In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken but it is rarely observed in that manner in modern times.

In the old Celtic times, young people would spend the entire night in the woods "A-Maying," and then dance around the phallic Maypole the next morning.

Older married couples were allowed to remove their wedding rings (and the restrictions they imply) for this one night. May morning is a magickal time for wild water (dew, flowing streams, and springs) which is collected and used to bathe in for beauty, or to drink for health.

The Christian religion had only a poor substitute for the life-affirming Maypole - namely, the death-affirming cross. Hence, in the Christian calendar, this was celebrated as 'Roodmas'. In Germany, it was the feast of Saint Walpurga, or 'Walpurgisnacht'.

An alternative date around May 5 (Old Beltane), when the sun reaches 15 degrees Taurus, is sometimes employed by Covens. (Both 'Lady Day' and 'Ostara' are names incorrectly assigned to this holiday by some modern traditions of Wicca.)

Think of the May pole as a focal point of the old English village rituals. Many people would rise at the first light of dawn to go outdoors and gather flowers and branches to decorate their homes.

Women traditionally would braid flowers into their hair. Men and women alike would decorate their bodies.

Beltane marks the return of vitality, of passion. Ancient Pagan traditions say that Beltane marks the emergence of the young God into manhood. Stirred by the energies at work in nature, he desires the Goddess.

They fall in love, lie among the grasses and blossoms, and unite. The Goddess becomes pregnant of the God.

To celebrate, a wedding feast, for the God and Goddess must be prepared. Let Them guide you! Breads and cereals are popular. Try oatmeal cakes or cookies sweetened with a dab of honey.

Dairy foods are again appropriate...just make a lovely wedding feast and you are sure to enjoy yourself! An early morning walk through a local park or forest could be fun for everyone. Gather up some plants or flowers to display in your home. Mom and daughter could braid their hair, and weave in a few tender blossoms.

Colors: Red, Green, White, Dark Yellow

Other Names: Beltaine, May Day, Walpurgisnacht, Walpurgiseve, May Eve, Rudemas, Celtic Summer.

Symbols: Eggs, Flowers, Chalice, May Pole, Butterchurn, Flower Chaplet, May Baskets.

Deities: Marriage/Sexual Union of Deities, All Mother Goddesses.

Activities: Wrapping the May Pole, The Great Rite, Gathering Flowers.

Taboos: Giving away fire, and giving away food.

Animals: Goats, Rabbits, Honey Bees.

Stones: Sapphire, Bloodstone.

Plants: Primrose, Cowslip, Hawthorn, Rose, Birch, Rosemary, Lilac.

Meaning: Union of God and Goddess, Sacred Marriage, All New Life, Fertility for ALL Living Things, End of Winter (Celtic).

Attunement Teas: (Individually or Blended) Burdock, Damiana, Hibiscus, Rose Hips, Saffron.

Ritual Oils: Passion Flower, Rose, Tuber Rose, Vanilla.

Goddesses: All Virgin Mother Goddesses, All Goddesses of Song and Dance, All Flower Goddesses, All Goddesses of the Hunt, All Fertility Goddesses, Aima (Hebraic), Aphrodite (Greek), Ariel (English), Artmis (Greek), Baubo (Greek), Blodewedd (Welsh), Chuang-Mu (Chinese), Cupra (Etruscan), Cybele (Greek), Damara (English), Devana (Slavic), Diana (Greek), Erzulie (Voodun), Fand (Manx-Irish), Flidais (Irish), Flora (Roman), Freya (Norse), Hilaria (Greek), Ilamatecuhtli (Aztec), Kaikibani (Polynesian), Lofn (Norse), Meilikki (Finnish), Perchta (Slavic), Prithbi (Hindu), Rainbow Snake (Aboriginal), Rhea (Cretean), Rhiannon (Welsh), Sarbanda (Shiela-na-gig Irish), Skadi (Teutonic), Tuulikki (Finnish), Var (Norse), Venus (Roman), Xochiquetzal (Aztec) .

Gods: All Gods of the Hunt, All Fertility Gods, All Gods of Love, All Young Father Gods, Arthur, King (Welsh-Cornish), Baal (Phoenician), Bel/Belanos (Celtic), Beltene (Irish-Scottish), Cernunnons (Greco-Celtic), Chores (Slavic), Cupid/Eros (Greco-Roman), Faunus (Roman), Frey (Norse), Herne (Greek), The Great Horned God (European), Lono (Polynesian), Manawyddan (Welsh), Odin (Norse), Orion (Grec-Arabic), Pan (Greek), Puck (English), Robin Goodfellow (English), Telipinu (Hittite).

Lore: Weaving and plaiting are traditional arts at this time of year, for the joining together of two substances to form a third is in the spirit of Beltane.

Food: Foods traditionally come from the dairy, and dishes such as marigold custard and vanilla ice cream are fine. Oatmeal cakes are also appropriate.