A Pagan Family Holiday Celebration: Beltane

Beltane, also known as May Day, celebrated on or around May 1^st, is a glorious celebration of the transition from Spring to Summer. The light is now longer than the dark in each 24 hour period, and the Sun nourishes the Earth and all life on it with warmth.

Beltane is a fertility festival. Mythologically, the Goddess and the God unite on this day. With their sacred union, life is perpetuated, as the Goddess becomes pregnant with the Sun God who will be reborn at the Winter Solstice.

Try some of these great activities this Beltane season:

Celebrate the Union

Honor the God and Goddess by making offerings to hang on a tree outdoors as decorations in honor of the occasion. Flower wreaths, herbal sachets and ribbons make wonderful offerings for this season.

Weave Something

Their sacred union shows us the importance of balance, for neither can live without the other and together they become one. Weaving is very appropriate for this season, as in weaving, two or more things become one. Even if it's just braiding ribbon as you mentally chant your dreams (planting seeds of inspiration in your subconscious), try to engage in some craft that incorporates weaving.

Dance Around a May Pole

May Pole dances on May Day are a time honored tradition. If you can't put a pole into a ground to do a proper dance, try dancing around a sapling with your ribbons. Intertwine them as you weave over and under each other's ribbon, until they become short stubs that can be tied off. Chant, sing, or if some friends like drumming, have them drum as the dancers romp, chanting

Have a Picnic

Now that the dredges of Winter are behind you, take the opportunity to revel in the warmth and the light with a picnic. Foods made with flowers or seeds are excellent Beltain fair, as are fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits.

Build a Fire

Beltane is a fire festival, and building a balefire or campfire in the evening commemorates the season. If your fire is small, you might try to leap it, an ancient act believed to bring prosperity- but this can be a dangerous activity for young children. Still, if you feel compelled to give it a go, try building a much smaller fire in a heat-proof container and setting it down somewhere safe to leap (for safety purposes, adults should accompany children and a fire extinguisher or hose should be kept handy).