Beltane... what's everyone doing?

[Romani Vixen]

So, I'm starting to think about what I want to be doing for Beltane. I'm probably going to be at an SCA event... so that's going to limmit things a little... not sure yet.

What's everyone else doing?

[OpheliaDrowns]

I haven't decided yet, tho I made a lil' doll for all my friends saying: 'Beltane Wishes'.

Does anyone have any recipes for Beltane?
Blessed Be
Sia

[Celtique]

Living in Montana, there aren't always a lot of recoursces for things like Beltane. I have yet to find and likeminded people amidst the college choas, but I'm sure they're there.

I'll merely be enjoying the lovely weather, and thanking that which provided it for me in my own solitary way. I hope you all have a wonderful celebration.

*warm smile*

[mucgwyrt]

Beltane's the summer solstice, yes?
I'm off to StoneHenge *glee*

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Macha, Bealtainn (sorry I spell it according to Gàidhlig - Scots Gaelic, not Irish) is not the summer solstice. The Solstice is in June, sometime around the 21st, I don't know the astrological date off the top of my head. Bealtainn falls on May 1. It is the opposite holiday to Samhain, and some say the veil between the worlds is just as thin. It presages the return of summer, whereas the Solstice is the height of summer.

But that's really cool you get to go to Stonehenge, I'm assuming for the Solstice? You'll have to tell us all about it when you get back.

[13thChylde]

I'll be carting my son and some of his friends around the zoo for his 9th birthday partay.

[mucgwyrt]

Macha, Bealtainn (sorry I spell it according to Gàidhlig - Scots Gaelic, not Irish) is not the summer solstice. The Solstice is in June, sometime around the 21st, I don't know the astrological date off the top of my head. Bealtainn falls on May 1. It is the opposite holiday to Samhain, and some say the veil between the worlds is just as thin. It presages the return of summer, whereas the Solstice is the height of summer.

But that's really cool you get to go to Stonehenge, I'm assuming for the Solstice? You'll have to tell us all about it when you get back.

Ahh, I always forget MayDay ;)

Yep, looking forward to it muchly :)
Hope to be there for sunrise!

edit: PS, I plan to go to the nearby Causewayed Enclosure, and maybe meditate; nothing too complicated.

[Morr]

Probably do something fun with the fae.. a small ritual for the Earth or something like that... Just to bond with mother nature... I might go to the beach and just chill there for a while to get the mother nature "vibe"... :lol:

[Kitfox]

Open circle ritual! We're gonna have a maypole and lots of food and perhaps some bonfire leaping. We're having a party from nine to midnight. We're having a ritual at midnight, I get to sing for it! So excited!

[AuroraSilvermist]

We always have a family ritual on sabbats, so I'm sure we'll do that. And I'm thinking of helping the kids make May baskets to surprise our neighbors with, just for fun.

Oh, and after the kiddies are asleep...have sex! What ELSE would we do to celebrate a sabbat like Beltane? :lol:

[luna rising]

I have a little chimnea (sp?), and I always take sticks and vines and wrap them into little wreaths - then I make scrolls with wishes and prayers written on them, stick them in the intertwined branches, and throw them into my little chimnea fire. Not very exciting, but when you are a solitary, you make do :)

[AuroraSilvermist]

I have a little chimnea (sp?), and I always take sticks and vines and wrap them into little wreaths - then I make scrolls with wishes and prayers written on them, stick them in the intertwined branches, and throw them into my little chimnea fire. Not very exciting, but when you are a solitary, you make do :)

Actually, I think that's a very cool and personal ritual! I'd like to try doing something like that, myself. :hugz:

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I was going to say the same thing. It sounds like a lovely ritual and great way to celebrate Bealtainne.

[Phae Talon]

This year my fiance and I are going to be spending the weekend camping :bouncysmi I am SO excited!

--Phae

[Rockprincess]

:fprtyman2 :woot: :bouncybob :fpartyfav :boing: :flowers: :thewave: I'm getting married!!!!!

[LunaPazFemme]

:fprtyman2 :woot: :bouncybob :fpartyfav :boing: :flowers: :thewave: I'm getting married!!!!!

Congradulations!! Many Blessings, and a long and happy marriage to you both!



Does anyone know if there is a calendar that has the Pagan holidays and the days they are celebrated on it? All of my calendars have Christian, Jewish or North American holidays on them. It's confusing for me, but with the book about the Sabbats that I just ordered, it think I will remember a little more. But I love to collect calendars anyway.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Llewellyn puts out a Pagan calendar every year. They also do a witches almanac, which is a spring to spring, that has all sorts of other stuff in it too. Check out their website, they should sell them there.

Here's the link for the almanac for ya:
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=J307

Actually here's a link to all their calendars and almanacs:
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/annuals.php

[DragonsChest]

Okay, please forgive this obviously ignorant question and one that is probably steeped in Hollywood hype: weren't the MayDay Queens burned at the Maypole during this time? And if by some small miracle I haven't been taken in by the movies, why would this be done?

Thanks for the education!

[blueiris]

Sorry don't know the answer to that Dragonchest...
I'm going on a band trip so I'm bringing music and twister so we'll have a blast on May 1st and then on May 5th, which I believe is the astrological day for it, I'm going to do a small ritual which will include dancing and singing!
I want to try to make a mini may-pole or something but I don't know how or where I would get the materials :sadeyes:

[AuroraSilvermist]

I agree, Llewellyn has nice Pagan calendars. You can also find a wonderful calendar online at School of the Seasons (http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/). I really love this site. Hopefully you'll find it useful, too. :D

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

DragonsChest, I can't say I've ever heard that before, but then I'm not an expert on Anglo-Saxon traditions, which the May Pole is.

And to answer your question blueiris, you should easily be able to purchase a long dowl rod at craft store like Michael's, Pat Catan's, or Joanne Fabrics. And the same goes for the ribbons. On the other hand you could just try looking for a long, straight branch in the wild that might suit your purposes. Maybe ask the fae folk to help you. Just don't use rowan.

[Shanti]

My hubby and I and the kids always:
Spend the day working outside, tending gardens, crops and such. So we are more intune to nature. Then we take a walk in the woods...more nature bonding.
Then when night comes...we have our annual bon fire and fire jumping and dancing and so forth. Celebrate new life and have fun. We dont drink alcahole but we drink juice from our own summac berrys we grow. and we eat whatever organic foods that we have available. We ask for blessings and give honor to our deities.

[DragonsChest]

My hubby and I and the kids always:
Spend the day working outside, tending gardens, crops and such. So we are more intune to nature. Then we take a walk in the woods...more nature bonding.
Then when night comes...we have our annual bon fire and fire jumping and dancing and so forth. Celebrate new life and have fun. We dont drink alcahole but we drink juice from our own summac berrys we grow. and we eat whatever organic foods that we have available. We ask for blessings and give honor to our deities.

Sounds life affirming and marvelous! Have a wonderful time!

[LunaPazFemme]

Llewellyn puts out a Pagan calendar every year. They also do a witches almanac, which is a spring to spring, that has all sorts of other stuff in it too. Check out their website, they should sell them there.

Here's the link for the almanac for ya:
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=J307

Actually here's a link to all their calendars and almanacs:
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/annuals.php


Much thanks!

[SilverClaw]

I am having my medival themed Handfastinf renewal and Beltane ritualk with my family and coven members. I am presnelty taking a break from sewing.....

[lunachic420]

Congradulations!! Many Blessings, and a long and happy marriage to you both!



Does anyone know if there is a calendar that has the Pagan holidays and the days they are celebrated on it? All of my calendars have Christian, Jewish or North American holidays on them. It's confusing for me, but with the book about the Sabbats that I just ordered, it think I will remember a little more. But I love to collect calendars anyway.


I highly recommend the We'Moon calender...it's actually an entire book calender and it's full of art and poetry and stories and photos by, for, and about women (we of the moon) the creatrix is Mother Tongue Ink and I've been collecting we'Moons since 1997. Gretchen Lawlor does the astrology...all of the planetary activity is listed for each day and the major hoildays have explanations and such...Shameless promotion, but I love it!!!
Blessed be and Namaste!

[Jenne]

My sis in law is giving a tea at the sea...and I'm giving a baby shower the next day...

I'll probably do a private rit and incorporate something Beltaney in the tea at the sea...lol I repeated that b/c I like how it sounds "tea at the sea"--K, it's late, I should go to bed! LOL

[Druchii]

So, I'm starting to think about what I want to be doing for Beltane. I'm probably going to be at an SCA event... so that's going to limmit things a little... not sure yet.

What's everyone else doing?
Wait you're in the SCA? What kingdom?

[mucgwyrt]

Okay, please forgive this obviously ignorant question and one that is probably steeped in Hollywood hype: weren't the MayDay Queens burned at the Maypole during this time? And if by some small miracle I haven't been taken in by the movies, why would this be done?

Thanks for the education!
I dont think so, may day is a traditional fertility festival, the may-pole being representative of a man's doodle. Young couples went off into the woods and copulated, as there was no shame in pregnancy outside of a marriage; all children were blessings. It doesn't seem like an appropriate time to burn people!

Saiorse; why not a Rowan pole? I read that the traditional poles were of Birch.

edit: however, you were supposed to make a garland for your hair in the morning from fresh flowers, and burn that at the end of the day to ensure fertility for the coming year - perhaps thats what you're thinking of?

[DragonsChest]

edit: however, you were supposed to make a garland for your hair in the morning from fresh flowers, and burn that at the end of the day to ensure fertility for the coming year - perhaps thats what you're thinking of?


Ah! That makes more sense. I must have been a victim of movie hype, because I know I saw Sunday afternoon tv movies like that back in the 70's. Yes! We had TV then! :hehehehe:

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Saiorse; why not a Rowan pole? I read that the traditional poles were of Birch.

The Rowan tree is sacred to the faeries, and it is said that to harm one is to anger them and bring illness upon yourself. This is especially true at Bealtainne as, this is when the fae folk really start coming out to play and are most active.

However, should you plant one near your house you will attract them and bring blessings upon all who dwell within.

Of course if you want to ward off faeries, (and witches!) then there are all sorts of things you can do, with the rowan, to keep them away. Crosses and rings, bound with red ribbon, were often used to protect livestock and humans from the fae folk.

[Cappy]

Geez I live in the Ottawa, Canada region, I looked, not too many rowan trees growing. What would you suggest as a substitute?

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Rowan is also known as mountain ash, try looking for those.

And I'm assuming you mean substitutes to attract faeries? Ash is the common substitute for rowan. However Hawthorn is also said to attract faeries.

[mucgwyrt]

Geez I live in the Ottawa, Canada region, I looked, not too many rowan trees growing. What would you suggest as a substitute?
I dont think Rowans are native to America, but there's an imported species which is very similar, American mountain Ash (as opposed to Europen Mountain Ash, aka the Rowan). It may have the same qualities.

[LadyTrinity]

:jamsessio :yayhawaii:

:fpartay: May 1st also happens to be my mother in laws birthday
:boquet: I will be celebrating it for Beltaine :fprtyman2


:havinapar

[Romani Vixen]

Wait you're in the SCA? What kingdom?
An Tir. Barony of Three Mountains.

I'm going to May Faire in Blatha an Oir... it's my 7 year SCA annivesary. :D

[Amethyst_Dream]

I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing for Beltane... :huh:

[belle27]

Just this past Beltane in our home (October 31/November 1 here), we made these little Maypoles with white and red ribbons hanging off the top, and we put two - one on either side - at the entrance to our home. We put one out in the back yard as well, in the centre of my circle. The fourth was skewered through the centre of the cake.

And the cake is my favorite part. When we were choosing a cake for my son's birthday he chose this delicious raspberry swirl cake. It's vanilla with raspberry swirl. There's white icing with raspberry swirls as well. It was my first choice for Beltane because the raspberry was such a nice blood red so it served well as blood and of course the vanilla symbolised semen.

We always decorate with bats and spiders and other halloween-y things and go trick-or-treating simply because the children wouldn't get any lollies in May. The reaction from half the residents here is poor (from refusing to answer the door to yelling at us and slamming the door) as it is, so that's why we combine the two.

We also make daisy chains from the new daisies, and decorate the edge of the circle with fresh flowers from the garden, bathing with the new rose petals and herbs, and we light a small fire near the maypole in the centre of the circle for the girls to jump through.

It's the second favorite time of the year, Yule being the first as we're very much Winter people.

[ainecrea]

Since this post has been brought back from the dead, a year from this Beltaine we will be getting married (-:

[iceskater12]

One of my younger sisters is getting iniated formally into the craft. She's pretty excited. :)

So we'll go out to a beach and a river, then she'll have her own private cermony sort of thing with my aunt and dad leading, although we'll see some of it most of it is between her and the spirit.

Then we'll all swim in the nearby lake, and picnic in the fields that are by it. Then at night the older kids and adults will do a traditional maypole. :clapping:

I don't know all the spefics yet though, we don't plan to far ahead in my family. :toofless: