Beltane takes place on 1st May, exactly half way between the spring equinox and summer solstice. The word comes from the Old Irish, meaning ‘bright fire’, and the day is now often known as May Day.
Beltane marks the transition between spring and summer and celebrates the start of the light half of the year. It is the time of fertility.
In the cycle of day and night, this time of year is akin to mid-morning – when we are active and moving.
It is a time of enthusiasm, joy, vigorous growth, love, harmony, fertility and the fire of creation.
The Forest at Beltane
The forest is bathed in the fresh green light of the trees’ new leaves. Beech trees glow with new life, their luminous leaves haloed by fine downy hair. The great oaks wear their crowns of golden-green and their tiny catkins of flowers can be found amidst their leaves. The green trees rejoice in the sunshine, drinking in the light and breathing out fresh clean air for us all. The forest is alive, growing fast and strong. Bramble tendrils forge their vigorous way towards the light, growing visibly everyday as ferns silently unfurl. Birdsong fills the air with music and stories of the woodland. Fox cubs tumble and play.
A great enchantment has come once again to our ancient forests as the bluebells transform the woodland floor into a shimmering haze of purple-blue. The air is scented with their soft perfume and perhaps, if we listen carefully, we can hear the faeries’ bells tinkle. Walk gently through these forest bells of blue.
In forest, hedgerow, moor and meadow, the hawthorn, tree of May, shines bright with white blossom, scenting the wind. Beltane has arrived and we dance in celebration of the life and fertility of this green, green land.
Beltane Celebration
The Beltane Fire
Along with Samhain, Beltane is the most important of the Celtic fire festivals. For both festivals, bonfires were lit on the evening before. Livestock were driven between Beltane fires to burn off parasites, thus preventing disease.
You could light a Beltane fire on Beltane Eve. Dance and sing and jump over the fire to cleanse, purify and bring good luck for the growing season.
Traditionally, each family would receive some of the embers from the fire the next morning to light their own hearth fires and bring luck and prosperity. The ashes could be spread on the fields to fertilise them.
In the following Beltane celebration we make simple offerings to the fire followed by the time-honoured tradition of dancing the maypole around a nearby tree. This is a joyful expression of the dance of union that brings forth life. After the dance we return to the Beltane fire and leap over the flames, igniting our love for life.
This extract is taken from The Children’s Forest: Stories & songs, wild food, crafts & celebrations all year round by Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson and Helen d’Ascoli. Enjoy some of the songs of spring from The Children’s Forest on our YouTube channel.
The Children’s Forest: Stories & songs, wild food, crafts & celebrations all year round
Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson, Helen d’Ascoli
This book encourages children’s natural fascination with the forest and its inhabitants. The authors have produced an enchanting book where imagination, story and play bring alive the world of the forest. Read more…
