Beltane - The Witch's May Day

A Brief History of Beltanebeauty all year round. But it is an opportunity to
Beltane (AKA May Day) is one of the mostreally get close to nature and experience the
important of the witch's sabbats, second only tosimple joy and calm of being at one with it. Feel
Samhain (Halloween!) in both status andthe coolness of the gentle breeze or absorb the
merriment. It is still celebrated as a spring festivalwarmth with the morning sun as it rises. Really
in many places around the world but its ancientexperience the earth beneath your feet and
roots are Celtic, hailing from Co. Meath in Ireland.breath in the vital air. Engross yourself in the
It is traditionally a fire festival due to the act ofmoment!
burning 9 different types of wood and thenTo mark this fire festival, you can build a bonfire
bringing the cattle out from the barns to pastureor have a fire of some kind going throughout the
for the first time of the year, passing themday. Many Wiccans, covens or worshippers carry
through the pyres as they went. This ritual wasout a fire vigil, starting on Beltane eve but if this is
to cleanse, heal and protect them which, it wasnot possible you can always burn a candle to
believed, would improve their milk yield for thathonour the day. In particular, silver candles
year. Beltane's meaning is actually fires of Belrepresent fertility. However, some dedicated
(who was the Celtic deity worshipped.)followers have even been know to build a small
From these origins, the customs and ritualsfire in their cauldron! Please, of course, don't leave
extended and widened, shifting the emphasisit unattended if you do this and don't overdo the
more to fertility. One of these traditions isburning materials inside it. But nevertheless it is a
probably the most iconic symbols of the dayheart warming sight.
worldwide - the may pole. Ribbons of red andBut as well as a festival of fire, Beltane is seen as
white are tied to a pole in the ground and weaveda festival of flowers. Baskets of flowers were
in and out to make particular patterns, usually bymade, either for decoration or even as part of a
the young women of the community. This is aritual or ceremony. Hawthorn is the flower of the
celebration of love and pleasure, helping (andday and legend has it that this is the only time of
hoping!) to increase fertility along the way.year that it is ok to bring it indoors without risking
The Wicca/Witch Sabbat of Beltanebringing bad luck upon yourself. It was usually
To Wiccans and witches, this has become a veryworn by the May Queen, a young girl chosen to
important time to honour the gifts we receiverepresent the day.
from the natural world around us. It is theYou can also use incense and herbs, either as part
beginning of the light half of the year andof your ritual or in your home (incense for if the
astronomically a cross quarter day between thebonfire is not practical). Associated with Beltane
spring equinox and the summer solstice. Theare - angelica, frankincense, hawthorn, lilac and
spark and energy around us at this time of year,rose.
one which tends to dampen during the bleak,However, your chief priority should not necessarily
colder months, comes back to us. It is perfectbe how you celebrate but instead the feelings,
for being harnessed for spell work and givingawareness and connectivity with your
them new vigour .surroundings that you experience. The meaning of
How to Celebrate Beltanethis time of year may be less relevant to our
One the first things you must do on Beltane morndaily lives than when the festival first began but
is to wake up early and wash your face in thethe sense of harmony and even excitement can
early dew. This was originally thought to give yoube cherished all the same.