Beltane
Beltane is the second most important festival in the pagan year, after Samhain, when the Goddess removes her robes as Maiden and takes on those of the Mother. The God casts aside the frivolity of youth and takes on the responsibility of becoming her consort. Beltane festivities often celebrate the marriage of the God and Goddess.
Beltane is an ancient fertility festival and children conceived at Beltane are considered especially blessed. It used to be that unattached young men and women would dress in green and seek a new partner during Beltane celebrations, often by spending the night in the woods - known as "Gathering the May" and is also the source of it being considered unlucky to bring May blossom into the home as it showed an unsuccessful preceding night!
Other forms of celebration might have included dancing round a Maypole and this is still continued in many parts of the UK, where it has been revived after Cromwell banned it in the 17th century.
In keeping with the general marriage theme, many pagan's will choose to celebrate their own wedding, or handfasting, around this time of year. Mead is often drunk.
Elderflower fritters make a delicious treat too. To make them - take elderflower heads, dip first in beaten egg and then in flower before lightly deep frying, then serve warm, lightly dusted with sugar and with cream.
Beltane has been traditionally celebrated when the May comes into blossom but since the introduction of our current calender system it has settled on to May 1st.
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Contributor's Note
Beltane Blessings!
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