The point in mid-Spring that brings us closer to Summer is a special time of year! Everyone notices a change in energy levels and productivity during spring time. The natural world is urging us to wake up. It’s time to enjoy our human bodies by dancing, running, playing and making love. It’s time to harness our potential to create.
Beltane, also known as May Day, is one of the four main festivals on the Wheel of the Year. The themes of Beltane are warmth, fertility, renewal and abundance. This holiday celebrates the abundance of Earth. We give thanks for all that we have and look forward to the bright, sunny days ahead.
During this time, the veil between the spirit realm is thin. The ability to interact with this realm is enhanced, so divination, spellwork and manifesting are particularly powerful.
History
Traditionally, Beltane was celebrated in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man in ancient Gaelic times. Falling on May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere (or October 1st in the Southern), many cultures choose to hold celebrations on the last day of April through May 5th, depending on the day of the week and weather. Beltane means ‘Bel’s Fire’. It is named after the God Bel, an ancient Celtic Sun God.
During this time of year, spring blooms are in blossom, the smell of grass is in the air, and critters are buzzing about. This is a time of celebrating fertility as well as sex!
During Pagan times, before Christianity, sexuality was something to be celebrated. It meant fertility and abundance. Animals give birth, bird eggs hatch, flowers bloom, and sexuality enhances reproduction. Beltane is a celebration of life, and we cannot have life without sex!
The decorating of trees and other common Beltane rituals are a little similar to Christmastime, it seems this is one holiday that Anglo-Saxon Christians deemed a little too Pagan to appropriate. It comes as no surprise since there are sexual themes surrounding this holiday. However, Roman Catholics observe May Day as a feast for the Blessed Virgin Mary. Statues of Mary are adorned with floral crowns. Often art is made and dedicated to the Virgin Mary throughout the month.
It’s at the height of Spring and toward the beginning of Summer. The Earth’s energy is strong and potent at this time, with new life blooming everywhere. Beltane is the start of the farming calendar. Sheppards begin to lead their livestock to the pastures.
Beltane represents the union and consummation of Mother Earth and The Greenman, to bless the harvest to come. The Greenman is often recognized as the Celtic God, Cernunno, but the Gods and Goddess that represent fertility and abundance are numerous, so it can be celebrated with different deities.
Festivals similar to Beltane can be dated back to Floralia, celebrated during the time of the Roman Republic. Much like Beltane, this holiday falls at the end of April or beginning of May, and honors both a goddess and god, Aphrodite and Dionysus.
The origins are based around fertility, but this can be the fertility of the land or even your mind. Don’t be afraid to expand your horizons or be creative during this time. Make art or poetry or whatever tickles your fancy.
Fairies & the May Queen
It is said that fairies reawaken during Beltane. Since it’s known as May Day in some cultures, Beltane has a deep association with the May Queen. The May Queen was the Queen of the fae, known to some as the Earth Goddess, Flora, and to others as the Maiden and Mother aspects of the Triple Goddess.
Some believe that the legends of the May Queen have been used by Christians, as the Veneration of Mary occurs during the month of May. However, it could just be that the energy of this period is potent, which is why many religions and cultures venerate the young virgin or mother during May Day.
In modern May Day traditions, a symbolic May Queen is crowned among the young women of the village and adorned with flowers and wreaths.
To many practicing Pagans, Beltane tells the story of the May Queen and her unending conflict with the Queen of Winter. As they battle for supremacy, the May Queen triumphs in the Spring and yields to Sanhain, allowing the cycle to begin again.
If you practice with fae, you may want to consider leaving out an offering as part of your May Day tradition!
This holiday has deep ties to the fae. We can welcome them and show them warmth by creating a fairy garden in your garden or potted plants. Add miniature houses, furniture, trees and more to make a small garden-scape. If you don’t have or own plants, you can add a fairy door to a large tree on your property or along a nature trail.
Don’t invite fae into your home. They can be mischievous, so it’s best to use caution when working with or even approaching fae.
Celebrations and Traditions During Beltane
The Maypole
The Maypole was considered phallic, constructed with the intent of penetrating the Earth to represent potent Beltane blessings. At the top of the Maypole, a wreath of flowers would be placed to symbolize the fertility of the Goddess. The Maypole Dance would typically be performed by young men and women, holding different colored ribbons as they circle and interweave with each other around the pole. By the end of the dance, the spun ribbon would create a sheath around the Maypole that represents the womb of the Earth.
Historians believe that the first Maypole Dance originated as a Germanic Pagan fertility ritual. Maypole dances have been viewed as scandalous through the 18th and 19th centuries. They were even banned in 1644 by the British Parliament, described by Oliver Cromwell as, “a Heathenish vanity, generally abused to superstition and wickedness.”
Today, May Day revelers are free to practice anywhere they please. Though this is a classic May Day ritual that is often done in a secular way, it is also a longstanding Pagan tradition.
May Bush
May Bushes are small thorny trees, often a hawthorn or rowan tree, that would be decorated with brightly-colored flowers, ribbons, and decorations. May Bushes would be decorated and placed outside of family homes or in public gathering places to enjoy! Bringing home a decorated bush or branch from the May Bush would take its Beltane blessings with it. Farmers would know to place the May Bush outside of barns to bless their livestock with an abundance of milk for the summer.
This is an easy May Day tradition that is widely practiced across all cultures today.
Flowers & Flower Crowns
Many celebrate by creating a floral wreath, crown or bouquet to decorate homes and doorways. These can be made from the branches of May Bushes or other seasonal flowers to bring the Beltane blessing of warmth and fertility into the home. Flower crowns are easy to make and beautiful.
Place yellow flowers on your doorstep. Dandelions, daffodils, marigolds, and other sun-colored blooms can welcome blessings of warmth, sunshine and positivity into your home. Decorating your home in any way or altar with these can be great!
Bonfire
In Celtic times, they built a bonfire in the center of the village and had a huge feast. Young men and women would dance around the Maypole. People would marry in handfasting. Bonfires were seen as protective and purifying. People wishing to find love or conceive would jump over the Belfire for luck in love and fertility.
It’s traditional to build a fire on Beltane night to honor the Sun Gods. The fire recalls the glowing power of the Sun and cleanses the community from the dark days spent indoors. Why not light a fire in your backyard and invite some friends over? Energize each other’s plans and dreams by speaking of them! Take turns leaping over the fire, with caution of course.
If you can’t make a bonfire, lighting candles in your home to welcome the Sun is also a great way to celebrate.
Handfasting
Beltane is a wonderful time for weddings. Handfasting was practiced in pre-Christian times in the British Isles. Two hands are tied together to signify a bond being made. It’s where the term ‘Tying the Knot’ came from. In ancient times, these rituals made a bond.
The handfasting ceremony is one that many choose in the palace of traditional weddings. This bonding ritual has been adopted by modern-day pagans, witches, wiccans, atheists and members of the LGBTQ+ community that may not identify with the ideas of a traditional marriage ceremony. Beltane speaks to all things new beginnings and is a wonderful, energetic time to host a wedding or commitment ceremony!
Sexuality
Beltane celebrates creation and connection as an essential component of being alive on this amazing planet. Beltane ecompasses the lushness of spring, sex, pleasure, and picking plants from your hair after a romp with your lover under the warm spring sun. This holiday is about celebrating sexuality on many levels. Love and sex bring us some of our most profound experiences.
This is a sexy holiday, but it’s not always inclusive to all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Its origins are about one type of sex between a certain type of couple. Celebrating fertility also suggests that the purpose of springtime lust is just for fertility, when this just doesn’t resonate with everyone. We can’t change the origins, but we can progress to make this celebrating more inclusive. Aside from a science lesson, sex can be a way to bond on an emotional level. It’s a magical process where we truly open up to each other. Celebrating sex instead of shaming is great, but it’s also important to remember that not everyone has sex for fun either. Lust for life, passions and excitement can also be a great way to celebrate this holiday. Fertility does not have to be literal.
Gardening
As a spring celebration, get your garden ready! Plant seedlings. Ask for blessings from your fertility god of choice to ensure a bountiful harvest, or just a really pretty flower! Dedicate your garden plot in your deity’s honor. While you’re enjoying the fresh spring air and the earthy texture of the soil, take the time to ground yourself. Make sure you water your seedlings.
May Water
Rolling in May Eve dew or washing your face in pre-dawn May Day dew brings health, luck and beauty. Getting your hair wet with Beltane rain blesses the head. Collect sacred waters or scry in sacred springs, wells, or ponds. Bless springs, ponds and other waters with flowers, garland and ribbons. Just don’t leave the non-natural materials out in nature for too long.
Witchcraft & Baking
If you are a practicing witch, during this time, fertility rituals, love spells, and sex magic are especially effective. Divination is strong too.
Kitchen witchery is another wonderful way to use the powers of Beltane to enhance your spell work. Bake something with aphrodisiacs like fig tart or pie with asparagus and garlic! Beltane Bread is a well-known tradition and you can get the recipe here.
Decoration & Symbolism
Symbols for Beltane include the sun, flowers, and anything related to abundance and fertility. Rituals and traditions often incorporate these symbols which represent radiance, joy and positivity. You can decorate your altar and home with some of these symbols and offerings:
Honey, milk, wine, oats, and fruits are common offerings for this time. This may vary depending on your personal practices.
Decorations: floral wreaths, antlers, acorns and seeds, phallic or yoni symbols or statues, chalices, swords, candles, ribbons
Colors: green, white, yellow, pink, red, blue, silver
Crystals: carnelian, rose quartz, beryl, emerald, garnet, malachite, amber
Plants: yarrow, mugwort, hawthorn, rowan
Foods: pomegranates, peaches, cherries, honey, milk, wine, oats
While these are the most common symbols, you can use anything that reminds you of spring, life, fire, and renewal.
Tying It All Up with a Ribbon
If you practice ancestor work, you might want to find out what Beltane rituals your ancestors could have followed.
Many Pagans may host a May Day garden party during the day that transitions into a Beltane fire festival at night.
Hopefully this gives you some ideas about Beltane. Its meaning is multi-layered but is always accessible to us everyday people. Really, it’s a celebration of the seasons! If nothing else, reconnect with nature and renew yourself. Whatever you intend to bring to the fertile energy of Beltane, you’ll find connecting to nature’s wild and free energy enhances all your endeavors.
While all Pagan festivals should be celebrated in a way that feels right for you, understanding the foundations can be important to understand the symbolism and original purpose. Many traditions are popular today, but you can come up with your own rituals and incorporate Beltane in your own way!
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