April 2014 Beltane: A Festival of Fire and FertilityThe Wheel of the Year turns once more. Ostara, the Maiden Goddess, at Beltane yields to the May Queen and the celebration of life. Beltane, also known as May Day, begins at sundown on April 30. Triumph of Flora” by Tiepolo, circa 1743. Based on Ovid’s description of the Floralia. Wikimedia Beltane, an ancient Celtic festival of fire and fertility, may have evolved from the six-day Roman festival Floralia, which celebrated the goddess Flora and occurred on April 27 or 28. The Floralia commemorated the flowering of spring and included theatrical performances, and competitive games paid for by fines collected when public lands were encroached upon. Beltane in contrast, is primarily a fire and fertility festival, and is the last of the three spring fertility festivals, following Imbolc and Ostara. It marks the halfway point between the vernal (spring) equinox and the summer solstice. In ancient times, Beltane celebrated life, the end of the dark time of winter, the beginning of summer, and the virility of the Sun God, known during the festival as the May King or Green Man. On May Eve, Druids lit the Bel fires (bright fires, balefires) for luck and protection. Witches jumped the flames to fortify the protection spells. Cattle were driven between the balefires to safeguard the herd. Couples spent the night in the woods “A-Maying.” Married couples cavorted as well. They were allowed to remove their wedding rings, and for the night were free of the restrictions of marriage. Then on May Day, villagers danced the Maypole. The phallic-like pole represented the god; the rainbow ribbons, the goddess. As the dancers circled the Maypole, their entwining ribbons wrapped around the pole, signifying the joining of the god and goddess. Beltane Maypole Dance 2009Beltane Activities
April’s full moon is on April 15, 2014, 3:42 am, Eastern Daylight Time. At 3:46 am there will be a lunar eclipse. Watch my blog for details! http://www.ariellamoon.blogspot.com Picture credits:“Ostara” http://helena-nelson-reed.smugmug.com/Paintings/Goddess-Paintings/19503163_ZFNwbN#!i=1526990829&k=ZThjSSn “The Hare” by Ali Scott. http://ceredigionarttrail.org.uk/ali-scott-2013/ “Ostara Eggs” by Ariella Moon (with thanks to Rayne for her beautifully designed eggs.) “Hares by Moonlight” by Helen Lush. http://www.helenlush.com/lovebirdsandpoetry.htm |