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Celebrate Beltane With a Giant Pole
The maypole dance is a spring ritual long known to Western Europeans. Usually performed on May 1, which is Beltane, or May Day, the folk custom is done around a pole garnished with flowers and ribbon to symbolize a tree. Practiced for generations in countries such as Germany and England, this tradition dates back to the dances ancient people used to do around actual trees in hopes of harvesting a large crop. The pole was erected on the village green or common, or even a handy field—thrust into the ground either permanently or on a temporary basis—and brightly colored…
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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…
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Honoring the Green Man at Beltane
For our ancient ancestors, many spirits and deities were associated with nature, wildlife, and plant growth. After all, if you had just spent the winter starving and freezing, when spring arrived it was certainly time to give thanks to whatever spirits watched over your tribe. The spring season, particularly around Beltane, is typically tied to a number of pre-Christian nature spirits. Many of these are similar in origin and characteristics, but tend to vary based on region and language. In English folklore, few characters stand out as much–or are as recognizable–as the Green Man. Learn more about this ancient archetype here: The Green Man, Spirit of the Forest
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Celebrating Beltane with Kids
Every year, we talk about Beltane and fertility and the horned god and the warm earth and blah blah blah, and every year I get messages from parents who are like “My kid is four, do I really have to talk about the erect phallus of the god?” Well, nooooooo, of course not, because this is modern Paganism and you can celebrate anything you like in the way that best suits you and your family. A lot of people don’t focus on fertility for Beltane at all, because it excludes a lot of relationships, but that’s a conversation for a whole ‘nother post. So, what’s a Pagan parent to do,…
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Recipes for Your Beltane Celebrations
Beltane is a time to celebrate the fertility of the earth, and the return of spring blossoms and blooms. It’s a season of fire and passion, and when many of us honor the wild and lusty god of the forests. Beltane is a time for planting and sowing of seeds; again, the fertility theme appears. The buds and flowers of early May bring to mind the endless cycle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth that we see in the earth. Try one of these seven seasonally-appropriate recipes for your Beltane celebrations! Beltane Recipe Ideas
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Celebrate Beltane with a Maypole Dance!
The maypole dance is a spring ritual long known to Western Europeans. Usually performed on May 1, which is Beltane, or May Day, the folk custom is done around a pole garnished with flowers and ribbon to symbolize a tree. Practiced for generations in countries such as Germany and England, this tradition dates back to the dances ancient people used to do around actual trees in hopes of harvesting a large crop. The pole was erected on the village green or common, or even a handy field—thrust into the ground either permanently or on a temporary…
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Beltane is Coming!
Okay, y’all, I know I’ve been a bit slack on the blogging lately, but I’ve been super swamped with my Real Job plus family stuff and Life Things, but here I am, back and as sassy as ever. First and foremost, I wanted to let everyone know that if you’ve been following my About Paganism page on Facebook, you may have noticed a lack of activity since about March 4. That’s not because I’ve been busy, it’s because those rat bastards at Facebook disconnected my admin privileges, and I’m still trying to get them back. Trying to get in touch with a real live person in Tech Support at FB…
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Beltaine in the Forest: Money Magic & Financial Folklore
Join me at Beltaine in the Forest, near Charleston, WV, as we talk DOLLLAAAHHHHS! Money magic is one of the most popular forms of spellwork. If you’ve ever thought about adding a bit of extra scratch to your wallet, this workshop is designed for you! From mojo bags and knot magic to herbs, crystals, and charms, we’ll look at financial folklore from around the world, as well as show you how to bring money in without sending any out. Join me for a fun and interactive workshop that won’t cost you a thing! I’ll also have a booth, so feel free to stop by and pick up a copy of…
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Floralia: The Roman May Day Festival
The Romans had a celebration for just about everything. Certainly, any Roman deity worth their salt got a holiday of their own, and Flora was no exception. Because FLOWERS AND PROSTITUTES, y’all. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot in my heart for Flora. She was the goddess of spring flowers and vegetation, and one of many fertility goddesses. In fact, she was so well respected as a fertility deity that she was often seen as a the patron deity of Roman prostitutes. You guys, she was the goddess of sex workers! How cool is that? Flora’s holiday, the Floralia, originated around 235 b.c.e. It was believed that…
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The Hobby Horse Tradition
Beltane is in just another six weeks, and one of my favorite traditions of this time of year is that of the Hobby Horse–or, if you’re in Cornwall, England, the ‘obby ‘oss. In England, the hobby horse tradition goes back to the island’s early Pagan roots, as the hobby horse welcomes in the fertility season. Although the specific origins of the hobby horse rituals aren’t known for sure, imagine, if you will, early farmers going out to do their spring planting in the fields. Now, picture the phallic symbolism of the Maypole, around which all the villagers will be dancing on Beltane. Sticks and poles are about as phallic as…
