There is a lot to be said about this holiday. Beltane is one of the two fire festivals of the year. Samhain being the second. It is also the most celebrated holiday besides Samhain. But what is Beltane? What is it celebrating? When is it celebrated? So many questions, so let’s get into the answers.
What is Beltane?
Said to be the oldest holiday, Beltane meaning ‘bright fire’ (Celtic meaning) marks the first official day of summer. This Celtic celebration is equivalent to the British May Day festival that was also celebrated in Ireland and Scotland.
The long and warm days are finally here. Time to shake off those winter blues and kick it off into high gear as life gets a little busier. Animals are awakening from hibernation and the gardens are beginning to look lush as the plants are beginning to flourish. All the hard prep work from Imbolc and Ostara are now starting to pay off.
The Wiccan Tradition
Beltane is the most celebrated holiday especially in the Wiccan community. According to Wiccan traditions the God (Sun) has matured into his young adult self and the Goddess is growing out of her maiden role and into her mother role. They fall in love and the Goddess is gifted with a child. This child ensures the rebirth of the God when he is reborn during Yule (winter solstice).
When is Beltane?
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, Beltane is celebrated the evening of April 31 and into May 1. Now if you live in the southern hemisphere, Beltane is celebrated the evening of October 31 and into November 1.
Beltane Celebration
Fire is the center of the Beltane celebration. The Beltane bonfire or balefire is a ritual fire that represents the Sun and was thought to have magical powers. Two fires were built and set ablaze. Livestock was walked in between these two fires to cleanse them of any diseases from the winter season and to protect them from any harm or illness throughout the summer season.
People also participated in cleansing themselves. They dance around the fire clockwise for protection against illness and also to bring them luck. Just like the livestock, villagers would walk through or jump over the fire for fertility, luck and protection.
Once the fires have burned out, the ashes of the Beltane fires would not go to waste. Animals and people walked through the ashes for the same benefit as when the fire were lit. Villagers would smudge the ash on themselves. The ashes were also gathered and sprinkled over top of the crops.
Beltane Themes
The main theme to Beltane is sexuality and fertility. As mentioned above, fire is the center of the celebration. After the lighting of the balefire, young men and women would jump through the fire in hopes of finding a husband/ wife. Married couples would join hands and jump over the fire together to seal health and happiness in their marriage. Other themes are passion, mischief, sensuality, beauty, romance, vitality and abundance.
How to Celebrate Beltane
One of the most common ways to celebrate Beltane has been mentioned so many times in this post, and that is fire. Like I said before, the fire is the center of this holiday. A lot of couples like to celebrate by getting married. Many believe this is the perfect time to tie the knot, since the main theme of this celebration is sexuality and fertility. This is a time for love magic. Incorporating self-love spells into your rituals. Remember that love spells do not have to be about you and another person. Don’t forget to give yourself some love as well.
Harvest herbs from your herb garden. Herbs are said to be the most potent for healing and magical purposes. Especially if the morning dew still lingers on the plant. Women collect the morning dew and use the dew to wash their face and body (if you can collect enough dew). The morning dew purifies the skin, helping it to remain youthful.
Use yellow flowers to represent the Sun. Place these flowers at doors and/or windows, on livestock (or pets), make flower crowns, or to make beautiful garlands. Also, if you have a garden, now would be the best time to bless it. Say a spell, sprinkle ash over the beds, fertilize it, or even just sit and talk to your garden.
Now there is the more traditional ways of celebrating Beltane such as having a feast, music and dancing. No celebration is complete without some fun and good food.
Maypole
The maypole is probably the most popular Beltane tradition.
The maypole is a pole (or large stick) staked into the ground and decorated with multi-colored ribbons and flowers. At the top of the pole tie the ribbons and drape down the sides of the pole. A person will each grab a ribbon, and everyone moves clockwise around the maypole. This is believed to ensure fertility. I have to put in a reminder that fertility does not always mean getting pregnant. It could represent the fertility of your garden and getting a great yield that growing season or growing your luck for the year.
May Bush
A may bush or wishing tree is a decorated small bush or tree. Decorate and leave wishes, prayers and/or offerings. Here is how you can make your own wishing tree;
Materials
- ribbons
- flowers
- shells
- colored eggs
- plants
- eco-friendly materials (not harmful to the environment or wildlife)
- Marker
- Make pentacles, runes, or sigils using sticks and long grasses or twine
Consider on cleansing your decorations before decorating your may bush. This will allow you to control and put the energies you want into your items that connect and go with the wishes and prayers you planned for your may bush.
When choosing colors for your ribbons and other decorations, keep in mind the color correspondences (find out what those are here). Matching your intentions with the color that best matches those intentions will give your prayers and wishes that little extra boost.
Decorate your tree however you like it. Write your wishes on the ribbons and let the wind blow your wishes out into the universe. When making your wishes and setting your intentions, also keep in mind the theme of Beltane. This celebration is mainly about love magic, fertility, luck, and protection. So, I would consider wishes and prayers following those main themes.
Leave offerings at the base of the tree for the fae and nature spirits. Leave berries, fruit, nuts and vegetables. Also, do not forget to offer something to drink. Water should work just fine. Now enjoy your tree. Meditate with it, thinking on all the hopes and goals you have. Connect with the energy of the tree. Sing, dance, and even hug your tree. Spend time connecting with nature and the nature spirits.
Beltane Correspondences
Other Names: Beltaine, May Day, Rood Day, Rudemas, Walpurgisnacht, Calin Mai
Themes: fire, sexuality, fertility, lust, passion, marriage, growth, protection, luck
Animals: bees, swallow, dove, swan, cow, frog, rabbit, cats, lynx, leopard
Deities: Gods/ Goddesses of love/fertility. Diana, Artemis, Pan, the Horned God, Aphrodite, Venus to name a few.
Colors: pastel colors, red, pink, yellow, green, white, brown, blue
Flowers and Herbs: yarrow, mint, and thyme. Almost any flower corresponds with Beltane. Some specifics are lilac, honeysuckle, primrose, foxglove, clover, hawthorn, mugwort, bluebells, ash, elder, and marigolds. Any flowering plants.
Crystals: bloodstone, carnelian, rose quartz, malachite, emerald, sapphire, amber
Food/ Drink: oatmeal cakes, honey, strawberries, bread, dairy, salads, cakes, wine
Symbols: maypole, may bush, ribbons, fire, flowers and flower crowns, baskets, eggs, broom, cauldron
Activities: have a bonfire, make a maypole, decorate a may bush, goal making, love magic, make flower crowns, make garlands, nature walk, plant seeds, sing, dance, have a feast, marriage (if you are looking to set a date), fertilize your garden