What is the Beltane celebration?
Beltane is a Pagan holiday, and one of the eight Sabbats. It falls about halfway between the spring equinox (Ostara) and the coming summer solstice, Litha. The holiday celebrates spring at its peak, and the coming summer. Beltane also sometimes goes by the name May Day.
What is Beltane also known as?
Beltane, also spelled Beltine, Irish Beltaine or Belltaine, also known as Cétamain, festival held on the first day of May in Ireland and Scotland, celebrating the beginning of summer and open pasturing.
Is May Day a pagan?
May Day (May 1) marks the return of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, with origins in ancient pagan agricultural rituals to ensure fertility, handed down from the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. May Day falls exactly half a year from All Saints Day (November 1), and cross-quarter day with pagan overtones.
What does May 1st symbolize?
May Day, in medieval and modern Europe, holiday (May 1) for the celebration of the return of spring. The observance probably originated in ancient agricultural rituals, and the Greeks and Romans held such festivals.
Is the maypole pagan?
But the Maypole and the decorating of said pole has roots in the ancient Pagan festival celebrating the beginning of the pastoral summer season. The pole is made from a young tree, cut down when its trunk reached the proper height for performing its duties as a Maypole.
Why do we give May Day baskets?
In some communities, hanging a May basket on someone’s door was a chance to express romantic interest. If a basket-hanger was espied by the recipient, the recipient would give chase and try to steal a kiss from the basket-hanger. First lady Grace Coolidge receives a May basket from young children in 1927.
What is Lughnasa festival?
Lughnasadh or Lughnasa (/ˈluːnəsə/ LOO-nə-sə, Irish: [ˈl̪ˠuːnˠəsˠə]) is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Lughnasadh is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Samhain, Imbolc and Beltane.
What is the significance of the Beltane Festival?
Beltane marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season, when livestock were driven out to the summer pastures. Rituals were held at that time to protect them from harm, both natural and supernatural, and this mainly involved the “symbolic use of fire”.
What is a Beltane bonfire?
The word ‘Beltane’ originates from the Celtic God ‘Bel’, meaning ‘the bright one’ and the Gaelic word ‘teine’ meaning fire. Together they make ‘Bright Fire’, or ‘Goodly Fire’ and traditionally bonfires were lit to honour the Sun and encourage the support of Bel and the Sun’s light to nurture the emerging future harvest and protect the community.
What is the meaning of Beltane?
Beltane comes from the Gaelic word meaning “bright fire”. But many Earth-based cultures had Spring festivals they celebrated at this time, which were called many different things. For the Gaelic Celts (the people who inhabited Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man), Beltane was a fire festival celebrating the beginning of Summer.
What are the customs of Beltane?
Historic Beltane customs. Beltane was one of four Gaelic seasonal festivals: Samhain (~1 November), Imbolc (~1 February), Beltane (~1 May), and Lughnasadh (~1 August). Beltane marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season, when livestock were driven out to the summer pastures.