Happy Beltaine/Samhain

[meridian_rose]

~Magickal Graphics~
The first of May is Beltaine, May Day, Calan Mei, and Walpurgis Night. It is a cross quarter day, falling between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. The UK public holiday May Day occurs on the first Monday of May each year – this year it won't be until the 7th.

Today it's raining heavily in my part of the world and not at all summery!

Beltaine/Beltane is believed to get it's name from "fire of Bel" or "bright fire and is named after the god Belenus.

Fire celebration and rituals are an important part of the Beltane festivities, to ensure that the warmth of the Sun's light brings successful growth to the crops. Other May rituals involve Maypole dancing and the Cornish festival in Padstow of the the 'Obby Oss.

There are particular notions of fertility around this festival – notably the young couples going 'maying' in the woods ;D It's also a good time to think about handfastings and renewing your vows, or renewing your spiritual pledge. Abundance and growth are key themes.

A traditional ritual involved two bonfires; cattle were driven through the smoke of the two fires in a purification/fertility rite. In ancient times all the homestead fires were lit from the Beltaine fire.
Folklore suggest you should wash your face in dew at sunrise on Beltane for beauty in the coming year. (Traditionally the dew from the hawthorn tree, but dew from grass and flowers will do.)
Correspondences include:
Goddesses: May Queen, Flora, Brigid, Aphrodite, Blodewedd, Erzulie, Baubo, Rhea, Venus, Prithvi, Artemis, Diana, Faunas, all fertility and love goddesses.
Gods: May King, Horned God, Herne, Pan, Green Man, Bel, Baal, all gods of the hunt/forest and love.
Food and drink: Strawberries, Cherries, Breads, Cereals (especially ones that contain oats), fruit salads, barley cakes, Wine, Mead, Milk, Ale, Apple Juice, Fruit Punch
Colours: Red, Green, White, Brown, Pink, rainbow colours. Some authors suggest pastels, others bright colours so go with your own traditions or gut feelings.
Stones/gems: Emerald, Malachite, Amber, Carnelian, Sapphire, Rose Quartz, yellow agate, bloodstone, lapis lazuli
Herbs and flowers: Belladona, Clover, Frankincense, Hawthorn, Ivy, Marigold, Orchid, Rose, broom, foxglove, honeysuckle, rowan, sorrel, hawthorn, lily of the valley, meadowsweet, mint, mugwort, thyme, bluebells, daisy, hawthorn, lilac, primrose, any fresh flowers for decoration

General: Maypoles, dancing, bonfires, anything that symbolises creative growth, 4 of wands, dawn, birdseed.

And if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, it's time for Samhain aka Halloween – though probably without the traditional commercial trappings since Halloween has become fixed to the October date. I am, of course, happy to be corrected on this matter. But still, I'm guessing, a time for divination, remembering your ancestors, and noticing the shorter days and longer nights of autumn.

Comments

[brontefanatic.livejournal.com]

I love your seasonal posts. I never stopped to think that the significance of May 1st was that it came half-way between the spring Equinox and the summer Solstice.

The weather here for the last 3 weeks has been miserable, too. It's been cloudy, cold, rainy and windy. It's also been the worst season for allergies in years. Everybody in our office feels miserable.

May is my favorite month, so I hope it starts getting sunny and warm soon.

[meridian_rose]

I love May too! But the weather is just not cooperating right now. Here's hoping summer arrives soon :D (and then we can complain it's too hot, lol)