FOLKLORE-L Archives

Archiver > FOLKLORE > 1998-06 > 0896933962


From: "Janice Walker" <>
Subject: [FOLKLORE-L] Beltaine
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 23:19:22 -0500




The festival of Beltaine, which literally means "Bel's fire"
(Beal-teinne) marks the beginning of the summer and the
light half of the Celtic year. Traditionally, all fires were
extinguished on the eve of Beltaine, to be re-lit from the
sacred 'needfire' kindled at dawn. The Celts were
predominantly pastoral people and Beltaine was the time
when the cattle were put out to their summer grazing on
the higher slopes. The cattle were driven through the sacred
Beltaine fires for purification. The sacred fire would also, it
was believed, bring protection, good fortune and fertility to
the people.

It was also the time when young Celtic warriors would put
their fighting skills to the test in the challenges of the Beltaine
Games. With the hard work of planting accomplished, it was
a time when the clans came together in celebration of the sun
and to hope that the crops would grow and flourish in the
months ahead.

Growth requires not just the fire of the sun, but also moisture.
The dew of Beltaine gathered before dawn was considered
particularly beneficial. People who were sprinkled with May
dew were assured of health, happiness, and in the case of
young women, beauty. All over Scotland young girls go out
on May morn to bathe their faces in the dew.

At Beltaine it was long believed by Highlanders that the fairies,
or Good People, were abroad. To combat their enchantments
(fairies were prone to stealing milk from cows, or even turning
it sour) rowan crosses were hung in byres, and domestic
animals were sprinkled with water from holy wells. It was
particularly important that no fire (kindling) should be given away
at this time - a survival of the Celtic festival when all hearth fires
were extinguished and could only be re-lit from the sacred
needfire..

from the Dalraida Celtic Heritage Trust

Janice

This thread: