Beltane
ALTERNATE NAMES & SIMILAR OBSERVANCES:
May Day, Beltaine, Gwyl Galan Mai (Welsh)
circa May 1st
Celebrations of Beltane may start at nightfall on the last day of April until first light May 1st, or on the first full moon after May 1st, or when the Hawthorn tree begins to flower. The astrological date for this day is when the sun sets at 15 degrees Taurus. Taurus is an Earth sign ruled by Venus, symbolic of security, stamina, strength, and warm-heartedness. This is the beginning of the Celtic summer.
The month of May is named in honor of the Goddess, Maia (Maj, May, Maya, the Maiden). Maia was the daughter of Atlas and Pleione. She was one of the Seven Sisters and the mother of the God Hermes. This is the time to celebrate the virgin or "flower" aspect of the Goddess, the signification of the fruits to come. In ancient Rome, it was the Festival of Floralia, Flora, Goddess of flowers, Walpurgisnacht to the Teutons (early Germanic tribes), the night of Walpurgis or Walpurga. The word "Beltane" is derived from the Irish Gaelic 'Bealtaine' or the Scottish Gaelic 'Bealtuinn', meaning 'Bel-fire'(bright/sacred fire), the fire of the God of light (Bel, Beli, Belinus, Belenus, Baal).
This is the day when the ride of Lady Godiva would be imitated through Coventry, England, until it was outlawed by the Puritans. May day is a day of heightened sexuality, fertility and frolicking fun dancing around the May Pole, riding the hobby horse, and whisking off into the woods for an entire night of sexual frivolity, bringing back branches and flowers to proudly parade through town the next morning. The name "Lady's Day" is confused with this day. Lady's Day is actually used for the Spring Equinox (Ostara).
Correspondences
HERBS/INCENSE/FLOWERS:
Honeysuckle, St. John's wort, Hawthorn, Woodruff,
All flowers and greens.
INCENSE:
Frankincense, Lilac, Rose, Passion Flower, Patchouli, Vanilla.
COLORS:
Red and White, All colors of the Rainbow.
SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:
Maypoles, Braids of flowers, Baskets, Ribbons, Spring flowers and Greenery
FOODS:
Dairy, oatmeal or barley cakes (known as Beltane cakes), Sweets, foods from red fruits such as Cherries, Strawberries, Wine, Fresh greens, Green salads.
GODS & GODDESSES:
Inanna (Sumerian), Aphrodite (Greek), Artemis (Greek), Astarte (Greek), Maya (Greek),Venus (Roman), Flora (Roman), Diana (Roman), Anu/Anann/Dana/Danu, (Celtic), Brigit, (Celtic), Arianrhod (Welsh),Cerridwen (Welsh), Rhiannon (Welsh), Freya (Norse), Bel/Beli/Belinus/Belenus (Celtic), Cernunnos (Welsh), Cupid (Roman), Mercury (Roman), Eros (Greek), Hermes (Greek), The Green Man, Pan, Herne the Hunter.
GEMSTONES:
Emerald, Orange carnelian, sapphire, Rose quartz.
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
Goats, Rabbits, Cattle, Honey bees, Faeries, Trolls, Elves.
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
Weaving/plaiting/braiding...the joining together of two substances to form a third...as in may poles, baskets, flower garlands and crowns, Making and giving baskets of May flowers; Lighting a fire of nine different woods ('Need fire'/ 'Bel-fire') and jumping through the flames, or in the past they walked the animals of the community between the fires, to ensure protection and fertility; walking the perimeter of your property ('beating the bounds'); repairing fences and/or boundary markers; archery tournaments, music, dancing, feasting, drinking, celebrating, frivolity, bathing your face in the dew of May morning to retain your youthful beauty.
TAROT CARDS:
Wands, specifically 4 of Wands
© 2003-2008 GypsyJaguar
Honeysuckle, St. John's wort, Hawthorn, Woodruff,
All flowers and greens.
INCENSE:
Frankincense, Lilac, Rose, Passion Flower, Patchouli, Vanilla.
COLORS:
Red and White, All colors of the Rainbow.
SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:
Maypoles, Braids of flowers, Baskets, Ribbons, Spring flowers and Greenery
FOODS:
Dairy, oatmeal or barley cakes (known as Beltane cakes), Sweets, foods from red fruits such as Cherries, Strawberries, Wine, Fresh greens, Green salads.
GODS & GODDESSES:
Inanna (Sumerian), Aphrodite (Greek), Artemis (Greek), Astarte (Greek), Maya (Greek),Venus (Roman), Flora (Roman), Diana (Roman), Anu/Anann/Dana/Danu, (Celtic), Brigit, (Celtic), Arianrhod (Welsh),Cerridwen (Welsh), Rhiannon (Welsh), Freya (Norse), Bel/Beli/Belinus/Belenus (Celtic), Cernunnos (Welsh), Cupid (Roman), Mercury (Roman), Eros (Greek), Hermes (Greek), The Green Man, Pan, Herne the Hunter.
GEMSTONES:
Emerald, Orange carnelian, sapphire, Rose quartz.
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
Goats, Rabbits, Cattle, Honey bees, Faeries, Trolls, Elves.
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
Weaving/plaiting/braiding...the joining together of two substances to form a third...as in may poles, baskets, flower garlands and crowns, Making and giving baskets of May flowers; Lighting a fire of nine different woods ('Need fire'/ 'Bel-fire') and jumping through the flames, or in the past they walked the animals of the community between the fires, to ensure protection and fertility; walking the perimeter of your property ('beating the bounds'); repairing fences and/or boundary markers; archery tournaments, music, dancing, feasting, drinking, celebrating, frivolity, bathing your face in the dew of May morning to retain your youthful beauty.
TAROT CARDS:
Wands, specifically 4 of Wands
© 2003-2008 GypsyJaguar
BELTANE MARIGOLD CUSTARD
from Scott Cunningham's BOS
2 cups milk
1 cup unsprayed marigold petals
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. sugar
1 to 2-inch piece vanilla bean
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. rose water
whipped cream
Using a clean mortar and pestle reserved for cooking purposes, pound marigold petals. Or, crush with a spoon. Mix the salt, sugar and spices together. Scald milk with the marigolds and the vanilla bean. Remove the vanilla bean and add the slightly beaten yolks and dry ingredients. Cook on low heat. When the mixture coats a spoon, add rose water and cool. Top with whipped cream, garnish with fresh marigold petals.
2 cups milk
1 cup unsprayed marigold petals
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. sugar
1 to 2-inch piece vanilla bean
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. rose water
whipped cream
Using a clean mortar and pestle reserved for cooking purposes, pound marigold petals. Or, crush with a spoon. Mix the salt, sugar and spices together. Scald milk with the marigolds and the vanilla bean. Remove the vanilla bean and add the slightly beaten yolks and dry ingredients. Cook on low heat. When the mixture coats a spoon, add rose water and cool. Top with whipped cream, garnish with fresh marigold petals.
References:
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance
Mike Nichols, The Witches' Sabbats
Raven Grimassi, The Wiccan Mysteries
Janet & Stewart Farrar, A Witches' Bible
D.J. Conway, Celtic Magic
Silver RavenWolf, To Ride a Silver Broomstick
Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Henry I. Christ, Myths and Folklore
Cliffs Notes on Mythology
Also see:
Magic - Wheel of the Year - Imbolg - Vernal Equinox - Beltane - Summer Solstice - Lughnassadh - Autumnal Equinox - Samhain - Winter Solstice - Days of the Week - Elemental Correspondences - The Moon - The Sun - Altars and Ritual Tools - A Basic Spell - True Love Spell - Ideal Career Spell - Protection - Herbs and Oils for Protection - Symbolism - Colors
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