A Beltane Awakening
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When spring is in full swing and the nights are still cool, we celebrate the Celtic festival of love and fertility, Beltane. It is announced by the so-called Pink Moon - the full moon in April, as well as the Flower Moon in May. Like during the celebration of Samhain, the line between worlds is very thin. Fairies and goblins have a passion for entangling human destinies, and be careful they don't bewitch your milk and your bread won't rise.
The festival began the evening before, when shamans flew out into the world of gods and spirits and conversed with the spirits of nature, including the archaic god of fertility with horns or antlers. Young boys went into the forest to fetch the "maypole" – a birch in northern Europe, a fir (spruce) in the Alpine regions – and set it up in the village like a giant phallus. The trunk of the tree was peeled and its tip pierced a wreath of flowers entwined with red ribbons. It represented the union of the sun god with the "flower girl", the divine bride. The people, moved by the presence of the gods, danced ecstatically around the tree.
The girls went into the forest and built "Minneburgen" or "Chateaus d'amour" out of leaves and flowers, which were then stormed by the boys. Ritual acts of love were performed in the fields. Here and there, girls with exposed genitals slipped over "bridal stones" to become fertile or to wish for a lover. Each village chose a May bride and a young lad, who was often dressed in green leaves; they symbolized the divine bridal couple. In Scandinavia, the couple visited the individual farms and brought them blessings. If the young woman became pregnant during this time, it was considered a good omen.
For the Christian missionaries there was no doubt that this pagan activity was diabolical. They tried to put St. Walburga in place of the shameless goddess. Walburga (710-779 CE), a king's daughter from Wessex (England), was the niece of Boniface, the "Apostle of the Germans"; she became abbess of Heidenheim Abbey. However, the pagan festival could not be completely replaced by a Christian festival. Under the wings of the church, the maypole was still erected, bonfires were lit and dancing was done. The maypole was now considered the biblical "paradise tree". The festival even survived the Inquisition and is currently coming back to life.
Walpurgis night, which falls on April 30, was the time of lighting bonfires, named after the Celtic sun god Belen, and symbolized the dynamism of summer. Belenos had the gift of strength, fertility, bringing light and healing. All the fires in the houses were put out on this holiday and rekindled only from the Beltane fires. You might also turn off the heating then, so at least you know why. The Druids tied the nine sacred trees into a bundle and then set them on fire. People danced around the fires and had fun, the more able-bodied even jumped over them (don't try this at home). Through the smoke from the fire, they also drove cattle to be fertile and healthy. The warriors of ancient times indulged in plenty one last time before going into battle. Unfortunately, with the advent of Christianity, Walpurgis night acquired a bad connotation and was called "Hexennacht", meaning the night of witches, because they were said to fly on broomsticks to the witches' gathering, where they indulged in sin. In Germany, this night is still associated with masks and exuberant fun, which we would expect only on Halloween.
In the Anglo-Saxon tradition, the May celebrations were called "a-maying". The lovers got married with the goal of producing a child blessed with spring energy. If the only thing you know from May celebrations is the maypole, or a tall pole with ribbons, know that it symbolizes the phallus and the yoni, that is, the union of male and female energy. During the celebrations, the May Queen and May King were chosen and their hands were symbolically tied to mark the rebirth of the earth.
The Romans and Greeks celebrated Flora, the goddess of fertility, flowers and greenery, with a six-day feast, games and sacrifices of honey, wine and animals. They also celebrated Maia, the daughter of Faunus, who you probably know from fairy tales as a creature with a half-animal and half-human body.
And how do witches celebrate Beltane? They wash their face with the morning dew to make them even more beautiful than they are (honestly, I don't know an ugly witch, and now you know why), they light fires, whether real or symbolic, and tie colorful ribbons on the blooming hawthorn. Hawthorn blooms around the May 1st, and is associated with fertility in the folklore of many countries. In herbalism, it is used to treat heart diseases, and since heart disease is a major concern in today's world, be sure to go and collect its flowers. But be careful. You may be grabbed by the fairies, because they are very fond of these beautiful trees.
More ways to celebrate (inspired by Wendy Mata, Founder of Bruja Power Botanica):
Create a Beltane Altar: set up an altar filled with symbols of fertility and growth. Incorporate phallic and womb-like items, such as staffs or wreaths, alongside flowers and candles to represent the life-giving fires of the season.
Fires of Beltane: Safely light a Beltane fire to gather around and celebrate the season's warmth. Dance and sing if you wish. Light green candles to invoke abundance and prosperity.
Honor the Goddess and Feminine Energies: Connect with divine feminine archetypes and spirits by offering prayers and incantations to deities like Aphrodite, Artemis, Diana, Freya, and Venus. Pay tribute to the nurturing aspects of motherhood by celebrating your female ancestors.
Adorn Your Home with Flowers and Plants: Embrace the beauty of spring by decorating your home with vibrant floral arrangements.