Bealtaine (April 30 - May 1) Oh, do not tell the Priest our plight, Or he would call it a sin; But we have been out in the woods all night, A-conjuring Summer in! By Kipling According to the ancient Irish 'Book of Invasions', the first settler, Partholan, arrived in Ireland on May 1st; and it was on this date that an awful plague came and destroyed his people. Years later, the Tuatha De Danann, the gods of Ireland, (faeries to many) were conquered by the Milesians on May Day. It is also on this day, May 1st, that the celts celebrate the holiday of fertility and flowers, Maypoles, and greenwood, otherwise called Bealtaine...(Beltane, Beltaine). By the way, this is NOT what the celts referred to as Lady's Day. The Vernal Equinox holds that honor, yet many have mistaken this celebration for it and called it by this name in error. Although springtime actually begins at the spring equinox, it finally comes to complete fruition at Beltane or May Day, the May cross-quarter. The coming of Beltane forecasts the final arrival of Summer. Legend has it that if you bathed in the dew of Beltane morn, you would retain your youthful beauty throughout the following year. Also called May Eve, it is at this time that the God (Bel), the Celtic god of light, and Goddess fall in love once more and she looks upon him now as her consort. Joining together, soon she will become pregnant as the unending cycle continues. Some say that Bel is the Brythonic Celt equivalent to the Goidelic Celt god Cernunnos. Honoring this Celtic god known as Bel, the ancient celts would light a balefire (Bel Fire) in his honor. Bel has also been called Balar, Beli, Balor or Belenus among other names. The word "Beltaine" itself means "brilliant fire," and so it is, as this is another of the celtic fire festivals. And since the celtic people celebrate the renewal of the Sun and of life itself on Beltane, this makes this the perfect time to honor the fertility of the Earth as well as that of the Mother. This special time of year is also a good time for love, marriages and meditation. In the olde days, the people often used this day to come together and find mates or even lovers. It was always a celebration of fertility and pleasure. Beginning on sundown of April 30 in ancient Ireland, tradition decreed that no one lit a Bel-fire until the Ard Ri, High King, had lit the first one up on Tara Hill, in Co. Meath, Ireland. Cattle was then driven between these two sacred fires to protect them from disease and to ensure a good production of milk the following season . According to lore, these 'need-fires' had many healing properties. Afterwards, there was often the dance of the May Pole, a fertility dance in which men and women danced around the pole or (Yule) tree, holding onto red & white ribbons and interweaving them as they went round. Often this celebration ended in the culmination of the joining of the sexes here as well. By custom, many young lovers would disappear into the forest, only reappearing with the morning. Handfastings were also abundant at this time of year, where a couple would take each other in marriage for a year and a day, then dissolving it only if not pleased with each other. Another oft used tradition was to leap over the BelFire for luck. Unmarried people leaped over the fire in hopes of finding a mate, travelers jumped to ensure a safe journey, and pregnant women jumped it in hopes of an easy delivery. This cross-quarter festival itself has gone by numerous names throughout the centuries. One of such names is Cetsamhain which means 'opposite Samhain' .It was also known as Beltaine in Ireland, Bealtunn in Scotland, Shenn do Boaldyn on the Isle of Man and Galan Mae in Wales. By the Saxons it was called Walpurgisnacht, “the night of Walpurga”, goddess of May. Unfortunately as they did with Brighid, the Church transformed this goddess into St. Walpurga in an effort to convert the people to christianity. Beltaine is the perfect time to extend all cleansing and purification rites to the very boundaries of your property as well as mend any old arguments etc with your neighbors. Being the tree of hope, pleasure, and protection, the Hawthorn Tree was used in the past to decorate the homes of the people during Beltaine but cutting it was only allowed at this particular time of year. This tradition is carried over by many today. BELTANE CORRESPONDENTS colors: rainbow spectrum, blue, green, pastels, all colors tools: Maypole & ribbons, flower crowns, fires, bowers, fields energy: youthful play, exhuberance, sensuality, pleasure Goddesses: May Queen, Flora Gods: Bel, Cerrunnos, Oak King, Jack in the Green rituals: love, romance, fertility, crop blessings, creativity endeavors customs: dancing Maypole, jumping fire, mating, flower baskets Herbs: Almond, Belladonna, Clover, Frankincense, Hawthorn, Ivy, Marigold, Meadowsweet, Orchid Root, Rose, Rowan, Sorrel, Woodruff BELTANE RITUAL (April 30) If possible, Beltane should be celebrated out of doors in a forest or near a living tree. If this is impossible, bring a small potted tree (of any kind you please) into the circle with you. Make a token or charm beforehand to honor the wedding of the Goddess and God and to hang upon the tree. These charm bags can be filled with leaves, flowers, beads, or anything you wish. Arrange the altar. Light the candles and censer. Cast aCircle of Stones. Recite a Blessing (your choice) Invoke the Goddess and God. Stand before the altar. Raise your wand (or arms as you wish), and say: My Goddess, Lady of the night and of the Earth, My Lord, God, King of the day and of the forest, I celebrate your coming together once more as nature flaunts its reward of renewed color and life this Beltane. I offer these gifts to you, Oh beauteous Mother and life-giving Father , To honor of Your union. Place your gifts on the tree. From Your joining new life shall arrive; And with it all manner of living creatures shall walk these sacred lands, The winds blow pure and sweet in welcome to you. O Ancient Ones, I celebrate with You and in your Divine Honor! Now is the time to do any magick and to have a Simple Feast of dairy items such as ice cream, custard, puddings, etc. Thank the God and Goddess. The circle is then closed.