set up by their booth at several Pagan Gatherings on the east coast for many years, including Free Spirit Gathering. Three different images of the King grace this altar. Many Neo-Pagans, incidentally, recognize the ancient Pagan concept of deified heroes. Elvis Presley was a beloved singer, dancer, and movie icon, adored and venerated by many fans.

A close-up of the "Dayglo Elvis" bust and "Chia Elvis" bust. This Elvis Altar was originally known as the "Dayglo Elvis Altar." The Dayglo Elvis bust was the original image of Elvis on this altar many years earlier. Added in 1999, the Chia Elvis was intended, according to one one of the merchants, to represent Elvis in his manifestation as the Green Man. As Mojo Nixon sang, "Elvis is everywhere, Elvis is everything."

The devotion of Elvis fans has been well documented in Erika Doss's Elvis Culture: Fans, Faith, and Image (1999). According to Doss, many of the King's fans keep a designated place in their homes where memorabilia and other items associated with the King are displayed. These Elvis spaces are usually NOT referred to by fans as "altars;" however, they certainly serve as a place of veneration or honor.

As is fitting, Neo-Pagans have food offerings for the beloved dead on an altar. In this case, canned spam and possum. Elvis Presley's all-time favorite sandwich was a peanut butter and banana sandwich, fried in butter. However, such a food offering would be extremely messy to transport around with the Elvis Altar. It would also be difficult to properly make a fresh food offering containing bananas and keep the offering free of flies and wasps. Spam Lite (containing pork and chicken), canned potted meat, and possum are regional food specialties in the south. The altar often recieved Elvis memorabilia offerings and displayed them. We didn't get a still of it, but there was a large heart shaped valentine box of Russel Stover chocolates with a picture of the King on it--that was such an offering. I likewise seem to remember someone, one year, adding a small bunch of bananas as an offering, possibly due to those peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Since the King loved his food, a cookbook with the Presley family recipies is also displayed on the Elvis Altar.

The best altars have holy relics. This altar has a relic of Elvis's sweat as well as other things associated with him.

Of course, there is a sacred pantacle for Elvis displaying pertinent mystical symbols.

This figurine represents one of the many avatars or imitators of Elvis. It is an action figure of the Honky Tonk Man, who was a former WWF/E professional wrestler. He took on the persona of the King and played his guitar prior to wrestling matches.

Elvis, himself, was said to have commented, "I'm nothing without my fans." Hence this altar also sports a devotional candle of Our Lady of the Trailer Park, with the image of a female fan with a 1960's beehive hairdo.

Elvis Presley struggled with dependence on prescription drugs and ill health in his later years. Many fans believe he suffered to perform and create music.

Text of this page copyright 2010 Myth Woodling

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