Beltane / Mayday | Herbs | Incense | Color | Decorations | Foods | | Honeysuckle, St. John's Wort, Hawthorn, All Flowers | Frankincense, Lilac, Rose | Green, Soft Pink, Blue, Yellow | Maypole, Strings of Beads or Flowers, Ribbons, Spring Flowers | Dairy, Oatmeal cakes, Cherries, Strawberries, Wine Punches, Green Salads | May 1: Beltane, also called May Day, is a Sabbat celebrating fertility and the union of the young Horned God and the Goddess. This is the time when life is beginning to renew itself. Animals are mating, plants are sprouting, and people celebrate! Huge fires are traditionally lit to honor the fertility God Belenos. Some people even leap the fires to show their excitement. Maypoles are erected, and bright ribbons are entwined around it. The Maypole is, in essence, a phallic symbol which represents the masculine penis. The soft, colorful ribbons represent the feminine (and I'm sure you can all figure out what aspect of the feminine this is ;-)). The union of the two symbolizes the union of the God and Goddess and the promise of rebirth. The God is conceived within the Goddess, and He will be reborn again at Yule. There is a legend that children conceived at Beltane were gifted by the gods. These children are known as Merry-Be-Gots |
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