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Beltane, May Day and Floralia
A MAIDEN GATHERS WOOD for the Beltane fire and the Beltane/May Day celebrations are close at hand. The first day of May is celebrated to this day as a pre-Christian magical rite in some parts of England. They still dance around the maypole, an obvious and ancient phallic-fertility symbol. The pole represents the masculine and the ribbons represent the feminine, and the wrapping of the pole with the ribbons represents the union of the god and goddess. It once was one of England's most important festivals of the year. May Day and Beltane are very similar - they both celebrate new growth and fertility activated by the return of the fire of the Sun.
The Puritans banned May Day festivities in 1644, mainly out of outrage at the deflowering of local maidens, but the ban was short lived and the people were again doing what comes naturally. This could explain why it is one of the only Pagan observances not paved over by the Catholic Empire. The medieval church did however refer to it amongst their own as Rood mass and attempted to persuade the people to replace the Maypole (a symbol of fertility and life) with the Holy Rood (the cross - Roman instrument of cruel and torturous death). They didn't go for it of course. The power of human sexuality is just too powerful to suppress - just ask any priest!
Long before the observance of May Day, the much older Beltane - a fire festival - had gone on for centuries before. It is believed that both evolved from the even more ancient Roman celebration of Floralia (three days of unrestrained sexuality which began at sundown April 28th and reached a crescendo on May 1st), honoring the goddess Flora with singing, dancing and wearing flowers and colorful clothes. Flora was also the patron of prostitutes, so the Roman women of the night would openly offer their services at public ceremonies, sometimes even at gladiatorial events. Nowadays Indy 500 winners only get a kiss! Obviously, the girls couldn't find better advertising if they paid for it! As the Roman Empire spread to the British Isles, so did their traditions. When the Romans finally gave up and left, the locals kept the parts of the Roman culture they did like and Floralia likely evolved into May Day and Beltane. Also the Yule festivities in Ye Olde England closely resembled Roman Saturnalia with its overturn of discipline and crowning of a street urchin as the Lord of Misrule. The powerful clergy later had Yule/Christmas banned for awhile too.
Beltane and Samhain mark the two opposites of the ancient agricultural spectrum. Upon Beltane the flocks and herds were sent to summer pastures and at Samhain (or Hallowmas) they returned to winter quarters. The people were much closer to nature back then and the smell of new growth and blooming flowers, the moist earth and the dew on the ground must have sparked their libidos enough to join in the outdoor fertility rites. The cattle were passed between two bonfires. The bonfires were referred to as 'need-fires' and had healing properties. Unclothed revelers would also jump through the flames to be purified. In the cult classic "the Wicker Man" shocked Sgt. Howie proclaimed 'But they are naked!' Lord Summerisle replied, 'Naturally. It's much too dangerous to jump through the fire with your clothes on!'
Later that night……when the children were put to bed….. new brides and newly wed couples were expected to perform fertility rituals (blush!) by the light of the bonfires. With all that powerful aura about, it is not surprising that others, as well, went off in the nearby areas and performed their own rites. Lerner and Lowe said it in song in the musical "Camelot"….
"It's May! It's May! The lusty month of May!...
Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes,
Ev'ryone breaks.
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes!
The lusty month of May! "
In fact, it was even a common practice for unmarried couples to indulge in "greenwood marriages" at Beltane which in essence was a one year, no fault, free trial. If no child was conceived the deal was off by the next May. After all, back then if you had no male children the farming business was next to impossible.
Another more arcane Beltane ritual involved electing a 'scapegoat' or Foole, picked by lot. It was believed that any bad luck would befall the Foole, and the rest were safe. Nowadays it is believed that the Foole was never actually burned as a human sacrifice like in "the Wicker Man," this probably was a rumor started by Christian priest's attempting to condemn Beltane.
As water is also a sacred element of 'the olde ways' morning dew is considered magical at Beltane. Many British women to this day practice the tradition of rising at dawn to wash their faces in the morning dew. It is said to enhance their beauty and health and, with the right spell spoken, bring them a husband in the near future.
The Beltane/May Day celebration is simply a time of 'unashamed human sexuality and fertility.' Traditions include the obvious phallic symbolism of the Maypole and riding the hobby horse. The passage "to see a fine Lady on a white horse" from an old nursery rhyme speaks of the annual ride of 'Lady Godiva' though Coventry. Every year for nearly three hundred years, a sky-clad village maiden (elected Queen of the May) enacted this Pagan rite, until the Puritans used their political might to have it outlawed. Rudyard Kipling said in verse:
Oh, do not tell the Priest our plight,
Or he would call it a sin;
But we have been out in the woods all night,
A-conjuring Summer in!
Here in Florida (which means flowered in Latin languages) this most sensual of Pagan observances should be a biggie. May Day smacks of flowers and sexuality and Beltane, fire and sexuality. And the Sunshine state basks in the almighty fire of the Sun.
BELTANE: From the modern Irish Gaelic word Bealtaine, which means May, and from the Scottish Gaelic word Bealtuinn meaning May Day. Some believe this festival is named for the god Belenus, possibly traced back to Baal, the bible's only pagan god.
WHEN: Olde Beltane is official when the sun is 15 degrees Taurus on May 5, but since it is a purely Gaelic holiday the Welsh, Bretons, and Gauls (roughly modern day France and Belgium), did not celebrate it. According to the Celts, Beltane is May first and celebrations begin on sundown of the preceding day, April 30. The Celts measure their days from sundown to sundown. However, as with most Neo-Pagan sabats, celebrate it as close to the date as is practical.
Practicality is what I love about the Neo-Pagan mindset, and the blending of Beltane and May Day celebrates the ever evolving nature of this most non-dogmatic religion.
COUNTERPART - OPPOSITE: Samhain or Hallowmas.
RECCOMENDED VIEWING: "the Wicker Man"(Limited Edition), a suspense classic based around the days leading up to Beltane on an island known for 'keeping the old ways'. It is available on DVD from Amazon.com.
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Festival Quote: Are you SURE THAT is a dog? 
