SEASONS OF CELEBRATION

APRIL 30 ~~ BELTANE ('tween, HIGH HOLIDAY)
Astronomical Date: Sun 15 Degrees Taurus
October 31st in Southern Hemisphere
Bealtaine, Beltaine, Beltain, Bealtinne, Bealtuinn, Beltinna, Bhealltainn, Cetsamhain, Festival of Tana, Galan Mae, Giamonios,La Baal Tinne May Eve, May Day, May Eve, Mayday, Roodmas, Rudemas, Shenn do Boaldyn, Walburga, Walburgal, Walpurgis, Walspurgis Night, Walpurgisnacht, Whitsun,

ACTIVITIES:
Archery
"Beating The Bounds" (walking one's property lines)
Bonfires or "Need Fires" (and leaping)
Choose Summer Queen and King
Collecting "Wild Water"
Crop Blessings
Daisy Chains
Dancing
Divination
Faerie Offerings
Floral Crowns/Wreaths
"Go A Maying"
Greenwood Marriages
Handfastings
Hobby Horses
May Baskets (represents the bounty of the Goddess)
Maypole (Phallus of the God)
Morning Dew (used for everlasting beauty) Mummering

CAULDRON: Love

COLORS: ROSE, green, burgundy, pink, red

DECORATIONS:
Butterchurn
Daisy Chains
FAERIE FOLK
Floral Crowns/Wreaths
Green Man/Jack In The Green
Hobby Horses
May Baskets (represents the bounty of the Goddess)
Maypole (Phallus of the God)
Ribbons & Bows

FACTS AND FOLKLORE:
'BELL-tayne'
"May" comes from a Norse word meaning "to shoot out new growth"
May derived from Goddess Maia (Greek), one of The Seven Sisters, The Pleiades
Beltaine means "Bel's Fire" or "Fire of Bel" (Celtic)
Bealtaine (Irish Gaelic), Bealtuinn (Scottish Gaelic)
Bel "The Bright and Shining Sun God"

A 'spirit night' (Whales)
A time of self-discovery, love, union
Cattle driven between bonfires to bless them (Celtic)
Celebrates Sacred Marriage of Goddess and God
Divides Winter and Summer
FAERIE FOLK abound, and food left out for them
Growth time: third fertility
Exact opposite Samhain on wheel of the year, Samhain's light twin
April 30 Walpurgis Night "Night Of The Witches"
May 1 midpoint of Festival to Flora Goddess of Flowers (Roman)
Maypole represents the phallus of the God
Maypole ribbons/wreath make up the birth canal of the Goddess
Maypole ribbon weaving symbolizes transformation of Virgin to Mother
People leap fires for luck (Celtic)
Second most magickal night of the year, after Samhain
Veil between worlds of the living and realms of the dead thin
"Wild Water" (dew, stream, ocean waters) collected (healing potions)

FEASTING:
Bannocks
Flowers
Fruit: Cherries, Strawberries Fruit Cakes
Honey
Herb Salads
Strawberries

BEVERAGES:
Wine