BELTANE . .
	Beltane is the second Fire Festival, literally meaning "brilliant fire" or "Bel's fire" after Belanos, the Celtic Sun God. In ancient times, the pagans would dance around the fire to eliminate disease and misfortune from their crops that were growing. The fire was said to have great healing powers. This ritual in more modern times now sees pagans dancing around the maypole, which sybolizes the union of the Goddess and God. It is this day the Goddess falls pregnant, to give birth once again at Yule. The Sun God is now nearly at his full strength, and we see it everywhere. Pagans celebrate the regeneration of the life that comes with increased sunlight. It is a time for the planting of crops, a time of life and fertility. It marks the beginning of Summer, and the ancient Celts at this time would move their flocks up to the summer pastures. Beltane is celebrated by many on the 31st October (May 1st for our Northern Friends), and is more commonly known as May Day in the Northern parts. If you are gathering in larger groups, it is a lot easier to take it to the closest weekend. Beltane is also known as Walpurgis, which comes from Germany, where it is believed on this night that Witches would fly on their brooms to the mountains where they would gather and dance around the fires all night. The Christians renamed it Roodmas in the hope they could shift the pagans love of the maypoles (symbol of life) to that of the Holy Rood (Roman instrument of death) Like Samhain, which lies at the opposite end to Beltane, the veil between the worlds is thin. It is said that if you sit beneath a tree on this night, that the Queen of Fairys may ride by, looking for people to lure away. But if you hear the horses hoof beats, do not look, for if you do, she may very well choose you. Beltane is a time to rejoice in being alive, to give thanks to the Goddess for the life she gives. Braid your hair with flowers, paint your body, dance, laugh, sing, enjoy this night with your lover, celebrate the fertility of the harvest. It is said that if you leap the Beltane Fires with your lover, a child will be born in the following year. Herbes: Lilac, Rose, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Myrrh, Damania, Basil, Patchouli, Violet. Colours: Emerald Orange Carnelia Sapphire Rose Quartz Foods: Pork, Beef, Green vegtables, Wine, Tea Deities: Flora, Maia, Demeter, Danu, Bel, Balor, Pan, Cernunnos, Jack-in-the-Green. Symbols: Ribbons, Summer Flowers, Round Breads, Apples, Cattle, Bonfires, May Pole
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