Beltane (Flickr.com)

Celebrate the Feast of Beltane in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man on May 1st. Beltane is a cross-quarter day, marking the midpoint in the Sun's progress between the spring equinox and summer solstice.  It marks the beginning of the pastoral summer season.  In Ireland, great bonfires celebrating Beltane marked a time of purification and transition. They were meant to usher the spirit of fertility to ensure a good harvest later in the year. These bonfires were accompanied with ritual acts to bring protection to the people from any harm by Otherworldly spirits.

A revived Beltane Fire Festival has been held every year since 1988 during the night of 30 April (May's Eve) on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, Scotland and attended by up to 15,000 people.  It receives academic support from the School of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh. The Beltane Fire Society, a registered charity which runs the festival, and all the performers are volunteers.

Beltane Fire - Loreena McKennitt

Beltane comes from the Gaelic culture and is widely observed by Neopagans, people who follow diverse modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by pre-Christian pagan beliefs of Europe.  The Druids, who were known to be members of the learned Celtic society and functioned as priests for the Celtic people, have been known to create a need-fire on top of a hill during Beltane and drive the village's cattle through the fires to purify them and bring luck.  Wiccans, a religious group who practice magic, are devoted to nature and ecology, and revere Gods and Goddesses, celebrate "High Beltaine" by enacting a ritual union of the May Lord and May Lady.

 Beltane by NaDobra Films

The Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, was influenced by Gaelic and Celtic cultures fro 400 AD to 700 AD.  It celebrates May Day, the Feast of Beltane, to this day.

 Beltane Narsilion

By Gina Alzate, who is also the National Intercultural Relationship Examiner and the Philadelphia Romance Examiner. She is a Travel Consultant and a Cruise Planner with World Tours and Cruises, specializing in Themed Cruises, Land Tours, Conferences and Workshops at Sea.  She also leads Divine Romance workshops with Holistic Life Designs.  For more information on holistic and metaphysical workshops Gina hosts and/or leads, contact her today.

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