If you’ve been reading our content for a while, you probably know a few things about the solstices And equinoxes. These are the four “quarter days,” when the amount of light is either at its most extreme (the solstices) or equal to darkness (the equinoxes). But historically there have also been festivals that mark the midpoints between quarter days. The technical term for this? Quarterly days. And one of them is Beltane.
Beltane is a pagan holiday that takes place around April 30 or May 1. In the Northern Hemisphere, where this festival originated, it falls halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. This is the highest green season – the time when nature is most fertile and the earth is lush with life.
For reference, the other cross-quarter days are:
- Lughnasadhor Lammas, marks the beginning of harvest in the Northern Hemisphere (around August 1 or 2)
- Samhainor Halloween, which marks the end of the harvest in the Northern Hemisphere (around October 31 or November 1)
- Imbolcor Candlemas, marks the start of the sowing season in the Northern Hemisphere (around February 1 or 2)
Purification by fire
Beltane is a Celtic word that translates as ‘the fires of Bel’ – a reference to Belenus, the Celtic god of the sun. Historically, lighting ritual bonfires was the main way to communicate with Bel and request protection from catastrophes, diseases and supernatural afflictions in the coming year. Jumping over flames was also considered a method of spiritual purification. Over the centuries, revelers around the world – from Europe to the Caribbean – began stripping trees of their bark, decorating them with flowers and garlands, and dancing around these ‘maypoles’ to welcome spring.
In modern times, these celebrations tend to express joy at the return of warmth, comfort and abundant natural beauty. For some, that still means tying colorful ribbons to dried trees and prancing. But it can also mean leaving baskets of fragrant flowers on friends’ doorsteps, just because. And in Hawaii, it could mean offering leis to your loved ones for “Lei Day.” There are many ways to honor the revival of Earth’s organic vibrancy.
The ‘other’ day of the dead
Beltane is not just a festive appreciation of Mother Nature’s complementary power. It is thought that the last day of April, May evening, is a time when the veils are thin between the human world and the spirit world – similar to Samhain, or Halloween, the cross-quarter day at the other end of the year. This is a powerful time to hone your divination skills, communicate with your ancestors through rituals, or scatter primroses on your doorstep to ward off mischievous fairies.
Ultimately, Beltane is a festival to honor the balance between intentional activity and graceful receptivity. Seedlings must expend energy to burst open and drop their roots into the soil, but they must also be able to absorb the nutrients that support their flowering. Likewise, Beltane reminds us to welcome the inevitable return of spring, when new life arrives and breaks through the hardened crust of our inner and outer worlds.
Rituals to celebrate Beltane
- Weaving a flower crown or wreath, or pack a basket of flowers to offer to a friend. If you want to be kinder to your plant ingredients, you can whisper a festive “cheers” to your plant babies or marvel at nature’s bounty with genuine appreciation.
- To create your own miniature maypole by picking a twig or stick and decorating it festively. Sing about it, dance around it, or just silently praise it.
- To build a Beltane altar and pile it with lush reminders of nature’s fertility. Plants you love, bowls of blessed water, and even a handful of soil can be ceremonially activated if you scoop them out with the right focus. Spells to honor and protect nature – yours and the earth’s.
- Focus about what you want to grow, whether it’s a relationship, a project or a self-development goal. To write encouraging affirmations or prayers, imagine your dreams coming true, or surround your mood board with flowers.
- To make an offering to a loved one – or someone you want to honor – who has crossed over to the other side. You can light candles for them, or you can leave a bowl of water or food outside. Whatever you do, make sure it is pet safe and not something that will attract unwanted pests.
- Doing a ritual to communicate with your ancestors. The key is to have the intention to connect with them. If you wish, you can ask helpful spirits for advice on how to channel your vitality more effectively towards your goals and ambitions.
- Listen to one of the guided meditations in the CHANI app to attune to the opulence of Beltane. (The Abundance, Grounding, and/or Gratitude meditations would be particularly appropriate for this day.)
Do you want to know more about the signs in the zodiac? Click on the links below.
Ram | Taurus | Twin | Cancer | Lion | Virgin | Scale
Scorpion | Archer | Ibex | Aquarius | Fishing
Then download the CHANI app iOS or Android for extra lectures.
