Beltane

funny faces fruit snack

Beltane - a rich blend of history, ritual, religion, belief and tradition. Beltaine, May Day, Walpurgis, A-Maying, Fire Festival, Roodmas, Spring Sabbat: what do you call yours?
At the beginning of May the sun is re-born to warm the earth and it is the balance to Samhain (Halloween). As we bathe our faces in the morning dew on May Day, eternal youth will be ours, ha.

Historically Beltane is for spring-cleaning: to burn the winter bedding and lead the cattle outside, passing them through the smoke to cleanse and purify while killing off the lice and fleas. Feeling the warm air on skin that has been covered through the cold months leads to frolicking and pleasures of the flesh.

This is a time of revelry and celebration of love and fertility: to have survived the harsh winter months and to now look forward to abundance, in the fields and in the bellies of the creatures.  
The veil between worlds is thin like it is at Samhain but whereas then you’ll see spirits now is for the fae. We represent this by choosing a May or Fairy Queen and she is made even more beautiful with flowers and garlands. She, with her consort who is sometime referred to as the Stag Lord, resides over and may lead a dance or accept posies from children.

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