Beltane: May Eve

Beltane is celebrated on April 30 in the Northern Hemisphere, and on October 31 in the Southern Hemisphere, and is primarily a fire and fertility festival. The name, which means "Bel Fire," is derived from the Celtic God Bel (also known as Beli or Balor) whose name simply means "Lord." Beltane is also the time of the May Queen, when a young woman was chosen from the village to represent the Earth Goddess and reflect the transition from Maiden to Mother. This was also the time of the kindling of the need fire, when all fires in the village were extinguished and then ritually relit the following day.

Fertility was an important part of the Beltane celebrations. The principle symbol of this Sabbat is the May Pole (also known as the axis mundi) around which the universe revolved. The pole personified the masculine force, and the disk atop it depicted the receptive female. The seven coloured ribbons tied to the disk represented the seven colours of the rainbow.

Ritual Tools, Symbols and Decorations:

Altar decorations: Green altar cloth, green altar candles, vases filled with fresh flowers, small crown of fresh flowers, green pillar candle, wand tied with seven different coloured ribbons, chalice covered with green cloth, May wine, and ritual cakes. (To make May wine, add one cup of fresh, crushed woodruff leaves to a bottle of semi-sweet white wine and allow to sit for 30 days. Before serving, garnish with fresh orange and lemon slices.)

Plants and Herbs: Almond, belladonna, bluebells, clover, frankincense, marigold, meadowsweet, lily of the valley, rose, rowan, woodruff.

Oil: Mix lily of the valley and rose together for anointing, add a clover or bluebell to the master bottle.

Food: Woodruff wine, fresh strawberries, roasted pork, almond cake, salmon, green beans with almonds, mixed green salad, glazed game hens, oatmeal cakes, quiche.

Symbols: Maypole, the wand, crown of flowers, candles tied with seven different coloured ribbons, baskets of fresh flowers tied with coloured ribbon, branches of rowan tied with green ribbon, green candle in a cauldron, bonfires.

Information from 'Exploring Wicca' by Lady Sabrina

good stuff thats shewolf

 

 

what are we doing this year ....we havent had time to really sit down and talk about it

weve been invited by the blackcats and broomsticks people to a beltaine ritual and feast next saturday.

Wednesday for halloween , I dont know ... I have a blah for halloween this year I dont know why I just cant get into it  we are heading down your way though on wednesday instead of tuesday so we might just do a spur of the moment thing ...?