Beltane, also known as May Day, is one of the most important Wiccan festivals of the year, and is celebrated on May 1. In the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs on October 31 or November 1. It commemorates the arrival of spring and symbolizes rebirth and fertility. The holiday has a Celtic origin and is still broadly observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The name is often attributed to the Celtic sun god Belenus.
History
Beltane has been celebrated for hundreds of years. References to it can be found in early Irish literature and mythology. The holiday was considered a time to mark the reawakening of the Earth after winter. Fertility of animals and people was also acknowledged during Beltane; the gods of the forest, hunting and motherhood were honored, including:
Cernnunos
Cernnunos was the lord of the forest and was associated with male animals, flora and fertility. This Celtic god was frequently depicted with wild hair and a beard.
Pan
Pan was an agricultural god linked to the fields and forests. He spent much of his time wandering the woods and playing his flute, and was typically portrayed as a human with the horns and legs of a goat.
Artemis
Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, wilderness and childbirth, and was frequently depicted carrying a bow and arrows. The cypress tree and deer were particularly sacred to her, and she was considered the goddess of the moon, hillsides and forest.
By the mid-20th century, celebrations of Beltane had largely died out. However, Wiccans and neo-pagans began to observe Beltane as a religious holiday at the end of 20th century. The Beltane Fire Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, has been held every year since 1988. It celebrates the holiday but is largely an arts and cultural event that draws inspiration from many different traditions.
Customs
There are many ways people have commemorated Beltane over the years, including:
Bonfires
Probably the most time-honored way of celebrating Beltane was with fire. People would often build bonfires, and this practice continues today. The fire, smoke and ashes were believed to have protective powers. It was customary to walk around bonfires or between them, and sometimes cattle participated in this custom as well. Jumping over the flames and embers was also common. Hearth fires would be extinguished and relit with flames from the Beltane bonfires. A feast would often be served after this ritual.
Flowers
Yellow flowers, such as primrose and hawthorn, were frequently placed in windows and doorways during Beltane. They were also attached to livestock and made into crosses. May bushes were popular as well; these were small branches and trees adorned with ribbons and other decorations.
Maypole
Dancing around a maypole was another Beltane custom. A maypole was a long pole, often 15 to 20 feet tall, decorated with colorful ribbons attached to the top. It was typically erected on the village green. Young women and men danced around the pole holding the ends of ribbons in a spring fertility ritual. They would travel in opposite directions so the ribbons would end up tightly wound together around the pole, symbolizing the womb of the earth. If it was a maypole for children, they frequently all moved in the same direction to avoid confusion and tangled ribbons.
Holy Wells
Visiting a holy well was also a Beltane tradition. People would walk around the wells while praying for health, and leave coin offerings. The water drawn from the wells on the morning of Beltane was believed to be particularly powerful and helped one maintain a youthful appearance and enhanced sexual attractiveness.
Beltane has a rich and colorful history that includes many customs and rituals. Many Wiccans and neo-pagans are keeping the traditions alive today in their celebrations of this centuries-old holiday.