Beltane Throughout the World

- In Russia, tradition requires that the bale-fires be lit at moonrise rather than at sundown on April 30th. They toss holly sprigs into the fire in deference to the Holly King who is soon to return.


- In Sweden, the balefire must be lit by two people striking flints together. This is symbolic of the sexual union of God and Goddess.



- In Norway, the balefires are called Balder's fires in honor of their own Sun God. Old brooms were often burned in the balefire and new ones which had been made during the winter were brought out and dedicated to their purpose.



- Germanic and Dianic covens celebrate Beltane as a Night of the Dead. Ancestors are asked to join them at the warmth of the fire much the same way we celebrate Samhain.



- In Germanic lands, Beltane was called Walpurgisnacht and takes it's name from a christianized Teutonic Earth Goddess Walburga. She was thought to marry the God on this night and become impregnated with her son/lover of Yule.




- In Slavic countries, young men go from home to home just before sundown, gathering items to fuel the balefire. If a person wished for healing, they would give the young men a wreath to toss into the flames.




- Scotland balefires had to be started from a 'need-fire' so called because it's sole purpose was to cook upon. The need-fire was the only non-ritual fire permitted to burn on Beltane Day.



- It is traditional in many lands for people to jump the balefire. It was jumped to bring a husband or wife, to ensure safe travels. Pregnant women even jumped it to ensure an easy delivery. Cattle were driven through the ashes of the fire or between two balefires to ensure a good milk yield.



- It is traditional to take home a piece of the Beltane bale-fire and start the first cookfire of the summer season with it. To use old fire was to invite bad luck, perhaps even bringing the winter back to stay. The tradition of taking part of the fire is that you must not ask for it, just take it. There was a strong taboo in Scotland and Ireland against giving away any portion of the Beltane fire. It was the belief of most Europeans that fairies could not make their own fires and had to get them from a human source. To achieve this, it was believed that the fairies came to the Beltane celebration disguised as humans and would ask for a part of the Beltane fire to take with them. If you gave them a piece, you would give the fairies a measure of power over you.

- In the Alps of Italy, young men who wish to publicly express their intentions to court a woman will climb the slopes and collect Edelweiss, the delicate white perennial herb. He would then return to the festival and present it to the young woman of his choice. If she accepted them in front of witnesses, the couple was as good as engaged.



- A Beltane custom in Ireland is that of 'skimming the wells' which consisted of going to the well of a neighbor who was prosperous and skimming the surface of the water to acquire his luck for yourself. Of course, you could always skim your own well which not only ensured a good butter yield for the year but also kept your neighbors from acquiring your luck for themselves.