BELTANE
Beltane is one of the principal Celtic festivals (the primary festival being Samhain - Halloween/Feast of All Souls). Celebrated halfway between the Vernal equinox and midsummer (the summer solstice), Beltane traditionally marked the arrival of summer in ancient times.
Beltane and its counterpart Samhain divide the year into two primary seasons, Winter (dark part) and Summer (light part). As Samhain is about honoring death, Beltane is about honoring life. It is the time when the sun is released from the bondage of winter and able to rule once again over summer and life.
Beltane, like Samhain, is a time of "no time" when magic abounds - the veils between the two worlds are at their flimsiest and the two worlds intermingle. On the night before Beltane, folk would place rowan branches at their windows and doors for protection, since many otherworldly occurrences could transpire during this time of "no time" - it is said that the Queen of the Faeries rides out on her white horse. Roving about on Beltane Eve, she will try to entice people away (see the legend of Thomas the Rhymer).
The beginning of summer heralds an important time, for the winter is a difficult journey and weariness and disheartenment set in. Personally, one is tired down to the soul. In times past, food stocks were low and variety was a distant memory. The drab non-color of winter matches the dullness and fatigue that permeate on many levels to this day.
Beltane marks the passing of winter to the growing season; it is a festival of rapturous gaiety. It celebrates the rousing of the earth from her gently awakening slumber - a time when the pleasures of the earth and self are fully awakened. Celebrations include frolicking through the countryside, maypole dancing, leaping over fires to ensure fertility, circling the fire three times (sun-wise) for good luck in the coming year, athletic tournaments, feasting, music, drinking, children gathering flowers, hobby horses, May birching and folks "going a maying". Flowers, flower wreaths and garlands decorate this holiday, as well as ribbons and streamers. Flowers are crucial for they signal the victory of Summer over Winter and the blossoming of sensuality in nature and the bounty it will bring.
Young men and women wandered into the woods before daybreak of May Day morning with garlands of flowers and/or branches of trees. They would arrive - most rumpled from joyous encounters - to the maypole for the Beltane celebrations. Life was not an exercise but rather a joyful dance.
On Beltane eve the Celts would build two large fires - Bel Fires - lit from the nine sacred woods (oak, elm, ash, beech...). The Bel Fire is an invocation to Bel (the Sun God) to bring blessing and protection to the tribe. Cattle were ritually driven between two needfires (built on a knoll) to purify, bring luck, and protect, as well as to ensure their fertility before they were taken to summer grazing lands. An old Gaelic adage: "Eadar da theine Bhealltuinn" - "Between two Beltane fires". The Bel fire was a sacred fire believed to heal and purify. The fires further celebrate the burning away of winter. The ashes of the Beltane fires were smudged on faces and scattered in the fields. Household fires would be extinguished and re-lit with fresh fire from the Bel Fires.
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Perhaps I am a Pagan. Christianity is so very obtuse with its sin, angry vengeful "God", immaculate conception, resurrection, heaven, hell... (whisper it: a load of cack.)
On the other hand, the glorification and observation of nature as the Celts saw and Pagans see it is very easy to grasp. As easy as falling off a log. Look around: it's easy to see why the Celts dated the start of summer to the first of May. Horse chestnut trees with their blossoms looking so 'perky' and upright! Blossom which appeared to weigh down the boughs of trees with its apparent bulk, like fruit. Of a sudden, massing thick fragrant foliage and trees rioting like Kings. So prolific, so dense, so green. Ka-pow - everywhere!
Beltane is one of the principal Celtic festivals (the primary festival being Samhain - Halloween/Feast of All Souls). Celebrated halfway between the Vernal equinox and midsummer (the summer solstice), Beltane traditionally marked the arrival of summer in ancient times.
Beltane and its counterpart Samhain divide the year into two primary seasons, Winter (dark part) and Summer (light part). As Samhain is about honoring death, Beltane is about honoring life. It is the time when the sun is released from the bondage of winter and able to rule once again over summer and life.
Beltane, like Samhain, is a time of "no time" when magic abounds - the veils between the two worlds are at their flimsiest and the two worlds intermingle. On the night before Beltane, folk would place rowan branches at their windows and doors for protection, since many otherworldly occurrences could transpire during this time of "no time" - it is said that the Queen of the Faeries rides out on her white horse. Roving about on Beltane Eve, she will try to entice people away (see the legend of Thomas the Rhymer).
The beginning of summer heralds an important time, for the winter is a difficult journey and weariness and disheartenment set in. Personally, one is tired down to the soul. In times past, food stocks were low and variety was a distant memory. The drab non-color of winter matches the dullness and fatigue that permeate on many levels to this day.
Beltane marks the passing of winter to the growing season; it is a festival of rapturous gaiety. It celebrates the rousing of the earth from her gently awakening slumber - a time when the pleasures of the earth and self are fully awakened. Celebrations include frolicking through the countryside, maypole dancing, leaping over fires to ensure fertility, circling the fire three times (sun-wise) for good luck in the coming year, athletic tournaments, feasting, music, drinking, children gathering flowers, hobby horses, May birching and folks "going a maying". Flowers, flower wreaths and garlands decorate this holiday, as well as ribbons and streamers. Flowers are crucial for they signal the victory of Summer over Winter and the blossoming of sensuality in nature and the bounty it will bring.
Young men and women wandered into the woods before daybreak of May Day morning with garlands of flowers and/or branches of trees. They would arrive - most rumpled from joyous encounters - to the maypole for the Beltane celebrations. Life was not an exercise but rather a joyful dance.
On Beltane eve the Celts would build two large fires - Bel Fires - lit from the nine sacred woods (oak, elm, ash, beech...). The Bel Fire is an invocation to Bel (the Sun God) to bring blessing and protection to the tribe. Cattle were ritually driven between two needfires (built on a knoll) to purify, bring luck, and protect, as well as to ensure their fertility before they were taken to summer grazing lands. An old Gaelic adage: "Eadar da theine Bhealltuinn" - "Between two Beltane fires". The Bel fire was a sacred fire believed to heal and purify. The fires further celebrate the burning away of winter. The ashes of the Beltane fires were smudged on faces and scattered in the fields. Household fires would be extinguished and re-lit with fresh fire from the Bel Fires.
------------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps I am a Pagan. Christianity is so very obtuse with its sin, angry vengeful "God", immaculate conception, resurrection, heaven, hell... (whisper it: a load of cack.)
On the other hand, the glorification and observation of nature as the Celts saw and Pagans see it is very easy to grasp. As easy as falling off a log. Look around: it's easy to see why the Celts dated the start of summer to the first of May. Horse chestnut trees with their blossoms looking so 'perky' and upright! Blossom which appeared to weigh down the boughs of trees with its apparent bulk, like fruit. Of a sudden, massing thick fragrant foliage and trees rioting like Kings. So prolific, so dense, so green. Ka-pow - everywhere!
