What was the Beltane Fire

A.� An intriguing question there from jayne b-t, answered by modge: 'Beltane is a Celtic festival, celebrated on the last day of April. It marked the end of winter and the beginning of summer. All house fires would be put out and the Beltane bonfire would be lit on a hill so it would be visible for miles.' The festival is now celebrated in some style in Edinburgh.< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

�

Q.� How

A.� It's described as a heady brew of drums, fire, theatre and pagan ritual on the top of Calton Hill in the city. Click on this site for more information about the celebrations: http://www.beltane.org/frames.htm

�

Q.� And what does Beltane mean

A.� Simple. The sun god is called Bel (or Belinos). Beltane are his fires. Beltane is also known as May Eve, Roodmas and Walpurgis Night. It celebrates the height of spring and the flowering of life. The goddess of spring is depicted as the May Queen and Flora. The god emerges as the May King and Jack-in-the-Green. Click here for a feature on the history of the Maypole.

�

Q.� And the fire idea came from

A.� Traditionally, sacred woods kindled by spark from flint or by friction, in Gaelic Beltane fire has been called teine eigin (fire from rubbing sticks). Many rituals were involved.

�

Q.� Such as

A.� You could jump over the Beltane Fire, move through it, or dance clockwise around it. Livestock was driven through it or between two fires for purification and fertility blessings. Druid priests kindled it at sacred places. Later, priests kindled it in fields near the church after performing a Christian church service. Rowan twigs were carried around the fire three times, then hung over hearths to bless homes. Purification customs included symbolic sacrifice of effigy knobs on the Beltane Cake (of barley) to the fire. Pagans now burn sacred wood and dried herbs as offerings in their Beltane fires. And as well as fire.

�

Q.� There's also water

A.� Spot on. You should get your head and hair wet in Beltane rain to bless the head; roll in May Eve dew or wash your face for health, luck and beauty. Blessings are also made on springs and ponds with flowers, garlands and ribbons. There were also other saucier rituals.

�

Q.� Saucy Ooh, do tell.

A.� Pagans now suggest you should bless your garden for the year by making love in it on May Eve. After that, welcome in the May at dawn with singing and dancing. Ensure, first, that you have understanding neighbours.

�

Q.� What are the other Celtic festivals

A.� The three other Celtic Quarter Days are Lunasadh, Samhainn and Imbolc. Lunasadh (20 August) was considered more a family celebration and a time of marriage. Samhainn, which falls on 31 October, modern-day Hallowe'en, is celebrated as the passage into winter. Imbolc (2 February) marks the first signs of spring, lambs being born and seeds germinating.

�

To ask another question about History & Myths, click here

�

By Steve Cunningham

�

�