Beltane, celebrated at the start of Summer, is the Great Festival of Life. A time when Mama Gaia is at the height of her fertility. Read on to find out more about this ancient pagan fire festival!
Table of Contents
- INTRODUCTION
- WHEN IS BELTANE
- Sabbat Festival Dates
- THE MAYPOLE
- THE SACRED FIRES
- HANDFASTINGS
- THE GODDESS & GOD
- BELTANE ENERGY
- BELTANE SYMBOLS
- Crystals For Your Beltane Altar
- ACTIVITIES
Introduction

Beltane is a pagan festival on the Wheel of the Year, our annual calendar marking seasonal and solar waypoints.
Read more about what the Wheel of the Year is HERE.
Celebrated at the start of Summer, this ancient fire festival is known as the Great Festival of Life. A time when Mama Gaia is at the height of her fertility, and the Sun is growing in strength.
When Is Beltane?
Beltane happens at the start of Summer. It is midway between the Spring Equinox (Ostara) and the Summer Solstice (Litha). Here in the Southern Hemisphere, we celebrate Beltane on 31 October / 1 November. In the Northern Hemisphere, that’s 30 April / 1 May, and why Beltane later became known as ‘May Day’.
For more info on how and why Paganism and the Wheel of the Year differs between Northern and Southern Hemispheres read HERE.
SABBAT FESTIVAL DATES
DATE | SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE | NORTHERN HEMISPHERE |
1 May | Samhain | Beltaine |
20-23 June | Yule – Winter Solstice | Litha – Summer Solstice |
1 August | Imbolc | Lughnasadh / Lammas |
20-23 September | Ostara – Spring Equinox | Mabon – Autumn Equinox |
31 October | Beltaine | Samhain |
20-23 December | Litha – Summer Solstice | Yule – Winter Solstice |
1 February | Lughnasadh / Lammas | Imbolc |
20-23 March | Mabon – Autumn Equinox | Ostara – Spring Equinox |
The Maypole
‘May Day’ is famous for ‘Maypole dancing’, when ribbons would be tied around a pole and folk would dance around it, weaving the ribbons as they did so.
The weaving of the ribbons is symbolic of all the handfastings happening around this time, and the energies of Goddess and God, masculine and feminine, intertwining in union.
This practice comes from the earlier Beltane activity, where ribbons and strings would be tied to branches as wishes during this auspicious time.

The Sacred Fires
According to early mediaeval texts (for example, Sanas Cormaic and Tochmarc Emire), Druids would make two sacred fires in honour of the sun God “with great incantations”. Cattle and other livestock would then be driven through the smoke between the two fires, leading them out to pastures. The smoke from the sacred fires was believed to be protective and blessed.
People would also leap the flames as part of the festival, for protection and luck, as well as take some of the fire home via a burning stick, to relight their hearths with the sacred fire. The lighting of a community Beltane fire from which each hearth fire is then relit is still practised today in some parts of Ireland and Scotland.
The ashes from the fires would be daubed on their body and be spread out on the fields to ensure a good harvest.
The smoke from the fires would have fumigated the livestock, helping to rid them of any ticks and other parasites. And an annual application of ash on soil would improve the soil’s quality and fertility. So both of these practices held real practical benefits too.
Handfastings
Beltane is synonymous with romance, weddings, fertility and consummating love. Everyone is feeling the joy of warmer, longer days, fields are full of flowers, and fresh harvests are coming in from gardens. What a wonderful setting for the community to gather, light big bonfires, celebrate love and feast! So this is traditionally a very popular time for handfastings.
Handfastings are over 2,000 years old – and where the saying ‘tying the knot’ originates. As part of the ceremony, the couple’s hands would be tied together as a visual representation of the vows and the binding of the two lives. In some places, a Beltane handfasting initially was only binding for a year and a day. At the following Beltane they could choose whether to make the match permanent, or to part ways!

The Goddess and God
The name ‘Beltane’ comes from the Gaelic word “La Bealteinne”. Translated it means ‘the fires of Bel’, referring to the Celtic sun god Belenus. Belenus is also known as Bial and Beil, with differing records translating to ‘the fires of Bial’ or ‘Beil’ depending on the area and dialect. Belenus (/ Bial / Beil) means ‘Bright One’ or ‘Shining One’, and he was one of the most ancient and widely worshipped Celtic deities, associated with the sun, healing and protection.
In Wiccan theology, Beltane is when Goddess, in her form of Mother Earth, is wed to and becomes pregnant by the seed of God, in his form of the Green Man. This marriage and consummation reflects both the love and handfastings traditionally occurring at this time, as well as symbolically representing the fertile fields being planted with seeds of crops that we will harvest in the Summer and Autumn.
Beltane Energy
Themes: Fertility, creation, union
Beltane energy is about passion, fire, love, relationships, abundance, indulgence, creation.
It represents Divine Energy, God and Goddess within us as Creative Force.
Like Mama Gaia, we are brimming with fertile energy at this time of the Wheel.
What seeds are you planting now in the fertile soil of your Creative energy? What dreams, projects or ideas do you want to birth in the next turn of the Wheel? Spend some time visualising what this looks like.
Beltane seeks to remind us that within our bellies lies Creative Force – the spark of Divine Energy that courses through our bodies as life and seeds of new life. This is not limited to the physical creation of new life. It represents our ability to create in all ways. To build, to make, to invent – to be creative. Creation and creativity in all aspects are an expression of the sacred creative energy that is Divine Source energy within us.
How do you express creativity in your life? If you find creativity lacking in your life, how can you bring more creative time in? When was the last time you did something “arty”? Can you make time to do something, however small, to express your creativity in the next week?
Beltane Symbols
- Fire
- Yellow and white flowers
- Flower wreaths
- Cauldron (represents the womb of the Goddess)
- Crystal tower (represents God)
- Sun
- Seeds
- Ribbons and string
- Statues / candles of couples

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Crystals For Your Beltane Altar
Choose crystals that represent creativity and fertility, such as:
- Carnelian
- Red & Orange Calcite
- Fire Agate
- Citrine
- Red Jasper
- Strawberry Aventurine
- Garnet
- Ruby
- Red Hematite Quartz
- Zincite
- Jade
- Chrysoprase
- Emerald
- Moonstone






Activities
- Light a sacred bonfire (or two!)
- Weave ribbons to hang on a tree with a wish
- Dance! Feast! Be merry!
- Put out offerings of milk and honey for the nature spirits
- Offer libation (pour some of your drink on the ground) in honour of Great Spirit, and ask for a blessing on your crops (physical or symbolic)
- Make wreaths and garlands of yellow and white flowers to place on your heads, doorways, windows, pets. Traditionally primrose, rowan, hawthorn, gorse, hazel and marsh marigold were used, but use whatever is in season around you!
- Make a vision board of what you want to create/achieve/bring into reality over the next turn of the wheel
- Plant seeds!
Beltane Blessing ‘Am Beannachadh Bealltain‘
A traditional Scottish Gaelic song first recorded in the late 1800’s
Bless, O threefold true and bountiful, (Beannaich, a Thrianailt fhioir nach gann,)
Myself, my spouse, my children. (Mi fein, mo cheile agus mo chlann,)
My tender children and their beloved mother at their head, (Mo chlann mhaoth’s am mathair chaomh ‘n an ceann,)
Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession, (Gach ni na m’ fhardaich, no ta ‘na m’ shealbh)
Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn, (Gach buar is barr, gach tan is tealbh,)
From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve, (Bho Oidhche Shamhna chon Oidhche Bheallt,)
With goodly progress and gentle blessing, (Piseach maith, agus beannachd mallt)
From sea to sea, and every river mouth, (Bho mhuir, gu muir, agus bun gach allt)
From wave to wave, and base of waterfall. (Bho thonn gu tonn, agus bonn gach steallt.)
Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone,
Taking possession of all to me belonging.
Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest,
Protecting me in truth and honour.
Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones,
Blessing every thing and every one,
All my land and my surroundings.
Great Gods who create and bring life to all,
I ask for Your blessings on this day of fire.