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Beltain is a fire festival celebrated on May 1^st. It marks the midway point between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. Early Greek astronomers noted that the sun would rise at this point in the calendar into the constellation of Taurus, which contains the Pleiades also known as the Seven Sisters. The month of May is named after the eldest of the Seven Sisters ‘Maia’.

At Beltain the Earth Mother opens up to the God of fertility to create new life within the world. The May Queen and the Green Man are very strong archetypes of the power of nature and have been worshipped for centuries. The Earth Mother is the source of all creation with the Green Man being the seed from which raw energy is born.

The ritual of the Beltain bonfire has been performed by Druids for many centuries and was very much part of rural village life. May Queens would leap over the fire to increase fertility and bring luck to the people, animals and crops. Livestock would be driven between the fires to banish diseases, fleas and evil spirits. A merry dance would take place with all the townsfolk revelling in the lusty fervour evoked by the onset of longer, warmer days and the beauty all around. Flowers would be hung from doorways and windows to celebrate nature in all her brazen glory. Indeed, this is a time to celebrate the beauty and passion of life and to be carried away by the ecstasy of creation and the miracle that is existence.

Light your fire on the eve of Beltain and keep it going until sunset the following day. If you don’t have space for the traditional bonfire made from the wood of nine trees you can improvise with a brazier in the yard or by burning fragrant woods and resins indoors.

The ceremony of dancing around the maypole is still followed in many cultures around the world. The sheer symbolism of the pole is very masculine and the wreath is a representation of the divine feminine. The dance that ensues serves to intertwine the ribbons and unite the male and female energies into a powerful and invocative frenzy that fires the spirit, desire and strength that burns within us all.

Whether you are gathering may flowers from Hawthorn trees, dancing with Mummers around a maypole, collecting the sunrise dew for your Beltain potions or simply planting in the garden there is much to be enjoyed at this sacred time of year. 

Please see our special offers page to find our handmade offerings, which we hope will add a potent and passionate quality to your Beltain festivities.

The Nine Sacred Woods of Beltain

Alder * Ash * Birch * Hawthorn * Hazel * Holly * Oak * Rowan * Willow

Herbs For Beltain

*Clover*Elder Flower*Lemon Balm*Marigold*Meadowsweet*

*Oat Seed*Rosemary*St. Johns Wort*

*Dragon’s Blood*Frankincense*Benzoin*

Oils For Beltain

*Carnation*Cedarwood*Cypress*Frangipani*Hyacinth*Jasmine*Labdanum*

*Narcissus*Neroli*Palmarosa*Pine*Patchouli*Rose*Sandalwood*

*Tuberose*Vanilla*Ylang Ylang*

Dates For Your Calendar