let's talk about beltane..
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Beltane takes place on the 1st May in the northern hemisphere and the 1st November in the southern hemisphere, it is also known as May Day and marks the midway point between spring and summer.
The name for this festival of light and life comes from a Celtic word meaning "bright fire". It Heralds the first day of summer and was traditionally marke by the lighting of bonfires to symbolize the strength of the rising of the sun. You may notice May Day festivals or fairs, I remember very well as a child dancing around the maypole in infant school. Something about this memory will always fill my heart. |
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During these times the days are heating up and the earth is extremely fertile, with baby animals and new plants now growing steadily and strongly. This is another fertility festival and one that is widely known, especially in European countries. To celebrate Beltane, you would traditionally light bonfires and dance around a May Pole, a phallic-looking pole that symbolises the earth being fertilized and bringing new life.
Beltane is about fire, heat & sunshine as the earth warms & we begin to feel our souls shine even brighter..
In pagan traditions, Beltane is when the Sun (God) arrives in full force to fertilize the earth. The Green Man is another symbol that makes an appearance during Beltane and he symbolises a new cycle of growth and rebirth.
As I remind you with every turn of the wheel, how you choose to celebrate each Sabbat is up to you and your intuition. Here are some ideas to start you off..
Colours: Red, Blue, Green and Yellow - ( I like to think of the brghter & stronger versions of the colours from the last Sabbat.)
Plants & Herbs: Daffodil, Hawthorne, Dandelion, Meadowsweet, Paprika, Primrose, Oak and Rose.
Incense for Beltane: Ylang-Ylang, Rose, Frankincense, Peach and Vanilla.
Crystals: Rose Quartz., Sunstone, Malachite and Emerald.
Food & Drink: Wine, Sweet Breads, Elderflower, Oats and of course cakes!
