Beltane what is it?

Beltane is a pagan festival that we should be celebrating in the southern hemisphere.

In Australia the retailers are pushing Halloween and I hate it.

Halloween, which as you know in the Northern Hemisphere is held on 31st October.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Halloween and all it stands for, but if we’re going to do something, can we at least do it right?!

In the southern hemisphere on 31st October we should be celebrating Beltane.

It’s a pagan festival just like Samhain (Halloween)

What the retailers can’t seem to get their head around is that pagans celebrate a season, not the date.

So, for those of you who do want to get it right …..

How do you pronounce Beltane?

Bel-tayne is the way it’s pronounced, nice and easy that one!

What does Beltane celebrate?

It’s a fire festival that celebrates fertility, bringing balance between male and female energies in our planet and life.

Doesn’t that make so much more sense to celebrate in SPRING???

Renewal, fertility, new ideas, new projects, life ….. where as Samhain is all about death ….

What’s the history behind Beltane?

Marriage is as simple as a couple joining together at Beltane according to Celtic traditions.

It was called a green marriage.  However if either partner wanted to end that union they could, one year and one day after as long as no children had been born.

How can I celebrate Beltane?

Weave fresh flowers in your hair, or wear a garland of fresh flowers if you’ve short hair like me.

Some favourite flowers for the goddess at this time of year are the ones with beautiful scent, like jasmine, gardenia and roses.

Bathe your face and eyes for beauty all year long in the dew on the grass!  (so they say!)

Interesting Beltane fact.

Did you know that the Church (grrr) banned the celebration and almost extinguished it in the 5th and 6th centuries when it took hold of the British Isles.

The church banned and then distorted the burning times of the 14th through to the 18th centuries trying to stamp out the sacred customs.

It’s purifying fires were never put out and is hidden amongst so many things and sayings of today.

Where Beltane influences your life

It has many disguises … referred to as spring fever, fires on the beach, flowers in the hair, summer holidays.

What animals, plants and crystals do I use for Beltane?

Honey bees, lambs and calves are the animals that represent this season.

Crystals are citrine, clear quartz, golden tiger’s eye, amber, topaz, sunstone.

Plants – all nuts and seeds anything that can grow and honey, strawberries, grapes, daffodils, roses

How do I prepare an altar for Beltane?

Glad you asked!

A green cloth, natural fibre like silk if possible.

Decorate it with green and white candles. And if you can wear a wreath in your hair. Use native plants such as gum, bottlebrush and wattle – let your imagination go wild!

Light your candles

Write down your wishes for the new season. Thanking the god and goddess for the new season and new energy.

Extinguish your candles.

Enjoy Beltane everyone!