Home > Celtic Holidays > Articles > Beltane

Beltane
by W.Holidays

Beltane or Bealtaine is the Gaelic word for May.  It is celebrated on April 30 or May 1.  It was primarly an Irish festival; however, other Celtic cultures celebrated similar festivals.  Beltane signals the midpoint between the vernal equinox and summer solstice.  Beltane marks the beginning of the pastoral summer season when livestock was let out to the pastures for grazing.  Beltane developed into the more modern May Day.

Beltane is still observed in some areas of the Celtic nations.  It is also celebrated in various forms by Neopagans, Celtic Reconstructionist, and Wiccans.  It is celebrated on May 1 in the northern hemisphere and November 1 in the southern hemisphere.

Traditions and customs:

• Large bonfires were lit on Beltane'e Eve as a sign of purification and transition.  Cattle and people would pass between two huge bonfires to be purified.
• People hung May boughs on the doors and windows.
• A May Bush was raised in the yard.  It consisted of a blooming branch of rowan (mountain ash) or whitethorn  (hawthorn).  It was decorated with flowers, ribbons, garlands, and colored egg shells.
• As with Samhain (opposite of Beltaine), Beltane has otherworldly signs.

Don't forget to take a look at the food and crafts sections for more ways to celebrated.  Then look through the Celtic section of our Amazon store!