The celebration of Beltane begins with the Walpurgis Night in the night before May 1 in the Northern Hemisphere and is one of the 8 Sabbath’s from the Wheel of the Year. It is the midpoint between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice and a much anticipated turn of the wheel because it is the promise of the rich abundance that we experience every year in summer.

It is also the beginning of summer in the Irish calendar. In the past there was not a set date when this festival started but it was - and in Irland still is said - that when the full moon is in full bloom with the hawthorn, the festivities began.

The origin of the word Beltane is not clear, but it could be derived from “bel” (radiant, shining, bright) and "tene" (fire) meaning something like “bright fire”.

Beltane also coincides with the time of the zodiac sign Taurus. So the energy behind that sabbath is really that we dance into May and approach the peak of light (Litha on June 21) of the year with a confident stride.

Nature is in full blossom now, many animals are seeking partners, birds are building beautifully shaped nests for their offspring and farmers are planting their fields in preparation of the abundant summer months and the rich harvest in late summer and autumn. So Beltane is a vibrant celebration of fertility!

But we have to look at the overall folklore to be able to understand that fascinating time of the year.

April 30, Walpurgis Night

The May festivities begin with Walpurgis Night - or in German known as Walpurgisnacht - The night that is known to be that of the spirits and also the wild night. It was the day where the energies were cleared with dancing, singing, laughter, lust and noise - to make space for what was about to come.

On Walpurgis night the marriage between the daughter of the earth - the flower goddess and the son of heaven - the sun god, which was also known as Bel or Belinos in Celtic - was celebrated.

And if you think about this holy reunion of the female and the male it makes sense: a flower can only thrive with the Sun. Its growth follows the sun as it moves across the sky - they are inseparable.

As opposite from Samhain on the Wheel of the Year, Beltane is associated with a “thinning of the veil”. And during winter I was wondering quite often, how happy the fairies would be once they wake up and can dance around their beloved flowers, and enjoy the warmth of the Sun. So it only makes sense that it is the perfect time to work with the fairies and the fae, to show them respect and your gratitude if you work with them and leave them some offerings.

Legend also has it that on Walpurgis Night, the witches got on their brooms and rode together to the Blocksberg. There they hold a big party and danced around the fire. Afterwards, the witches married the devil and, in return, they received a witch's mark and new magical powers from him.

The origin of this myth comes from secret gatherings. Priestesses and druids met there and used an ointment, a hallucinogenic paste, to connect and look into other spheres. So they only traveled through the dimensions in a figurative sense but from this the myth of the witch on the broom was created.

In our modern time, the Walpurgis Night is known to be a night of laughter, dancing and celebration.

May 1, Beltane

After the wild night, on May 1, the spring festival Beltane was celebrated. If you go for a walk in nature now, it is a beautiful sight of vibrant colors as nature bursts forth with elemental force and everything is in full blossom!

Folklore

Now let’s take a look at the folklore.

On Walpurgis Night it was common back in the day that the boys put a green twig in front of their girlfriends' house. Again, the Walpurgis Night was the wedding between the Flower Goddess and the Sun God and it was a festival of fertility.
May Bonfire
- It was customary to light two large fires on that night. This May Bonfire was lit to drive away "the evil spirits". And these fires had an immense meaning for the people back in the days. The fires were believed to have healing, protective, and cleansing properties and were important rays of light during these specific times of the year. People would gather around these fires and drive their cattle between the two fires, so the animals could be purified and protected from disease. And there is a tradition called "Maisprung" where two lovers would jump over the May bonfire together.
- If you think about the origin and Beltane being a festival of fertility, it makes sense that this sabbath embodies a wilder and more free even light-hearted energy than all the other sabbaths. In the past you were simply allowed to indulge your urges on this day. Lovers would make love in the forest nearby, once again, symbolizing the sacred marriage between heaven & earth, male and female. Because not only nature was supposed to blossom in the months to come. The ashes of the great fire were then reused: they were spread on the fields in the hope that they would have a fruitful effect.
There are a lot of sayings, so called Bauernregeln, in Germany for Beltane! Here is one of them:
“Ist die Hexennacht voll Regen, wird’s ein Jahr mit reichlich Segen.”
Translated it would mean something like:

„If the witches’ night is full of rain, it will be a year with plenty of blessings!“

6 symbols that are associated with Beltane

If you want to decorate your Altar or your home for Beltane, here are some symbols to use that represent Beltane:

Cuckoo: the cuckoo is deeply connected to the Walpurgis Night & Beltane because he announces the wedding between the flower goddess and the sun god (heaven & earth).

Horseshoe: the horseshoe is a sign of good luck & fertility. The Celts thought that when Odin rides with his horse over the soil, everything would be fertile and start to blossom. So it was good like to have horses running over your ground and finding a horseshoe.
Flower Wreath: A flower wreath is also perfect to use for your Beltane altar.
Fire / candle: The bonfire or the light of a candle represents the bonfire and therefore the transformative and purifying energy of Beltane.
Fertility: Everything that represents fertility, like seeds, flowers, honey, the color green, fertility goddesses, …