No doubt they rose up early, to observe
The rite of May; and hearing our intent,
Came here in grace of our solemnity.
--MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
Beltane is a festival that is referred to as a Gaelic ceremony, it has been celebrated for thousands of years throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. In fact in Ireland, it supposedly marks the arrival of the Gaels on to Irish shores. It is exactly halfway to the celebration held on November 1st (or Oct 31st eve) called the Samhain.
In Irish mythology, the beginning the new season for the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians started at Bealtaine. It marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season when the herds of livestock were driven out to the summer pastures and mountain grazing lands, hillsides were lit with great bonfires; where people could burn their winter bedding and floor coverings, ready to be replaced afresh.
Great bonfires would mark a time of purification and transition, heralding in the season in the hope of a good harvest later in the year and were accompanied with ritual acts to protect the people from any harm by other worldly spirits, such as the Aos Sí. People would also pass between the smoke from the fires to purify themselves. Like the festival of Samhain, opposite Beltane on October 31 Beltane was also a time when the other world was seen as particularly close at hand.
Later accounts of Beltane festivities refer to a Beltane Cake, baked with eggs and barley. A special piece of this cake is referred to as the Beltane Carline, this spelt symbolic doom to whoever was unlucky enough to receive it. Once identified, the person with the Beltane Carline would be set upon by some of the others who would attempt to throw them on the fire. This would be prevented by the rest of the festival goers. The unlucky person would then be considered a symbolic sacrifice and referred as being dead for the rest of the evening (great party huh??).
Yes! the Summer is returning,
Warmer, brighter beams are burning
Golden mornings, purple evenings,
Come to glad the world once more.
Nature from her long sojourning
In the Winter-House of Mourning,
With the light of hope outpeeping,
From those eyes that late were weeping,
Cometh dancing o'er the waters
To our distant shore.
On the boughs the birds are singing,
Never idle,
For the bridal
Goes the frolic breeze a-ringing
All the green bells on the branches,
Which the soul of man doth hear;
Music-shaken,
It doth waken,
Half in hope, and half in fear,
And dons its festal garments for the Bridal of the Year!
By Denis MacCarthy
The rite of May; and hearing our intent,
Came here in grace of our solemnity.
--MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
Beltane is a festival that is referred to as a Gaelic ceremony, it has been celebrated for thousands of years throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. In fact in Ireland, it supposedly marks the arrival of the Gaels on to Irish shores. It is exactly halfway to the celebration held on November 1st (or Oct 31st eve) called the Samhain.
In Irish mythology, the beginning the new season for the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians started at Bealtaine. It marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season when the herds of livestock were driven out to the summer pastures and mountain grazing lands, hillsides were lit with great bonfires; where people could burn their winter bedding and floor coverings, ready to be replaced afresh.
Great bonfires would mark a time of purification and transition, heralding in the season in the hope of a good harvest later in the year and were accompanied with ritual acts to protect the people from any harm by other worldly spirits, such as the Aos Sí. People would also pass between the smoke from the fires to purify themselves. Like the festival of Samhain, opposite Beltane on October 31 Beltane was also a time when the other world was seen as particularly close at hand.
Later accounts of Beltane festivities refer to a Beltane Cake, baked with eggs and barley. A special piece of this cake is referred to as the Beltane Carline, this spelt symbolic doom to whoever was unlucky enough to receive it. Once identified, the person with the Beltane Carline would be set upon by some of the others who would attempt to throw them on the fire. This would be prevented by the rest of the festival goers. The unlucky person would then be considered a symbolic sacrifice and referred as being dead for the rest of the evening (great party huh??).
Yes! the Summer is returning,
Warmer, brighter beams are burning
Golden mornings, purple evenings,
Come to glad the world once more.
Nature from her long sojourning
In the Winter-House of Mourning,
With the light of hope outpeeping,
From those eyes that late were weeping,
Cometh dancing o'er the waters
To our distant shore.
On the boughs the birds are singing,
Never idle,
For the bridal
Goes the frolic breeze a-ringing
All the green bells on the branches,
Which the soul of man doth hear;
Music-shaken,
It doth waken,
Half in hope, and half in fear,
And dons its festal garments for the Bridal of the Year!
By Denis MacCarthy
2 comments:
Cool history. Thanks for enlightening us. I think we need to go have a bonfire on the beach now. :-)
I would be in my glory to just sit and watch that fire burn. We have small fire pit in the back yard and I love watching it..
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