Beltane is a Celtic word which means 'fires of Bel' (Bel was a Celtic deity). It is a fire festival that celebrates of the coming of summer and the fertility of the coming year.
Today Pagans believe that at Beltane the God (to whom the Goddess gave birth at the Winter Solstice) achieves the strength and maturity to Court and become Lover to the Goddess. So although what happens in the fields has lost its significance for most Pagans today, the creation of fertility is still an important issue.
Druids speak of the 'fertility of our personal creativity'.This is referring to the need for active and creative lives. We need fertile minds for our work, our families and our interests.
Although Beltane is the most overtly sexual festival, Pagans rarely use sex in their rituals, although rituals often imply sex and fertility.
These days the tradition of dancing round the Maypole to mark the start of the Summer is still very popular with Druids, Pagans and Christians alike.
The Community turns out to celebrate Beltane
Fires are lit at night and festivities carry on until dawn. Leaping over the Beltane fire brings good fortune, fertility of mind, body, spirit and happiness through the coming year.
Cattle were often passed between two fires and the properties of the flame and the smoke were to cleanse, purify and ensure the fertility of the herd.
Fire is still the most important element of most Beltane celebrations and there are many traditions associated with it. It is seen to have purifying qualities which cleanse and revitalise.
May 1st 2014
The town came together in the Market Place for the annual Beltane ceremony. Later, the Maypole was carried to the White Spring building and on to Bushy Coombe for the main ceremony.
Seen in this Video are:-
Lisa & Max Goodwin, Jon Cousins, Denise Michell, Sophie Knock, (of the Chalice Well) Lyn Lovell, Daygan and many other Townsfolk of Glastonbury and the lands beyond...
May 1st 2015
Pictured here Archdruid Dreow Bennett and The May King and Queen.
Celtic festivals tie in with the needs of the community and in spring time, at the beginning of the farming calendar, everybody is be hoping for a fruitful year for their families and fields.
BELTANE 2014 - ONE LOVE DANCE
A beautiful spontaneous circle dance at the Chalice Well Beltane ceremony in Glastonbury UK... Grandmother Drum played by Jana Runnalls & the Spiritsound Drummers.
Both songs can be found on Jana's website: http://www.spiritsound.net/products.html .
'
Deep into the Earth' is a song by Tarisha - http://www.tarisha.co.uk and 'One Circle, One Love' is by Kat Brown (who made this video). Please honour the writers of the songs!
Blessed be!
May Day 2015
Glastonbury - 7 days until the election!
We are the children of Robin Hood!
