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Beltane - 2008 May 1 Beltane and Samhain are the two greatest festivals, the beginning of Summer and the beginning of Winter. Beltane is the time when the Goddess and the God marry - a time when the Goddess changes from the maiden aspect to the mother aspect. Since fertility was a major part of this time of year, maypoles are constructed. The maypole is a large pole with a crown of flowers and colored ribbons. The pole is the male phallic symbol and the crown is female. Another feature of Beltane festival is jumping over the fire. Beltane is the time of the Oak King’s mating with the Goddess, thereby setting up his own demise and resurrection. The Oak King’s power and influence has been growing since Samhain and now, at Midsummer, he is again "over-ruled" by his twin brother the Holly King whose influence will again be felt ever stronger until the wheel of life turns and again gives the reigns over to the Oak King in October. Edward Dwelly, a renowned a Scottish Gaelic lexicographer wrote: “In many parts of the Highlands, the young folks of the district would meet on the moors on 1st May. They cut a table in the green sod, of a round figure, by cutting a trench in the ground of sufficient circumferences to hold the whole company. They then kindled a fire, dressed a repast of eggs and milk of the constituency of custard. They kneaded a cake of oatmeal, which was toasted at the embers against a stone. After the custard was eaten, they divided the cake into as many portions as there were people in the company, as much alike as possible in size and shape. They daubed one of the pieces with charcoal, 'til it was black all over, and they were then all put into a bonnet together, and each one blindfolded took out a portion. The bonnet holder was entitled to the last bit, and whoever drew the black bit was the person who was compelled to leap three times over the flames. Some people say this was originally to appease a god, whose favour they tried to implore by making the year productive. (Dwelly, 1911, "Bealltuinn") Contact us for more information on joining us at this, and future celebrations. Check out our Pagan Calendar for an additional description of this and our other pagan holidays.
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