Beltane is a fire festival and marks the beginning of summer and is named after the sun god Bel. Bonfires, known as balefires, were traditionally lit on hilltops to honour this god and were beacons to welcome and embrace the warmth of the sun and summer. Celts were known to drove their cattle through two sacred fires to protect them before sending them out to pasture as this was considered the ‘bel-tine’ – bright or luck time.

Meaning of Beltane: The beginning of summer, fertility and union.
Symbols: The maypole, flowers.
Herbs: Hawthorn, may blossom, lilacs.
Incense: Lilac, rose, vanilla.
Foods: Dairy foods, sweet foods such as egg custard, honey and oats.
Colours: Red, dark green and white.
Crystals: Bloodstone, emeralds, rose quartz and sapphires.
Ways to Celebrate: Joining in maypole dancing, taking time in nature to embrace the waking life and the smell of spring in the air, burning away the last of winter with bonfires, going a-maying: taking a walk through woodland at dusk and collecting fresh flowers.

This time of year is also given over to the Goddess Maia, who gives her name to May. At this time of year, men and women would dance around the maypole, an ancient symbol of fertility. Wishes would be imbued within the ribbons of the maypole where they would be left the come to fruition throughout the year.

As with Imbolc and Lughnasadh, Beltane see people visiting holy wells as part of the celebrations. They would pray for health while walking sunwise (clockwise) around the well and leave offerings such as strips of material that were dipped in the holy well known as clooties and/or coins. The first water drawn from the well at Beltane was considered especially potent, as with the morning dew. Water from the well or dew that was collected would be stored in glass jars in the sunlight, and later filtered; and was considered to increase sexual attractiveness, maintain youthfulness, and help with skin ailments.

Beltane stands opposite Samhain in the wheel of the year, and just as the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest at Samhain, so the worlds of the living and the fae are at their closest. People would takes steps to ward off or appease the fae folk, leaving gifts of food and milk at doorsteps or places associated with fairies.

In many cultures, people would visit trees such as hawthorn and birch which are closely associated to fairies. They would make a wish and affix a token of their wish to the tree. If you’re ever walking through the countryside and find a tree festooned in ribbons and charms, you’ve found such a tree.

How do you celebrate Beltane, or do you have any stories of this time of year? Get in touch and let me know

Original article: What is Beltane?.

When is Ostara? Between 20th – 23rd March
Meaning of Ostara: A time of rebirth and renewal, the return of light to the world.
Symbols: eggs, rabbits, spring flowers and seeds
Herbs: crocus, daffodils, jasmine, roses, strawberries, violets
Incense: jasmine, rose
Foods: eggs, honey, bread, seeds, green leafy vegetables
Colours: pastels, yellow, green, pink, blue
Crystals: rose quartz, aquamarine, jasper, moonstone
Ways to Celebrate: Bonfires, clearing away clutter and weeds, planting seeds, starting a new project, taking time out in nature to bathe in the emergence of spring.

As with Imbolc, this is a time of year for clearing out the old, the clutter and the weeds to make way for the new. As a time of equilibrium, self banishments would be done at this time of year to free oneself from anything that hindered their progress. Rituals and/or ceremonies to regain things that were lost, or to gain qualities would also be performed during Ostara. Seeds would be blessed for planting and eggs would be buried to encourage fertility.

Rabbits and hares are a symbol commonly associated with Ostara due to their connection with the earth and their virile fertility, especially during the spring. This is where the saying “mad as a March hare” comes from, and why Ostara/Eostre is commonly depicted with hares.

Eggs (and all seeds) are another common symbol for this time. They contain potential and are full with the promise of new life. Eggs are also the symbol for the whole universe in many traditions, containing the perfect balance between male and female, and light and dark within the yolk of the egg, and the egg white.

The ritual and painting of eggs during this time goes back throughout history and many different cultures. Decorated and engraved ostrich eggs have been found in Africa that are over 60,000 years old. 

Christianity later adopted the festival of Ostara and many of the symbols as their celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, Easter; staining eggs red was typically used among the early Christians in memory of the blood of Christ from his crucifixion.

Original article: What is Ostara?.

Date of Imbolc: 1st/2nd February
Meaning of Imbolc: purity, growth and renewal. The reunion of the god and the goddess, and of fertility. Dispensing of the old to make way for the new. The strengthening power of the sun and the return of light to the world.
Symbols: Besoms, Brigid’s crosses, Candles, Ploughs, Snowdrops.
Herbs: Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Heather, Iris, Myrrh. All white flowers.
Incense: Basil Bay, Cinnamon, Myrrh, Vanilla, Violet.
Foods of Imbolc: Pumpkin and sunflower seeds, poppy seed cakes, bread, dairy products, lamb, and food that had been stored over winter; smoked meats, dried fruits and nuts.
Colours: White, Pink, Yellow and Green
Crystals: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Onyx and Ruby.
Ways to celebrate: Candle lighting, walking in nature and looking for signs of spring, having a clear out and “spring clean”.

Imbolc, also referred to as St Brigid’s Day and “Candlemas” in the Christian calendar, falls midway between the winter solstice (Yule, 21st/22nd December) and the spring equinox (Ostara, 21st/22nd March). Imbolc was originally a pagan festival associated with Brigid, the pagan goddess of fertility. It is thought that the word “Imbolc” comes from the old Irish “i mbolc” which means “in the belly”, which was a reference to the pregnancy of ewes and brings the association with fertility. Another possibility is from the old Irish is “imb-fholc” which means “to wash/cleanse oneself”, referring to a ritual cleansing.

Traditionally, Brigid crosses were made from reed rush and a doll-like figure known as a Brídeóg (or Bridey Doll) would be taken from home to home as a physical representation of Brigid herself visiting their homes, for which this festival was about. Brigid was often invoked for the protection of the home and livestock, and to receive the goddess’ blessing, people would make up an extra bed for the goddess and leave her a meal and drink.

The festival of Imbolc is of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the returning light and early signs of spring. In the first few minutes after sunrise, people would light a fire or candle in each room of the house in honour of the sun’s returning power and the lengthening days. Celebrations often involved hearth-fires/bonfires, special feasts and divinations and watching for omens. Fire and purification are important aspects to Imbolc. People would clear out the old and the unwanted, de-cluttering both their homes in a ritualistic cleansing of the property and self.  This is where the term “spring cleaning” stems from.

People would visit holy wells as part of the celebration of Imbolc – as with Beltane and Lughnasa – and they would pray for health while walking clockwise around the well. They would leave offerings such as strips of material that were dipped in the holy well known as clooties and/or coins. This tradition with the offering of coins at wells is potentially the origin of what we know today as the “wishing well”.

Imbolc was a time for weather divination in particular. People would take walks and look for the first signs of spring such as snowdrops appearing while watching out for badgers and snakes coming out of their dens. Imbolc was also the time when the Cailleach – a divine hag, greater and weather deity in Gaelic mythology – would come out to gather her firewood for the rest of winter. If the Cailleach wishes to make winter last a good while longer, she will make the day of Imbolc be bright and sunny so she can spend more time gathering her firewood. Therefore, people were full of relief if the day was one of foul weather, as it meant the Cailleach was asleep and winter would soon come to an end.

How do you celebrate Imbolc/Candlemass? Are there any local folktales connected to this festival? Let me know in the comments!

Original article: What is Imbolc?.