Pagan Sabbats: Beltane

Beltane comes from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic words for the month of May, Beáltaine or Bealtuinn respectively. This name also refers to the Celtic Sun God, Bel.

As Christianity became more dominant in the British Isles, the festival of Beltane was incorporated into the new religion and new names given.

Some of these include the Fire Festival, Roodmas, May Day, the Feast of Saint Walpurga, Giamonios, and Walpurgisnacht.

The most well-known Beltane, or May Day, tradition is, of course, dancing round the Maypole. This was a ritual so blatently filled with sexual overtones and utter frivolity that it was banned in England during Cromwell's rule. It didn't originate in the British Isles though. This particular tradition was actually brought to the Isles by invading Germanic tribes.

Beltane is one of the fire festivals through the year and is marked by the lighting of bonfires across the land. In parts of Ireland and Scotland, bonfires are still lit upon this night. In villages long ago, all of the hearth fires in a village would have been doused, then rekindled from a central bonfire during the night. This brought a village together and showed villagers how important their connection to each other was.

Pastoral animals, cows and sheep mainly, would be taken from the barns and led up into the meadows to pasture at this time of year. Grasses would now be plentiful enough for the animals to feed. In many villages, two bonfires would be lit and the animals led between them. This was done as it was thought in increased their fertility and removed any ill humours which might cause sickness.

Likewise, newlywed couples would also dance between or leap over bonfires as a way of increasing their own fertility.

Beltane marks the time of year when the May Tree, or the Hawthorn, is in bloom. The night of Beltane is, by tradition, the only day that branches from the Hawthorn may be taken into a house.

A woman who washes her face in the dew from a May tree on Beltane morning will be blessed with beauty the rest of the year. Or, will find her true love depending on which source your read.

On most calendars, Beltane falls on the first of May. The Celts, however, tracked their days from sundown to sundown. This means they are celebrated holidays on the eve, the night before. Beltane therefore would start at sundown on May Eve, 30th April, and last until sundown on 1st of May.

Other people prefer to celebrate when the May tree is in bloom. That is what we do. In general, where we live this means celebrating Beltane around the second or third week of May. We have a rather old Hawthorn growing in our garden and that is when it blooms.

For most today, places to create bonfires are somewhat limited. However, this doesn't have to stop you from celebrating the Sabbat yourself.

I have written below two Beltane rituals that were used in our own home many years ago. Participants included my husband and myself, his parents and brother, his brother's wife, and their family.

We decided that we wanted the focus of this ritual to be on the blessing of our two house guardian stones. This particular ritual actually comes from Roman traditions, but was adapted for our own use.

Altar set-up:
Lots of flowers and greenery all around the room and upon the altar

Candles:
Green for the source candle
Pink for the god and goddess candles

Incense:
Heather or lavender

Guardian stones with incense stick before them - Temple incense

Small cauldron with candle fixed within it

Circle is opened in the usual manner

HPS:
The heaviness of winter has ended. Let us rejoice in the budding Earth and the beauty of the Maiden now ascendant.

Light the cauldron flame

We light the Beltane flame and celebrate the fertile warmth and light of the Sun God and the renewed and renewing power of light, love and energy of the Goddess.

HP:
I am the stag of seven tines;
I am a wide flood on the plain;
I am a wind on the deep water;
I am a shining tear of the sun;
I am a hawk on a cliff;
I am fair among flowers;
I am a god who sets the head afire with smoke;
I am a battle-waging spear;
I am a salmon in the pool;
I am a hill of poetry;
I am a ruthless boar;
I am a threatening noise of the sea;
I am a wave of the sea;
Who but I knows the secret of the unhewn dolmen?

HPS:
'Tis the lusty month of May.
This is the fullness of springtime -
Time of the sacred marriage between
The Goddess and the God
We honor the life-giving fertility of the blooming earth.

HP:
We celebrate the fragrant air, the soft breezes that refresh the Earth and Her children.

HPS:
We celebrate the gentle fire of the Sun whose covering warmth awakens the Earth and Her children.

HP:
We celebrate the cool, damp rains, those sparkling showers that give sustenance to the Earth and Her children.

HPS:
We celebrate the Earth in Her full bloom. She gives life to all Her children.

- Short pause -

HP:
In Roman times on the first of May the Romans paid homage to their household gods and guardians. Today we continue that custom in our home.

Light incense in front of guardian stones

HPS:
Guardians of this house watch over it in the year to come, 'til again the Belfire is extinguished and relit. Bless the house, and be blessed by it; let all who live here and all friends who are welcomed here, prosper under this roof.

All:
So mote it be.

The circle is closed in the usual manner

This Sabbat was special because it was this night that my husband was fully initiated as my Priest.

Circle is created in the usual fashion.

Charge of the Goddess is done

HPS:
We gather to initiate Merthin as a Priest in the craft. We gather as well with friends and family to celebrate the coming of summer and the fullness of the moon.

Ritual for second degree - Priesthood - is conducted.

Magical working

HPS:
Think about something you wish to accomplish in the coming season. A goal, or goals, you wish to achieve. Choose ribbons, at least 3, to match those goals. Braid them together, thinking on your goals, seeing yourself meeting those goals between now and the final harvest of Samhain.

Six months ago at Samhain, we celebrated the passing of the season from summer into winter. A time to get rid of those things you no longer wished to be burdened with. Now, that season has passed, at Beltane we celebrate the beginnings of summer. This is the time to bind to yourself those things you wish to achieve in the coming season.

This is a time of development, of growth, a time to thin out new plans and ideas, keeping only that which is strong enough to survive and thrive through the coming season. Through the summer we'll each evaluate the growth of our plans, honing our skills. Removing that which is hindering us in meeting our goals.

Much magic was seen in the simple act of weaving and plaiting. Even the simple act of brushing and plaiting one's hair was considered an act of magic.

Think about what you want to bind to yourself in the coming season. What you want to achieve. As you think, look through the ribbons and choose at least 3 that match your goals. As you weave your ribbons, you will weave into your lives new clarity of purpose and bind that goal to yourself.
With the focus of your energy, you fertilise your intent that it may grow to fulfilment.

Energy raising

HPS:Take your finished plaiting and knot it at each end, sealing the magic inside. Hold onto one end of your own ribbons in your left hand, and the other end of the person's ribbons to your right in your other hand.

Energy raising conducted.

Circle is closed in the usual manner