A Family Guide to Celebrating the Pagan Sabbat Beltaine

Beltane

Beltane, a fertility festival, is the halfway point of spring, corresponding to the passage from puberty to adolescence. Derived from the Gaelic word for May – Bealtaine pronounced “b’YOLL-tinnuh”. It is the last of the spring fertility festivals and the time when all life plans for the warmer summer months. 

Amber K stated in her book Covencraft: Witchcraft for Three or More: 

It is one of the Great Sabbats, perhaps the most ancient,
recognized by the early pastoral peoples of Europe. In
celebrating the waxing of life, it stands directly opposite
the more somber sabbat of Samhain in the Wheel of the
Year, which explores the theme of death and beyond. 

Beltane is a festival to celebrate with lots of people. Have a party, invite family and friends – Pagan or not. Spring is in full swing, colors are alive everywhere, and for many places it’s time to put in gardens and crops. Handfastings (marriages) often take place on Beltane. 

The May Pole is erected and dances take place as participants weave brightly colored ribbons around the pole.
Dew is also collected from the grass and leaves on the morning of Beltane to be used in a blessing by wetting the hair and head with it. 

At this time the Young Lord and the Maiden consummate their relationship with the Great Rite. 

Although Beltane is mainly a fertility festival, families can include their children in their celebrations by focusing on the fertility of the land aspect instead of on sexual aspects. 

Any gardening that hasn’t been started yet should be done on this day. Gardens and crops should be blessed with offerings to ensure a good crop placed around the garden. 

The Roman holiday was known as Florialia a celebration for the flowers that would bare fruit.