Beltane

Beltane is a fertility Sabbat that celebrates life above all, honoring the life-force energy that emerges as spring reaches its mid-point. The fertile earth is abundant with her gifts and our senses are awakened with the joy of being alive.

The name Beltane means "Bright Fire" or "Sacred Fire" and great "balefires" were lit on May Eve
in the countrysides. Driving the livestock between two lit balefires as the blazes waned was a ritual for moving the cattle from their winter pastures to feast on the new green growth in the spring fields. These great bonfires would also mark a time of purification and transition, heralding in the season in the hope of a good harvest later in the year, and were accompanied with ritual acts to protect the people from any harm. Ashes from these Balefires were scattered over the fields to bless and protect them and infertile women would put some ashes in a bag and wear it around their necks.

Not only was Beltane observed in all of the Celtic Lands, but also in Europe, Scandinavia and even Russia. Beltane is celebrated on the first of May.

May is the month to celebrate womanhood, motherhood and the Goddesses. In Rome the followers of Flora, the Goddess of flowers focused heavily on the symbolic meaning of flowers. This knowledge spread across Europe and was nearly lost until it was revived by the Victorians who were very conscious of flower symbolism.

Flora

The Roman Goddess of spring and blossoming flowers whose name means flourishing one.

She rules over the flowering plants and fruits and protects vegetation from disease and rot.

She is considered to be a handmaiden to Ceres and also rules the blossoming of girls into womanhood. The Roman festival, Floralia, was a festival of theatric performances and games

to celebrate the return of spring.

Maia

Maia is the Greek Goddess of Spring. The Queen of the flowers. She embodies the forces of growth and brings the seasonal warming of the earth. She gave her name to the month of May.

She is the eldest of the Pleiades and the Mother of Hermes.

Happy Beltane to all!

Jai Mata Di