Beltane is Coming!

Beltane is coming soon, and most of you know that it’s my second favorite holiday (Samhain for the win!), so I wanted to share some really cool stuff about this spring Sabbat. I know we’re all stuck inside, isolated right now, thanks to social distancing, but even if you’re not carousing and doing ritual with a hundred other people, it’s still valuable to get outdoors and look at the history of this significant celebration.

It’s a time of year when we’re celebrating the fertility of the earth, as the land returns to blossoms and blooms. The soil is beginning to warm, and the gardens are greening again. It’s like everything is coming back to life, after the long, cold winter months.

Festivities for Beltane typically begin on or near the last night of April and continue through May 1. Observed for centuries in Europe, this celebration is now embraced by most Pagans — we light bonfires, dance, and perform rituals to celebrate the season. There’s no shortage of ways to observe Beltane!

Beltane History

A variety of cultures have celebrated Beltane, or May Day, over the centuries. The ancient Romans observed Floralia, a celebration for their goddess of flowers, around this time. This is a period to honor the many deities associated with Beltane, such as gods of the forest, goddesses of passion and motherhood, and a number of agricultural deities around the world.

Beltane Magic

Beltane is a season of fertility and fire, and we often find this reflected in the magic of the season. Let’s look at some of that spring magic, from ritual sex to fertility magic, along with the magic found in gardens and nature.

Set Up A Beltane Altar

Set up an altar honoring the Beltane season using rich greens and colors reflecting the spring flowers. Incorporate a candle signifying the Beltane fire. Fertility symbols from nature, such as horns, seeds, and flowers, as well as a mother goddess symbol, can round out the altar.