blessed beltaine

Beltane -- Holiday Details and History

Author: Christina Aubin
Posted: April 30th. 2000
Times Viewed: 169,016

Beltane is the last of the three spring fertility festivals, the others being Imbolc and Ostara. Beltane is the second principal Celtic festival (the other being Samhain). Celebrated approximately halfway between Vernal (spring) equinox and the midsummer (Summer Solstice). Beltane traditionally marked the arrival if summer in ancient times.

At Beltane the Pleiades star cluster rises just before sunrise on the morning horizon, whereas winter (Samhain) begins when the Pleiades rises at sunset. The Pleiades is a cluster of seven closely placed stars, the seven sisters, in the constellation of Taurus, near his shoulder. When looking for the Pleiades with the naked eye, remember it looks like a tiny dipper-shaped pattern of six moderately bright stars (the seventh can be seen on very dark nights) in the constellation of Taurus. It stands very low in the east-northeast sky for just a few minutes before sunrise.

Beltane, and its counterpart Samhain, divide the year into its two primary seasons, winter (Dark Part) and summer (Light Part). As Samhain is about honoring Death, Beltane, its counter part, is about honoring Life. It is the time when the sun is fully released from his bondage of winter and able to rule over summer and life once again.

Beltane, like Samhain, is a time of "no time" when the veils between the two worlds are at their thinnest. No time is when the two worlds intermingle and unite and the magic abounds! It is the time when the Faeries return from their winter respite, carefree and full of faery mischief and faery delight. On the night before Beltane, in times past, folks would place rowan branches at their windows and doors for protection, many otherworldly occurrences could transpire during this time of "no time". Traditionally on the Isle of Man, the youngest member of the family gathers primroses on the eve before Beltane and throws the flowers at the door of the home for protection. In Ireland it is believed that food left over from May Eve must not be eaten, but rather buried or left as an offering to the faery instead. Much like the tradition of leaving of whatever is not harvested from the fields on Samhain, food on the time of no time is treated with great care.

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http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=holidays&id=2765

Nice to know there are others who still know about, and honor, the traditional festivals.

When I was teaching at the Naval Training Base, in San Diego, I once wrote "HAPPY MAY DAY" across the chalk board. I was raised celebrating traditional May Day so it seemed a natural thing to write. I even brought in a May Day Basket. The school Captain just so happened to visit my classroom that day, and pulled me aside to ask why I had written that, on the chalk board. The only May Day he knew of was, in his mind, the Communist celebration so he was pretty confused.

I had to give him a real fast history/culture lesson, but he still asked me to erase it. Being a mere Petty Office, I did as I was told.

I can just imagine his reaction--too bad that so many don't know their history, eh?

at the old places or in my case at the old trees. Food for the Faeries!

I just learned this last night. I have several very special places in the woods on my farm. The old trees give me peace and comfort. My friend who knows about these things suggested I do that partly for the Faeries and partly in thanks to the old trees who provided me with enough Morels this spring to make a lot of special meals :-).

Happy Beltaine!

Seriously though, there is nothing kinder or more inspiring than old trees that have been hit by lightning, trunks with holes through them at their base, woodpecker holes and they just keep leafing out and remaining as a reminder that we are but temporary but time moves on. I find great peace in those places and the longer I live here the more places like this I find. My friend thinks I would make a wonderful witch but I think I just love the earth and all the beings we see and can't see. I hugged my favorite "old man" tree and asked him if he could spring up some morels for us this year. We found about 30 in that particular grove area, all around the old tree bases. Never saw them there before and they were huge! I have to thank them! Perhaps it is the Faeries that keep them living on.

Happy Beltaine to you and to everyone!

Love the ancient holidays ... heading out to worship lady nature, right now! (Upon my steeds...what could be better.)

Thanks for this, niyad!

May I make my fond excuses
for the lateness of the hour,
but we accept your invitation, and we bring you Beltane's flower.
For the May Day is the great day, sung along the old straight track.
And those who ancient lines did ley*
will heed the song that calls them back.
Pass the word and pass the Lady, pass the plate to all who hunger.
Pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the cup of crimson wonder.

Ask the green man where he comes from, ask the cup that fills with red.
Ask the old grey standing stones that show the sun its way to bed.
Question all as to their ways,
and learn the secrets that they hold.
Walk the lines of nature's palm
crossed with silver and with gold.
Pass the cup and pass the Lady, pass the plate to all who hunger.
Pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the cup of crimson wonder.

Join in black December's sadness,
lie in August's welcome corn.
Stir the cup that's ever-filling
with the blood of all that's born.
But the May Day is the great day, sung along the old straight track.
And those who ancient lines did lay
will heed this song that calls them back.
Pass the word and pass the Lady, pass the plate to all who hunger.
Pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the cup of crimson wonder.

{*refers to "ley lines"}

- Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull, "Songs from the Wood" album)

:hi: