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| Beltane is the last of the Spring festivals and is the counterpart to Samhain. The two Sabbats together divide the year into Summer and Winter. Beltane literally means �fire of Bel� and Bel is known as the bright and shining one. It is said that if you bathe in the dew on Beltane morning then your beauty will flourish throughout the year. On the eve of Beltane, Celts use to build 2 fires out of sacred wood in honour of Summer. They would then drive their herds between the two fires to purify and protect them. The fires would symbolize the return of life and fruitfulness of the Earth. Beltane brings out our brightest hopes for the future and dreams and goals are actively sought now. All of life is in a frenzy and reeling in the true feeling of just being alive!
a.k.a. � Mayday, Walburga (Teutonic), Bealtinne (Caledonii), Festival of Tana (Strega) Herbs � Honeysuckle, St. John�s Wort, Hawthorn, All flowers, Blueberries, Daisy Incense � Frankincense, Lilac, Rose, Rosemary Colour � Green, Soft Pink, Blue and Yellow � traditional colours are Red and White Decorations � Maypole, Strings of beads or flowers, Ribbons, Spring flowers Foods � Dairy, Oatmeal Cakes, Cherries, Strawberries, Wine, Punches, Green Salad Gemstones � Emerald, Rose Quartz, Carnelian Tools � Maypole and ribbons, Flower crowns, Fires, Fields, Bowers Goddess � May Queen, Flora God � May King, Jack in the Green Goddess and God Aspect � The God and Goddess are handfasted at Beltane Oak King vs Holly King � The Oak King is continues to gain strength. Celebrates � Time for self discovery and love. A time for union and the joining of two things to become one. A time for personal growth. Traditions Handfasting � Handfasting are common during this time of year. A traditional handfasting was one year and a day whereas the man and woman would live together as man and wife. When the time was up, the couple had to decide whether they wanted to marry or go their separate ways. Handfastings were, in general, trial marriages. Frolicking through the countryside Maypole � The maypole was a pole that had coloured ribbon attached to the top. Men and women would dance, each holding a ribbon end, around the maypold therefore weaving the ribbon around the pole. Tree Decorating � Pick a tree in your yard to decorate with ribbon and bows Leaping Beltane Fires Bowl of floating candles and flowers Flowers � Flowers can be picked moments from dawn and can be hung on the front door. Flowers and greenery can also decorate the mantle. Flowers can be strewn around the circle and then collected later on and distributed around the house perimeter for protection. |
| Beltane Love, Romance, Fertility 1 May |
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