Some of my happiest childhood memories are those when I, and the other village children, skipped around a Maypole that had been erected on the green. The boys held red ribbons and the girls white ribbons and we weaved in and out to the melodic, pulsating beat of an accordion played by a village elder. The whole village turned out and there was a fete, folk dancing, food and ice-cream and we would be entertained by Morris Dancers, Punch and Judy and a fairground ride.
To the village children it was simply Mayday, a holiday from school and a day of fun. We were taught the dances, we enjoyed the music but no-one told us about the history or relevance of the celebration.
Beltane celebrates the coronation of Bel the Sun God and falls in May. Beltane means ‘the Fire of Bel’. To the ancients Beltane was an important time of year and it was celebrated with rites that can still be seen today. Beltane or Belteine is the last of the three spring fertility festivals and it is celebrated on the 1st May.
Mayday is celebrated throughout the world; each country and culture having its own unique rituals. It is no longer just a folk festival but it has also become a political festival with many countries adopting May 1st as their ‘Labour Day’. Here in Cornwall the Helston Floral or Furry dance is held annually on the 8th May and is the oldest recorded folk celebration surviving in the British Isles and Padstow is famous for it's Hobby Horse dance.
Mayday was a pivotal point in the ancient’s calendar as it was the start of the light half of the year. The vernal equinox (20th March) was seen as symbolising awakening, rebirth, change and regeneration. It was not just a time to plant seeds but also the time to plant new ideas. People emerged from theirhomes after the hard winter to renew acquaintances and to forge new friendships. It was the time for communal activities, sexual unions, play and joyfulness. Handfasting ceremonies would take place and young couples would ‘jump the broom’.
Mayday became synonymous with fertility and growth. The rituals that took place at this time of the year were both magickal and practical. The ancient Romans would worship Flora, the Goddess of Spring and Birth. She ruled over the flowers and plants, babies and all the Earth’s bounties. To protect their cattle from the plague the Druids would make two great bonfires and drive their herds between them, through the smoke, whilst chanting incantations to the God and Goddess asking for their protection and benevolence.
Fire festivals still take place around the UK. Newly born babies would be dedicated to the protection of Bel and prayers and incantations would be offered to ensure a good harvest later in the year.The prettiest girl in the village would be crowned May Queen and all the girls wore flower garlands in their hair. The young men and woman of the village would dance around the Maypole, a symbol of sexuality. The men held red ribbons that represented the God and the women white ribbons that represented the Goddess. As they danced round the pole the ribbons intertwined representing the sacred marriage, the union of the virile young God and ripe, fertile Goddess and village celebrations took the form of wedding feasts.
Early Christians would look to the angels Milkiel and Spugliguel the angels of springtime and Ambriel the angel of the month of May for their guidance and protection over the coming summer months. Facing the East, the direction of illumination and expansion, they would offer up prayers and positive affirmations.
You can utilise the waxing vibrational energy of Beltane by burning a rose or other pastel coloured candle. Place it in an Easterly position and send up your thoughts, chant your incantations, say your affirmations or write down your desires on a piece of white paper or card. Let the candle burn itself out. If you need to extinguish it before it has burned out then snuff the candle rather than blow it out, otherwise you will blow away its magyck.
However you choose to celebrate the coming of summer make it a joyous occasion. You could make a Beltane wreath using white and red blossoms, weaving red and white ribbons between them. Hang this on or near your front door. Make up a May basket filling it with flowers, food and goodwill for someone in need of help or healing. Add an extra Beltane dimension to your usual meditation by holding a clear quartz and a rose quartz in your left hand and burning an incense made and dedicated to the God and Goddess.
To Make a Beltane Incense:
Two parts Rose,
1 part Frankincense Resin,
1 part Musk Root or Sandalwood.
Copyright 2009
Member of Guild of Spiritual Workers info@amethysteye.co.uk
