To those living in the Northern Hemisphere, I bid Beltane’s blessings to all who celebrate! As we approach the reach the middle of spring, the fast-moving energies of Divine Creation are buzzing about all around us. It is time to take these energies and transmute them to beautify ourselves inside and out. Today, I share with you not only the history of this sabbat, but how I observe and celebrate it on my own path as a Khthonic Wicca (which you can read about here).

History & Folklore

Coming from Gaelic ‘bealltainn’ (bright fire), Beltane (pronounced ‘bel-tain’) is one of the eight sabbats of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year which is inspired by the Celtic traditional festival of Beltaine and the Roman celebratory festival of Floralia. It may also be referred to as May Day in many modern celebrations. As it occurs during midspring – the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice – it is considered a Lesser Sabbat, though this does not imply that it is any less important than the four Greater Sabbats.

In Celtic regions, the flowering of the hawthorn trees signaled that the lighter half of the year had begun, and for agricultural people of the time, it meant that livestock were to be moved out into summer pastures for grazing. In Robert Graves’s The White Goddess, this is represented by the Oak King of the lighter half of the year overcoming the Holly King of the darker half of the year. In the earlier days of Beltaine, however, the celebrations may have been more closely connected to the worship of the Celtic god Belenus, a god of healing, sacred fountains, and a pastoral lifestyle, represented with symbols of bulls, horses, oak trees, and phallic imagery. While little is known about these very early rituals, we can surmise from this that celebrations pertained to cattle, crops, and fertility, as many early cultural festivals did.

The earliest mention of the festival from the medieval writings of King Cormac mac Cuilennáin of Munster, in which it was said that such a festival was held on May 1st to mark the beginning of summer. During this festival, the Druids of the time would light two ritual bonfires, speak various incantations and prayers, and pass cattle between these ritual bonfires. Another early mention by historian Geoffrey Keating expands upon this in suggesting that the ritual was meant to protect the cattle from disease or other external negative forces. It is in his writing that we hear of sacrifices to a god named Bel, which likely refers to Belenus.

As powerful symbols of protection, Beltaine bonfire would be kindled by way of friction via various regional tools, such as wheels and spindles, oak planks and wimbles, and green wood with axles. This type of fire is called a need-fire. This type of fire was considered so sacred that, in some areas of Scotland, it was thought that if a spark was not successfully created, it meant a member of the group attempting to kindle it was guilty of murder, theft, adultery, or some other heinous crime. With success, however, every aspect of the resulting fires were considered to grant protection and good health – the flames, the embers, the ashes, and even the smoke. In some Celtic regions, even hearth fires would be extinguished at this time to be relit with the flames from the communal bonfires. In other regions, beyond just cattle, people, as well, would pass between the fires, inviting the smoke to blow over them as they passed, and ashes would be collected and sprinkled over crops.

In the Scottish Highlands, special nine-knobbed oatmeal cakes would be made at the fireside. Each knob would then be broken off one-by-one and offered to the fire as a sacrifice in exchange for various relevant requests. In other traditions, another type of cake would be separated into a number of pieces equal to the number of the people gathered at the festival. One of the sections would then be marked with charcoal before tossing all of the separated sections into a bonnet and allowing everyone to blindly draw one section each. Whoever drew the marked section would then be dubbed the Cailleach Beal-tine, or the Old Lady of Beltaine, the victim of a lengthy mock-sacrifice ritual.

Besides sacred fires, it was also believed that the morning dew of Beltaine had the ability to preserve youth and enhance beauty. The dew would be collected in jars or hollowed stones. Young women would roll in it or anoint themselves with it. Holy wells were also sometimes visited, as the first water drawn from it on the morning of Beltaine was considered sacred. Those who visited the wells would walk clockwise around it to mimic the path of the sun and offer coins, cloth, or other small offerings in exchange for blessings.

Finally, as this was considered the first of two major in-betweens of the year, along with Samhain, it was thought that witches and the fae were particularly active and mischievous at this time of year. For protection, various regional rituals included offering food and drink, turning clothing inside out, carrying small pieces of iron, setting bushes on fire, and decorating spaces and cattle with flowers and foliage.

This brings us to Floralia, which was said by Ovid to be started at the founding of the Roman goddess Flora’s temple following a period of particularly bad drought per the advice of an oracle. This festival included games, performances, revelry, striptease, feasting, and dancing and promoted sexual liberty, pleasure, and wild abandon. Sexually active animals like hares and goats would be released and hunted to promote fertility. The crowds would be showered with beans, lupins, vetches, and medals engraved with obscene imagery.

As the influence of the Roman empire spread, Floralia gave way to May Day, when young men and women would run off into the woods on May Eve (sometimes engaging in various activities which were sexual in nature) and emerge the next morning with handfuls of flowers and foliage which brought good luck over their village. Children would make dolls from natural materials and dress it with flowers to parade across town or secure to garland or hoops. Young boys, specifically, made wands called May-gads from stripped white willow branches and cowslips. May Baskets would be filled with flowers, candies, and other small gifts and left at doorsteps as tokens of friendship and good will. Small trees were selected as May Bushes and decorated with flowers, ribbons, fabric, or painted shells. Similarly, the phallic Maypole would be constructed of a tall tree stripped of its branches and decorated with flowers and greenery, which would then be danced around to promote fertility. In the Victorian period, ribbons were implemented into this particular tradition. Due to the symbolism of fertility and the naturally frisky nature of this celebration, you’ll find that the modern-day Beltane is sometimes likened to a sort of Pagan Valentine’s Day and celebrated accordingly.

Other traditions include choosing a young woman as the May Queen, who would dress in flowers and make speeches, lead parades, or perform other festivity duties required of her. In some traditions, a May King would be chosen to accompany her. Theatrics like this were common across the board in May Day celebrations, as evidenced by mummers’ plays, personified battles of summer and winter, performances featuring figures like Robin Hood and Maid Marian, and the personification of a loud and drunk forest spirit called Jack in the Green. The childish nature of this time of year is exemplified further in the German Walpurgis Night in celebration of Saint Walpurga, which, in various regions, involved trick-or-treating.

Secular and non-secular festivals for Beltaine, Floralia, May Day, and Walpurgis Day are still held to this day as music festivals, parades, workshops, multi-day camping retreats, markets, wicker man burnings, and more all across the world with a heavy focus on sacred sexuality and unabashed personal freedom. As May 1st was chosen to be recognized as International Workers’ Day, a time to honor workers and stand up for workers’ rights, many modern celebrations of May Day also include activism related to such.

In Khthonic Wicca

In Persephone’s cyclical seasonal journey, Beltane marks the time when Persephone has reunited happily with her mother on the surface of Gaia, whom is thriving full of vibrant life. The air has also begun to fill with abundant solar energies, courtesy of Helios – with the assistance of Apollon, Hemera, and Aither – as he begins his dominant reign of the skies over the lighter half of the year.

In domain, Khloris can be honored as a parallel to Flora. Floral decoration and offerings are appropriate. We may also choose to honor Dionysos at this time of year for the untamed energy of revelry that is rampant at this time of year. This also seems appropriate, given the link between Dionysos and Zagreus, the son of Persephone, as the Goddess steps into her Mother aspect. It would also be appropriate to honor Hermes at this time of year, given his fast-moving energies and his own brand of untamed instinct which differs from that of Dionysos. This is perfect, as well, since he is honored during the month of May on the whole in this practice. As with every Khthonic Wiccan observance of the sabbat, we also take time during Imbolc to offer prayer to the Sacred Triad, to the Olympioi, and to the Protogenoi in accordance with seasonal shifts in energies.

As acts of service around this time of year, it is recommended to beautify your community with organic or otherwise environmentally-friendly décor, to rehabilitate and remove litter from natural spaces, and to help invite lonely folks into the company of others.

Sabbat Correspondences

As mentioned in the previous section, the best possible parallel for Flora on this particular path would be Khloris. For Belenus, however, this would instead be Apollon.

In Wicca, we reach the end of Divine Youth – the Maiden Goddess and the Youth God. The two figures are now joined in marriage and in love, and, and the Maiden Goddess becomes the Mother Goddess as she is impregnated by the Warrior God soon to reach the height of his power. Kosmos gives way to Existence. Gaia gives way to the Tangible. Courtesy of Persephone, Vibrant Life can now be seen everywhere you look.

Plants: Daisy, Dandelion, Rose, Hawthorn, Lemon
Minerals: Spirit Quartz, Citrine, Rose Quartz, Ruby, Copper
Colors: Red, Pink, Yellow, Green, Brown
Animals: Bee, Dove, Swan, Deer, Jackalope
Symbols: Maypole, Priapic Wand, Floral Garland, Fae Imagery, Hearts
Tarot: The Lovers, The Emperor, The Devil

Beltane Ritual Ideas

I will always recommend some sort of Maypole ritual around this time of year. It’s one of my favorite symbols of Beltane, as I find it to be such a beautiful representation of love, unity, and alchemical creation. In my practice, I prefer to use a miniaturized one, and, if possible, to stick it in the garden to symbolically help to maintain the love and connection between Persephone and Haides during their time apart. You may choose to sprinkle a blend of loving herbs around the Maypole once it’s in the ground in offering your own love and gratitude not only to Khthonic deities but also to the spirits of those who have passed on.

Of course, while out in the garden, it is also a great time to offer your prayers to the local and household fae living around you. If you don’t already have a small space serving as a little faery home, this, I think, is the perfect time to do so. Be sure to use natural materials that will not harm the environment. You may also choose to leave a little offering or libation to them in this space, as well.

Beltane is, of course, the optimal time for love workings. For those already in a relationship, this may mean spending some intentional, sensual time worshipping your partner and allowing your partner to worship you in return. You may like to pray to the Khthonic Triad, Aphrodite, and perhaps Hera over your union. If you are not in a relationship, this is a good time to do a little ideal partner attraction spell.

Finally, you may wish to make some small (or large, if that’s what you want) May Baskets with pastries, chocolates, flowers, or other small trinkets blessed with the intention of love or friendship to give out to your loved ones or to mark the beginning of new relationships.

Beltane Spread Ideas

A berry-forward spring salad is wonderful at this time of year, with my preference between strawberry and feta with a honey-sweetened vinegar dressing. This pairs well with pesto-drenched chicken paired with roasted tomatoes and peppers and a side of very sensually invigorating lemon garlic asparagus.

For dessert, a simple honey cake infused with the intention of sweetening your relationships is nice. I like to take some inspiration from Persian love cakes by adding rose syrup, rose petals, and pistachios.

You can also make what I would call “sun pies”, which are essentially lemon pudding filled hand pies blessed by Helios and enchanted with an energy of warmth and joy. For another element of the sun, you can make a sunshine-infused citronade of choice (also blessed by Helios). It may also be nice to offer prayer over these treats to Apollon, Hemera, and Aither, as well. You could even include these in your May Baskets!

For the fae, you can make faery cakes and faery wine. My preference for faery cakes are sugar cookies infused with extracts of lemon and vanilla, lightly glazed, and topped with violets (candied, for extra sweetness). For the wine, you can use a white wine base left to be infused for sometime with lemon slices and woodruff or vanilla bean.

For Your Reference

The Digital Grimoire provides a plethora of free resources on witchcraft, Khthonic Wicca, and more. As of today, a quick reference for Beltane has been added to the Sabbats subsection, available here on my website any time you should need it. Until my next article, have a very blessed Beltane!

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