Date: May 1
Other Names: May Day
Goddesses: Flora, Diana, Artemis,
Gods: Pan, The Green Man, Faunus
Colours: Red, White, Green, Yellow
Foods: Dairy food, Oats, Honey, Greens,
Herbs: Hawthorn, Primrose, Cowslip, Rose, Rosemary, Birch, Pine, Lilac
Incense: Rose, Lilac, Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, Yarrow, Basil, Camphor, Clove,
Oils: Rose, Lilac, Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, Yarrow, Basil, Camphor, Clove
Stones: Rose Quartz, Emerald, Sapphire, Bloodstone
Animals: Rabbit, Goat, Bee, Pegasus, Satyr
The God enters manhood at Beltane and the natural energies stir him. He falls in love with the Goddess and they unite amongst the grasses and blossoms, outside in nature. From this union the Goddess becomes pregnant and her fertility is celebrated by Pagans in ritual. This is a time for inhibitions to be cast aside and love to be cherished in the Great Rite.
May poles are a common sight on Beltane and their phallic symbolism is obvious. Flowers and greenery were collected and used to adorn people’s homes and each other. The plants represent the Goddess and the may pole represents the God.
Beltane has always been a time of vivacity, playfulness, passion and of love consummated. While the summer solstice is not quite yet at hand the warmth of summer is celebrated at this time. In times long past ‘greenwood marriages’ were fairly common where the young men and women of a village would spend a night in the forest and return, bringing flowers and garlands to decorate the village with, the women no longer virgins.