Happy Beltane!

Wiki

It marked the beginning of summer and was when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures. Rituals were performed to protect the cattle, crops and people, and to encourage growth. Special bonfires were kindled, and their flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around the bonfire or between two bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused and then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire. These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food and drink would be offered to the aos sí. Doors, windows, byres and the cattle themselves would be decorated with yellow May flowers, perhaps because they evoked fire. In parts of Ireland, people would make a May Bush: a thorn bush decorated with flowers, ribbons and bright shells. Holy wells were also visited, while Beltane dew was thought to bring beauty and maintain youthfulness. Many of these customs were part of May Day or Midsummer festivals in other parts of Great Britain and Europe.

It is an important holiday for me, being Wiccan.

Modern Pagans and Beltane

How do modern day pagans observe this day?Modern day pagan observances of Beltane include the maypole dances, bringing in the May, and jumping the cauldron for fertility. Many couples wishing to conceive children will jump the cauldron together at this time. Fertility of imagination and other varieties of fertility are invoked along with sexual fertility. In Wiccan and other Pagan circles, this is a joyous day, full of laughter and good times.

a reply to: reldra

I washed my face in the dew this morning and I can only hope that hailstones count as dewish.

Happy Beltane to you too.

a reply to: reldra

The same to you! Over a 100.000 gathered last night in to celebrate the beltane, we call it valborg. But its a modern phrase that came with Christianity.. We called it Blot Eldsafton / Vårblot before valborg..

Happy Beltane!

a reply to: reldra

Thank you! Blessed Beltane to you, as well!

Blessed be!

a reply to: reldra

That's lovely! Happy Beltane to you! I can just see cattle in the field decorated with wreaths of yellow flowers...

Gee, I saw this thread and decided to go check out PaganSpace. I haven't been there in a couple of years. Accounts still good. Lots of new people there now though.

Merry meet.
Hot night!

a reply to: reldra

Happy Beltane!!

I was invited to my first Beltane ritual today by a local coven. It was a wonderful experience. I look forward to going them again and celebrating their next ritual.

originally posted by: beansidhe
a reply to: reldra

I washed my face in the dew this morning and I can only hope that hailstones count as dewish.

Happy Beltane to you too.

They do!!

originally posted by: PanPiper
a reply to: reldra

The same to you! Over a 100.000 gathered last night in to celebrate the beltane, we call it valborg. But its a modern phrase that came with Christianity.. We called it Blot Eldsafton / Vårblot before valborg..

That is nice to learn!

originally posted by: Kali74
Happy Beltane!

TY Kali.

originally posted by: Abysha
a reply to: reldra

Thank you! Blessed Beltane to you, as well!

Blessed be!

Ty Anysha. Blessed be!

originally posted by: Benevolent Heretic
a reply to: reldra

That's lovely! Happy Beltane to you! I can just see cattle in the field decorated with wreaths of yellow flowers...

Ty benevolent

originally posted by: Sillyolme
Merry meet.
Hot night!

Merry met , Silly

originally posted by: mblahnikluver
a reply to: reldra

Happy Beltane!!

I was invited to my first Beltane ritual today by a local coven. It was a wonderful experience. I look forward to going them again and celebrating their next ritual.

Fantastic! I am glad you found a group. Happy beltane mblahnikkuver

Happy Betlane.

SO, you live in Scotland? Scott land?

a reply to: reldra

Very happy Beltane hope you all had a very good time. We had a great evening with a stroll though our ancient landscape finishing at the local henge and then back to party. I love this celebration shame the feet don't the following day.

a reply to: reldra

🌸🌹🌸🌹🌷🌷🌺🌻🌼 here is a spring bouquet to celebrate.

a reply to: reldra

Is Beltane one of the solstices that Christianity adopted or something different?

Anyway, happy Beltane!