May Day, Beltane, Giamonios, Bhealtainn, Lady Day, Walpurgis
Eve, Walpurgisnacht, May Eve, Rudemas, Celtic Summer, Time Of The Horned
God, Time Of The Greenwood Lady, Time Of The Hill Top.
Balefires
The fair maid who, on the first of May,
Goes to the fields at break of day,
And bathes in dew from the Hawthorn tree,
Will ever be strong and handsome be.
{Olde English Nursery Rhyme}
Beltane joyfully heralds the arrival of Summer. Beltane is also known
as Mayday, Walburga and Bealtinne. Beltane is the last of the three
Spring fertility festivals, and the second major Celtic festival.
Beltane, and its counterpart Samhain, divide the year into two seasons,
Winter and Summer. May is the month of sensuality and sexuality
revitalized, the reawakening of the Earth and Her Children.
Beltane brings hopes of love, prosperity, friendship and peace. As we
dance amongst the flowers around the Maypole our thoughts wander through
our lives and loves. It is said that if you bathe in the dew of Beltane
morn, your beauty will flourish throughout the year.
Beltane literally means 'fire of Bel.' Bel is known as the bright and
shining one. On the eve of Beltane the Celts build two large fires. In
the honour of Summer they were lit, and the herds were ritually driven
between them, to purify and protect the herds. The fires celebrate the
return of life and fruitfulness to the Earth. Celebration includes
frolicking throughout the countryside, dancing the Maypole, leaping over
fires, and 'going a maying.'
Beltane marks the handfasting {wedding} of the Goddess and God, the
reawakening of the Earth's fertility at its fullest. This is the union
between the Great Mother and her Young Horned God. This coupling brings
new life on Earth. It is the unifying of the Divine Masculine and the
Divine Feminine forms to bring forth the third form, consciousness.
'Oak and May,
On This Day,
Will both Heed
Those in Need.
Goddess Bright,
God of Sun,
Bless your Children
'Till our days are done.'
Symbols: May Pole, flowers, fauna, handfastings, butter churn, eggs,
chalice, knife, flower chaplet, May baskets, bells.
Colours: Red, White, Green, Yellow
Deities: Fertility Gods and Goddesses, Flower Goddesses, Pan, The Green
Man, Flora, Diana, Artemis, Faunus and Nymphs. Basically fertility Gods
and Goddess and Mother figure Goddesses.
Incense And Oils: Rose, Lilac, Florals, Frankincense,Ylang-Ylang,Yarrow,
Basil, Camphor, Clove.
Crystals, Stones & Gems: Rose quartz, Emerald, Sapphire, Bloodstone
Foods: Dairy foods, oats and oat cakes, bannocks, honey and sweets,
greens, green salads, Beltane cakes.
Flowers/Herbs: Hawthorn, Primrose, Cowslip, Rose, Rosemary, Birch, Pine,
Lilac.
Holiday Herbs & Activities: May Pole Dancing, Gathering flowers, Herbs,
Weaving a chaplet, gatherings families and clans, fertility rites,
handfastings, balefires, the Great Rite - Symbolic fertility ritual .
Animals: Rabbits, goats, honey bees, pegasus, satyrs.
Drinks: red or blush wine, red or pink punch, teas of burdock, damiana,
hibiscus, rose hips and saffron.
~ source unknown
