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and the young maiden goddess. It is also a time to celebrate the beginning of Summer between April 30 and May 5, in the burst of mother nature for her beautiful flowers and bright greenery of her trees. Many hold on this time, their handfasting (pagan marriage) followed by the jumping over the balfire, older couples would also renew thier vows and jump as well. In ancient times, when the fire depleted the cattle were directed through the ashes of the belfire in hopes that they would be blessed and healed of any impurities or ailments that might dwell within them. Another activity of this time would be that of the dances with the May pole, where long colorful ribbons hung from the top of a tall pole, and the children and young adults would decorate themselves with flowers, each would hold one of the ribbons and weave in and out around each other whilst making a long braid with the ribbons down the pole. This is another time in which to take a walk through the woods or meadows and gaze upon the beauty put forth by mother earth. |
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| Symbols: eggs, flowers, chalice, may pole, butter churn, may baskets, belfire Irish Dieties: Flidias, Beltene Animals: goat, rabbit, honeybee Colors: red, green, white, yellow Stones: sapphire, bloodstone Plants & Herbs: primrose, cowslip, hawthorn, rose, birch, rosemary, lilac Oils: passion, flower, rose, vanilla Incense: lilac, frankincense, rose, myyrh |
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white carnations, white roses, and any flowers with five petals to represent the elements and spirit, also a white cloth to drap your altar, a white candle with red ribbon and red candle with white ribbon. |
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