Beltane is the last of the three sprin festivals. This is when people plants and animals prepare for the warm months ahead. IT is a time of love, union and the may pole. This sabbat can be tied to children and faeries. Just as at Samhain we honor the dead, now we celebrate all living things.

Just like at Samhain, now the veil between worlds is thin, but now it is the Fey or Faries that come forth to visit us. Though faries are not as one might imagin them to be. Most of you probably imagin tinker bell from the disney movie peter pan. To me and many other pagans, they fey are pewerful narutr spirits the help keep the magical energies. In Ireland they are called the Sidhe (pronounced Shee. And there their realm is a land called Tir n'a Nog (the land of youth). In Wales is was called Annwn (A-no-ven). In Britain, Avalon.

Usually by now the flowers are in bloom and most birds have settled into a nest.

The traditional colours of May Day are Red and White, bright blue, lavender, warm pink, lemon yellow. They are all representations of the season.

House decorations for this day could include: a large bowl of floating flowers and white floating candles, Baskets of fresh flowers picked before dawn and left on the front porch, laden the mantle with flowers and greens.
On your altar you might include branches from the hawthorne tree, or oak leaves and branches. The oak was sacred to Robin Hood. You might want to include pictures or carvings of the fir Folk (Fay). It was also custom to set out a bowl of milk for they fey. Don't worry if your cat drinks it. The cat may be a fay in disguise!

At Beltane the God is the Green Man. God of all growing, living things. He is the protector of all things wild, and the guardian of the forest. In many old Christian churches, you can find him carved on the pillars as decoration. One of his ancient names was Robin Hood. He lived under the Greenwood Tree.

The Diety Beltene is associated with the aspect of Spirit contact and the Rowna Moon. Also known as Beli (Welsh) he is the primary father God and husband of Don, fathre of Arianrhod. Some scholars cite his name as being the origin of the name for the Bealtaine Sabbat, though today most of his associations are deeply linked with Samhain.

Page last updated June 20, 2001.