Beautiful Beltane

Beltane bonfires would be lit on April 30th for protective powers and people would walk their cattle around the fires before they were turned out to their summer pastures. People would also walk or dance around the fires, sometimes even jumping over them for good luck. Beltane translates from Celtic to ‘bright fire’ and the flames from the Beltane fire were taken to light the hearths of each home in the village. Houses would be festooned in flowers such as primrose, rowan, hawthorn (also known as May tree) and gorse.

Young women would sometimes wash their faces in the dawn dew at Beltane in the belief that this would maintain their youthful appearance.

Like Samhain, the veil is believed to thin at Beltane also and the Fae and spirit realm particularly active at this time. Many rituals at Beltane are for the purpose of appeasing them, such as leaving offerings.

Beltane gatherings were a proper ‘let your hair down’ celebration, with feasting and flirting. This sabbat is all about fertility, life, love and joy.