Beltane is a Fire Festival celebrated on April 30-May 1. The word 'Beltane' originates from the Celtic God 'Bel', meaning 'the bright one' and the Gaelic word 'teine' meaning fire. Traditionally all fires in the community were put out and a special fire was kindled for Beltane. People jumped the fire to purify, cleanse and to bring fertility. Couples jumped the fire together to pledge themselves to each other. Cattle and other animals were driven through the smoke as a protection from disease and to bring fertility. At the end of the evening, participants would take some of the Teineigen to start their home fires anew. (From Sacred Celebrations by Glennie Kindred)
Colors of the Season
Green for growth, fertility, health, abundance.
White for purity, power, protection.
Yellow for solar energies, happiness, communication.
Plants of the Season
Woodruff for protection, victory, and wealth.
Daisy for attraction, love, and youth.
Lily of the Valley for desire, peace, and protection.
Mugwort for lust, fertility, communication with spirits.
Violet for fertility, prophetic dreams, love.
Traditions and Symbols
Flowers for fertility, love, and joy.
The Maypole symbolizes fertility.
Green Man, Lord of the Wild Wood.
Earth Goddess associated with plants and animals.
Suggestions of ways to celebrate.
Light a Beltane fire – Light a fire in your garden to energize your plans and dreams by speaking to them aloud before tossing them into the fire. Invite friends and family to do the same. If you are in a relationship, Beltane is an excellent time to renew your intentions or vows to one another, and to leap the fire hand in hand. (Carefully of course)
Go camping – Being outside at this time of year is energizing and restorative. Lie on your back and gaze at the stars. Stay up and watch the sunrise.
Dance – around the Maypole if you have one or just put some music on and have a dance. Find some open spaces and let the kids run wild. Jump up and down, laugh out loud, and chase one another about.
Create something - Beltane is a festival of fertility. Plant a garden, write a story, make honey cakes, and may wine to celebrate the magic of the season.
Beltane Floral Crown
Flowers are prominent in Beltane traditions as symbols of fertility, beauty, and love. The Roman Goddess Flora is frequently depicted wearing a ring of flowers around her head, as are the May Queens in European May Day celebrations. Creating a floral crown adds a festive flair to your celebration and doubles as a wreath for your door or altar. The wreath included in your box will get you started. You can add fresh flowers found growing around your home or from a local florist, vines, ribbons while inviting energies of beauty and creativity to enter your wreath.
Invocation to Flora
Lovely Flora, pretty lady, you whose beauty is brighter than the stars,
Shiner than the seas, more glorious than the moon itself.
Lovely Flora, pretty lady, grace me, embrace me, enter me, amaze me!
May your spirit come into my heart!
May your love flow through me!
May your beauty and bliss embrace me!
You are the Queen of the Flowers.
You are the beautiful blossoming earth.
You are the sprout that pushes through the flat field to reach the sun!
All the flowers of the earth reflect your love.
All the beauty of the earth is but your song.
You are the rose that opens and closes.
You are the love that is only its own.
Lovely Flora, pretty lady, come into my heart!
I am a flower awaiting your presence, a blossom that is ready to bloom.
Come into my heart, lovely Flora, enter into me, grace me, amaze me!
Embrace me and cause me to bloom!
Beltane: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for May Day (Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials Book 2) by Melanie Marquis
