|
Beltane Celebration
BELTANE, MAYDAY, THE FIRES of EDINBURGH, and the COMING of SUMMER
The old Celtic name for May Day is Beltane, which is derived from the Irish Gaelic 'Bealtaine' or the Scottish Gaelic 'Bealtuinn' (pronounced: beel-too-win), meaning 'Bel-fire', the fire of the Celtic god of light (Bel, Beli or Belinus).
Beltane's traditional date, May 1st, was chosen as the midway point between the vernal equinox and summer solstice. Due to the change in the earth's axis of rotation over time, this point is now closer to May 5th, and some observe May 5th as "Old Beltane," but the traditional date of May 1st is still favored.
Traditionally, Beltane festivities began days before May 1st, or "May Day," when villagers traveled into the woods to gather the nine sacred woods needed to build the Beltane bonfires. According to the 13th-century Irish poem called "Song of the Forest Trees," the nine sacred woods are: Rowan - the wizard's tree; Briar - burn him that is so keen and green; Oak - fiercest heat giver of all timber; Alder - very battle-witch of all woods; Holly - burn it green, burn it dry; Elder - him that furnishes horses to the armies of the Sidhe burn; Birch - burn up most sure the stalks that bear the constant pads; Aspen - burn, be it late or early; and the Yew which is singled out as being sacred to the feast.
The tradition of "May Boughing" or "May Birching" involved young men fastening garlands of greens and flowers on the windows and doors of their prospective ladyloves before the fires were lit Beltane night. As with many Celtic customs, the type of flowers or branches used carried symbolic meaning, and much negotiating and courting could be done ahead of time.
Many communities elected a virgin as their "May Queen" to lead marches or songs. To the Celts, she represented the virgin goddess on the eve of her transition from Maiden to Mother. Depending on the time and place, the consort might be named "Jack-in-the-Green," "Green Man," "May Groom," or "May King." The union of the Queen and her consort symbolized the fertility and rebirth of the world.
Because the Celtic day started and ended at sundown, the Beltane celebration began on April 30th. Two Beltane fires were lit on hilltops after extinguishing all hearth fires in the village. The villagers drove their livestock between the fires three times to cleanse them and ensure their fertility in the coming summer, and then they put them to summer pasture. Then, the human part of the fertility ritual began.
As dancing around the bonfires continued through the night, customary standards of social behavior were relaxed. It was expected that young couples would sneak off into the woods or, better yet, a recently plowed field for a little testing of the fertility waters. Even after the Christian tradition of monogamous marriage replaced handfasting, the Beltane ritual continued with a new tradition: all marriage vows were temporarily suspended for the festival of Beltane. Many a priest would lament the number of virgins despoiled on this one night, but the tradition persevered. Babies born from a Beltane union were thought to be blessed by the Goddess herself.
A big Beltane Bannock (or cake) was made and shared amongst the group. This is a special cake made of eggs, milk, and oatmeal. For Beltane, this bread was made the eve before Beltane day; it is said that the bread should not be allowed to come into contact with steel during preparation (steel is harmful and deadly to the faery folk). These cakes also served magical and ritual purposes: They were marked for baking with nine raised nipples, squares, or scalloped edges. One each for the nine sacred kinds of wood used in the needfire. Pieces of the bannock were thrown into the fire with an exhortation to bless homes, cattle, or individuals.
Beltane, like Samhain, is a time when the veil between the worlds is thought to be thin, a time when magic is possible. Whereas Samhain revelers must look out for wandering souls of the dead, Beltane merrymakers must watch for Fairies. Beltane is the night when the queen of the fairies will ride out on her white steed to entice humans away to Faeryland. If you hear the bells of the Fairy Queen's horse, you are advised to look away so she will pass you by; look at the Queen, and your senses alone will not hold you back! Bannocks were also sometimes left for the Fairies, hoping to win their favor on this night. (Speaking of "Fairies," you should read this article about John Frances Campbell of Islay and his link to the Fairies and the recent discovery of the "Hobbit" people of the Indonesian island of Flores.)
Beltane has recently seen a revival in Scotland. The Beltane Fire Society's Festival is held every year on the night of April 30th on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. An audience of around 15,000 people come to share the spectacular two-hour procession. Justifiably famous for its intensity and color, the event has become a much-loved feature of the Edinburgh calendar since it was first organized in the mid-1980s. A May Queen and Green Man, representing fertility and growth, cavort on the hillside with much merry-making. The main element is still fire, and while for some, it will embody a "religion" that still resonates today, it represents a good spectacle and a fun night out for many.
| 
