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Founded 05-05-05

Celtic Fire Festival of Beltane Celebrates Life

Mountain CUUPs Celebration April 28

Story by Celeste von Mangan

Beltane is the second principal Celtic festival, the other being Samhain, or Halloween. As Samhain honors death, Beltane, which means “fire of Bel” or “bright fire,” honors life and begins at the end of April, though the official day marking Beltane is May 1.

It is a time of “no time,” meaning that the two worlds of the earthly and the spiritual mingle and unite. It is said that faeries return from their winter respite at Beltane and that the Queen of the Faeries rides on her milk-white steed and attempts to entice people away to faery land.

According to legend, if you sit beneath a tree on Beltane night, you may see the Faery Queen or at the very least, hear the sound of her horse’s bells as she rides through the dark. Legend also relates that if you hide your face she may pass you by; however, if you look at her, she may choose you, in which case you will be spirited away to the Land of Fey.

Many rituals pertaining to Beltane were and still are traditionally honored. On the Isle of Man, the youngest member of the family gathers primroses on the eve of Beltane and throws the flowers at the door of the home for protection. In Ireland, it is believed that leftover food from May Eve must not be eaten, but instead buried and offered to the faeries.

Fire figures prominently at this time of year and great bonfires are built, lit and circled three times to ensure good luck for the coming year, while couples who wish to be fertile “jump the fires,” and cattle are driven between two bonfires to protect them from disease.

May Day, or Beltane, is also the time when it was customary for trial unions to occur, for one year and one day, and hand-fasting was the primary ceremony joining a man and a woman in this trial marriage. Perhaps the most well-known Beltane ritual is dancing around the Maypole. Festooned with ribbons and flowers, the pole is considered to be a connecter to three worlds and dancing around it is supposed to act as a conduit of energy.

Green is the focal color of Beltane and the month of May in general, symbolizing growth, abundance, plentiful harvest, abundant crops and good luck.

Astronomically, by the end of April, the Pleiades can be viewed hanging low in the east to northeast sky for a few minutes prior to sunrise. They comprise a cluster of seven closely aligned stars placed in the constellation of Taurus, just at the bull’s shoulder.

On Saturday, April 28, beginning at 6:00 p.m. the Mountain Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPs) are hosting a Beltane ritual at the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 381 East King Street. All are invited to attend to dance the Maypole and celebrate the balance between the Divine Feminine and Masculine. Snacks and fellowship follow the ritual and the event is free, though donations are appreciated.

Want to Go?

Date: Saturday, April 28
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Cost: Free