May Day Celebrations: Beltane

Beltane is an ancient Celtic celebration that marks the coming of summer with a feast on May 1st and the lighting of bonfires along with rites of purification and revitalization. The day was looked upon as dividing the year in half with its autumnal counterpart being the ancient festival of Samhain on November 1, which many feel to be the root of Halloween.

The name Beltane has a couple of origins. Some claim that it is derivative of the Gaelic name for "May," while others tie the name into the Celtic deity "Bel," citing that Beltane signifies "fires of Bel."

For thousands of years folks in the United Kingdom, especially in Edinburgh, Scotland, and certain areas of Europe have celebrated this holiday.

There are many rituals associated with Beltane. Some actually burn their winter bedding in preparation for fresh spring linens. Other customs center on courtship and fertility, such as both sexes gathering flowers by day and lighting fires by night. The hope with this daylong "coming together" in nature is that it will lead to matrimony.

As is the case with many ancient springtime festivals, which have morphed into modern-day holidays, the unpredictability of the upcoming seasons were the main impetus driving the celebrants, such as the hope for a fruitful year from livestock to children!

Those hoping for prolific cattle would herd some of their livestock between two fires (think bovine beauty pageant) and the magic of the flames and smoke was thought to ensure fertility.

Those wishing for happiness and prosperity in the coming year have been known to leap over the fire during the Beltane festival with the goal of good fortune and a fertility of mind, body, and spirit.

And then there's the Maypole, perhaps the most widely known tradition associated with May Day festivals. By the middle ages, most towns had a Maypole in their village square. The act of venturing out into the woods, cutting down the Maypole tree, bringing it back to town, and erecting the tree was an occasion in and of itself. Villagers would adorn the Maypole with flowers and dance around it while making merry as a show of unity and joy in celebration of the new season.