| Bealteane (May 1st) |
| Bealteane, simply put, is a celebration of the sacred marriage of the Goddess and God. In England and Wales this Sabbat is pronounced (Bell-Tayn), which is the common pronunciation in western paganism. In Scotland it is pronounced (Beel-Teen). Other cultural names of this Sabbat are May Day, Walpurgisnacht, Walpurgis Eve, May Eve, Rudemas, Celtic Summer, Floralia, The Great Rite, and Giamonios. Bealteane is traditionally celebrated on May 1st and falls opposite Samhain (Sow-in), on the Wheel of the Year. These two Sabbats were considered, on the Celtic calendar, the two most important Sabbats due to the fact that they marked the beginning and end of the two recognized seasons. Bealteane is considered the fertility Sabbat. A Sabbat which celebrates life above all. Other meanings fro Bealteane were: The Union of the God and Goddess, A Sacred Marriage, All new Life, Fertility for All Living Things, and the End of Winter on the Celtic Calendar. The sumbols of Bealteane reflect the meaning of thie Sabbat. They include Eggs, Flowers, Chalices, May Poles, Butterchurns, Flower Chaplets (Which is a crown of fresh flowers worn during this Sabbat), May Baskets, and Crossroads. Scholars have debated from where Bealteane gets its name. Some believe it is named from the Irish death god, Beltene. Others believe the name might be from the Welsh god Beli, but it is argued that this god appears to be more of a Sun Deity like Lugh (Loo), who would be more likely honored at Midsummer or Lughnasadh (Loo-nas-sah). Other scholars have raised the possibility that the Bealteane Sabbat was named from a lesser-known Celtic fire god from Gaul named Belanos or sometimes called Belios. Another possibility was a Phoenician vegetation god name Baal. This deity was later demonized by Christianity, examples of this can be seen in passages throughout the Old Testament of the Christian Bible in which this deity is focused on by name. The most popular explanation of the origin of the name Bealtaine, especially to Pagans, is that it derives from a word meaning "bale-fire". A balefire is the traditional communal bonfire of the Sabbats. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "boon", which means "a gift" or "something extra". Even in modern times balefires play a prominent role in both pagan and non-pagan holidays and folk celebrations. The modern word bonfire is synonomous with balefire, though a bonfire usually has no religious significance. Since the balefire is so closely related to the Sabbat Bealteane, it is important that we have a better understanding of their uses. The balefire is utilized and is governed by rules which vary from culture to culture. In Britain, the Royal Family burns their Bealteane balefire each May Eve. this tradition is believed to stregthen and keep the family line going. In Russian tradition it is required to wait until moon rise to lite balefires. As part of this, they toss holly sprigs and aromatic herbs onto the coals to make a ritual incense for the occassion. Old Swedish custom dictates that the balefire has to be lit by two people striking two flints together. this is symbolic of the sexual union of the Goddess and God. In Nordic tradition balefires are called Balder's Fires, in honor of their own sun god. Germanic and Dianic covens celebrate Bealtaine as a Night of the Dead. In this ritual, ancestors are asked to join them at the warmth of the fire in much the same way as Celtic cultures do at Samhain. In Slavic countries, young men will travel from house to house just before sundown to collect items to fuel the balefire. Another part of this tradition has persons who are seeking healing, throw wreaths onto the balefire. Scottish tradition says that balefires were to be lit from a fire known as "tein-eign" or "need fire", which had to be created by the friction of a spinning wheel. This fire was called "need" because it was solely used to cook with. It was the only non-ritual fire that was permitted to burn on this day. Using a wheel to start the need fire had a symbolic association with the ever-spinning Wheel of the Year and is traced to a minor Celtic god of Gaul called Taranis, the God of the Wheel, who was also honored in early May. In most of the culture studied it was traditional to take home a smoldering piece of the Bealteane Balefire to bring summer blessings into the home. Also, the first cook fires of summer were lit with this part of the balefire. Referring back to the Scottish tradition, this shows another symbolic relationship to the Wheel of the Year and the continued cycle of the seasons. One other similarity between cultures is the location in which balefires are lit. Areas of higher elevation were sought out for the placement of balefires and also for the performance of the Bealtaine ritual. Customs and activities are very important as they are at the heart of all religious beliefs. They are the foundation in which most religions derive their strength. Pagan religious rites are not different. A custom of Bealteane, which is still observed in Britain, Ireland, and North America, is that of the May Pole. Traditionally, the May Pole was made from a communal pine tree which had been decorated at Yule. To prepare the tree, all but the upper most limbs were removed. The ribbons attached to it are traditionally white and red. The colors have meaning and symbolism as well. The white ribbon symbolizes the Goddess or the Virgin Goddess. The red symbolizes the God or the Mother. The May Pole itself is a phallic symbol that is impregnating the birth canal being woven around it by the ribbons held by the covenors as they danced around it. Yes, dancing. Music and dance are a rich part of the celebration of the Sabbats. Sabbats are celebrations, not somber occassions. The Morris Dance, and Anglo name for may Day dances are rich with pagan symbolism. Usually there are eight dancers, one for each Sabbat of the year, paired into four couples. the dances involve moving in clockwise circles and weaving under each pairs upheld and interlocked arms in mock sexual unions. Many of the folk songs, used in concert with May Day celebrations and which have lyrics that proclaim the praises of this glorious Sabbat still survive in remote parts of Britain. Many of them, over time, have been shrouded in arcane or unclear language, while others are pretty straight forward. In some, the sentiments have been somewhat Christianized but they still reflect the themes of courtship, fresh flowering, honey ale, dairy foods, and making merry, which is the hallmarks of the Bealteane Sabbat. here is an example of the lyrics of one of these folk songs from the Cornwall region of Britain. It is simply called, "A May Day Carol"... Awake, Awake, my pretty prithy maid, Come out your drowsy dream, And step into your dairy hold, And fetch me a bowl of cream. If not a bowl of cream, my dear, A cup of meade to cheer, For the Lord knows we shall meet again, To go Maying another year. A branch of May I brought you here, While at your keep I stand, 'Tis but a sprout all budded out, By the power of our Lord's hand. My Song is done and I must be gone, No longer may I stay, God bless you all, the great and small, And send you a joyous May. Other activites are associated with the Bealteane Sabbat as well. The gathering of flowers to adorn the ritual alter, May baskets, and to make a Flower Chaplet which is worn during the Sabbat ritual. Another traditional activity is called The Great Rite, which is symbolic sexual union (also sacred marriage) of the Goddess and God that is enacted at Bealteane in most traditions, and at other Sabbats in many others. It symbolizes the primal act of creation from which all life comes. the sexual union is symbolized by ritually placing the athame (ath-aah-may), which is the ritual knife often associated with the element of air and the direction of the east, thought some traditions attribute it to fire and the south. The knife was traditionally black-handled but many modern pagans now prefer handles of natural wood. In some circles the athame is called the Dagger or Dirk. By ritually placing the athame, a phallic symbol, inside the chalise or cauldron, a womb symbol, the symbolic act of the Great Rite was visualized. Bealteane circles, for ritual, were once constructed with the May Pole at the center of the circle and a balefire at a distance, eigher at one or all four of the cardinal points. The altar is usually lavishly decorated with symbols of fertility such as holy stones, geodes, pine cones, flowers, and other spring time greenery. the rituals were erotic in nature, again representing or symbolizing the union of the Goddess and God. |
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| OTHER NAMES Beltane May Day Walpurgisnacht Walpurgis Eve May Eve Rudemas Celtic Summer Floralia The Great Rite Giamonios Bhealltainn |
| COLORS Red Green Green White Dark Yellow |
| DEITIES Marriage/Sexual Union of Deities All Mother Goddesses |
| TABOOS Giving Away Fire Giving Away Food |
| ACTIVITIES Wrapping the May Pole The Great Rite Gathering Flowers |
| SYMBOLS Eggs Flowers Chalice May Pole Butterchurn Flower Chaplet May Baskets Crossroads |
| ANIMALS Rabbits Goats Honey Bees |
| STONES Sapphire Bloodstone |
| PLANTS Primrose Cowslip Hawthorn Rose Brich Rosemary Lilax |
| FOODS Dairy Foods Sweets Honey Oats |
| MEANING Union of God and Goddess Sacred Marriage All New Life Fertility for All Living Things End of Winter (Celtic) |
| ATTUNEMENT TEAS Burdock Damiana Hibiscus Rose Hips Saffron |
| RITUAL OILS Passion Flower Rose Tuberose Vanilla |
| MYTHICAL CREATURES Faeries Pegasus Satyrs Giants |
| KEY ACTIONS Take Action |
| DEITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SABBAT (Ostara) |
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| GODDESSES All Virgin-Mother Goddesses All Flower Goddesses All Fertility Goddesses Aphrodite (Greek) Artemis (Greek) Blodewedd (Welsh) Cupra (Etruscan) Dmara (English) Diana (Greek) Fand (Manx-Irish) Flora (Roman) Hilaria (Greek) Kaikibani (Polynesian) Mielikki (Finnish) Prithvi (Hindu) Rhea (Cretan) Saibanda (Babylonian) Skadi (Teutonic) Var (Norse) Xochiquetzal (Aztec) All Goddesses of Song and Dance All Goddesses of the Hunt Aima (Hebraic) Ariel (English) Baubo (Greek) Chuang0Mu (Chinese) Cybele (Greek) Devana (Slavic) Erzulie (Voodum) Flidais (Irish) Freya (Norse) Ilamatecuhtli (Aztec) Lofn (Norse) Perchta (Slavic) Rainbow Snake (Aboriginal) Rhiannon (Welsh) Shiela-na-gig (Irish) Tuulikki (Finnish) Venus (Roman) |
| GODS All Gods of Love All Gods of the Hunt King Arthur (Welsh-Cornish) Bel/Belanos (Celtic) Cernunnons (Greco-Celtic) Cupid/Eros (Greco-Roman) Frey (Norse) The Great Horned God (European) Manawgddan (Welsh) Orion (Greco-Arabic) Puck (English) Telipinu (Hittite) All Fertility Gods All Young Father Gods Baal (Phoenician) Beltene (Irish-Scottish) Chors (Slavic) Faunus (Roman) Herne (Greek) Lono (Polynesian) Odin (Norse) Pan (Greek) Robin Goodfellow (English) |