The Sabbat of Beltane

Beltane is a Major Sabbat. It is the opposite of Samhain, which has its focus in death. Beltane has its focus in life and fertility.

There are many misunderstandings about witches and our frankly sexual activities, and many of these misconceptions arise from Beltane.

Throughout this writing, you will see many unabashedly sexual references, and references to bodily functions relating to fertility.

If you find such things offensive or embarrassing, I apologize in advance. I would rather be honest about the symbology, even though my own Beltane celebrations are tame enough to hold in a public park.

But this Sabbat is not just about sex. There is a marriage taking place here, between the God and the Goddess.

If you are a solitaire, underage, or just not inclined to much sexuality in your worship, please feel free to focus just on the marital aspects.

Treat Beltane as if you were going to the wedding of some very dear and respected friends, if nothing else. :)

BELTANE (APRIL 30)

In Celtic tradition, the two greatest festivals of all are
Beltaine and Samhain- the beginning of Summer and the beginning of Winter. The original meaning Beltaine was "Bel-fire", Bel being the god of light and fire. The Celts were not very Solar oriented.

The Bel-fires were lit on the hilltops to symbolize the return of life and fertility to the world. Jumping over the fire, or, more practically walking between two Bel-fires brings fertility, good luck or wishes.

"But apart from-or rather, in amplification of- the enactment of the Goddess and God-King mysteries, Beltaine (for ordinary people) was a festival of unashamed human sexuality and fertility. Maypole, nuts and the `gown of green' were frank symbols of penis, testicles and the covering of a woman by a man.

Dancing around the maypole, hunting for nuts in the woods, `greenwood marriages' and staying up all night to watch the May sun rise, were unequivocal sexual activities, which is why the Puritans suppressed them with such pious horror. (Parliament made maypoles illegal in 1644, but they came back with the Restoration; in 1661 a 134-foot maypole was set up in the Strand.)" (WBC p.85-86)

Many of the surnames such as Hodson, Robinson, Jenkinson, Johnson, and Godkin owe their existence to some long-ago May Eve in the woods and a `greenwood marriage'.

A greenwood marriage was a night spent in sexual activity out in the local woods, fields, or anything other than a man-made structure (haystacks don't count!).

A Swedish tradition is to have two people, one male, one female, light the Balefire as a symbol of the union of God and Goddess. (Also gets the fire lit faster)

Let us not forget that this is the Sabbat celebrating the Marriage/Union of the Lord and Lady. Pick many of the traditional wedding festivities and you will find pagan roots you can use to celebrate.

SYMBOLISM

1. EMERGENCE OF YOUNG GOD INTO MANHOOD. THE GODDESS BECOMES PREGNANT BY THE GOD.

2. THE MAY POLE IS A PHALLIC SYMBOL OF THE GOD, AND THE CAULDRON THE SYMBOL OF THE GODDESS, ALONG WITH FLOWERS AND GREENERY.

3. BELTANE MARKS THE RETURN OF VITALITY, PASSION AND HOPES CONSUMMATED

B. THE ALTAR AND CIRCLE

1. IF POSSIBLE, CELEBRATE NEAR A LIVING TREE. EVEN A POTTED ONE BROUGHT INDOORS WILL DO. Okay, so it is your Norfolk pine or bay or ficus, who cares!

2. TOKENS OF THE SACRED MARRIAGE OF THE GOD AND GODDESS SHOULD BE HUNG IN THE TREE. BAGS FILLED WITH FRAGRANT FLOWERS, STRINGS OF BEADS, CARVINGS, FLOWER GARLANDS, ETC. There are always many bridal decorations available in any craft store.

3. FOODS- DAIRY FOODS, MARIGOLD CUSTARD (SEE RECIPES-FOOD "SOLITARY PRACTITIONER"), AND VANILLA ICE CREAM, OATMEAL CAKES. Puddings and pudding cakes, Trifle, asparagus dishes, Brussels sprouts, and spring lettuce salads add taste and texture.

Don't forget a big bowl of strawberries dipped in chocolate or a fruit dip! There are so many recipes in my BOS I literally could not possibly type them all. I recommend several books at the end of this to get started with.

Drinks are just as varied. Besides the May Wine, there is honey mead, fruit juices, teas, and champagne punches (just like the wedding stuff!)

4. CIRCLE AND ALTAR DECORATED WITH FLOWERS. Take a few minutes to use acrylic paints and stencils to create a flower-strewn scene on a white altar cloth, or, if you are REALLY ambitious or skilled with a needle, decorate a white altar cloth with white-on-white embroidery and lace.

A May basket filled with flowers is traditional, as are chaplets worn in the hair of all mothers. (In some covens, it is part of the ceremony to honor mothers in the circle by presenting them with chaplets and baskets of flowers.)

5. ALTAR CLOTH AND CANDLES SHOULD BE GRASS GREEN, SYMBOLIZING GROWTH. If you are using the white-on-white altar cloth, a green table scarf will do. Purchase or make flowered candle rings.

If you are planning to do a wedding theme, go to any good craft store and ask for wedding crafts. You will be amazed at what is possible with tulle, ribbons, beads, pearls and silk flowers! (And these can be used year after year!)

If you are planning on doing the May Day picnic theme, play it up a bit! Get a green-checked table cloth and have the cakes and ale in a picnic basket.

6. THE CAULDRON SHOULD BE IN THE NORTH QUADRANT FILLED WITH FIREWOOD. Remember that the balefire is very important at this time of year! Have two for walking in between or jump a balefire in a pit for prosperity and fertility. This is also good if you have disabled people or animals you wish blessed.

7. MAYPOLE IN EAST QUADRANT. Gross-grain ribbons come in a variety of bright colors and can be used from year-to-year. You will need several yards of each color. A good rule of thumb is at least 6 feet longer than your MayPole. Try to have one color of ribbon for each attendant. Attach the ribbons at the top with small brads.

Some traditions espouse red and white ribbons only in a rather graphic symbology of the loss of virginity. Not surprisingly, the men hold the red and the women the white!

Make Morris dancer bells for your feet by simply stringing bells (you can get them at the craft store too) on a ribbon and tying it around your ankles for lively music when you dance the May Pole.

8. There is a great Beltane Calendar craft idea in The Sabbats by Edain McCoy, ISBN# 1-56718-663-7. It is similar to the old Advent calendar used to keep excited kids busy until Yule, and these functions in much the same way.

C. RITUALS

1. CELEBRATE THE FERTILITY OF THE GODDESS, AND THE SEXUAL ACT THEY PERFORM, GETTING THE (EARTH) GODDESS PREGNANT (RIPE WITH CROPS). Any fertility rite will do, including sex. But don't forget to spread compost and other nutrients on the soil of your garden.

Also, menstruating females are traditionally asked to go out among the crops (your garden?) and, er, bleed politely on the ground. Blood is very good for the soil, but if you find this offensive, go buy bloodmeal from the garden center and spread it as an acceptable substitute.

2. DANCE THE MAYPOLE. A discreetly placed tape recorder with medieval dance music is appropriate. After the dance, admire the beautiful weave created. Each mistake in the weave is divinatory for the coven/family of trouble in the coming year. Count the knots and be prepared.

3. RISE AT DAWN TO GATHER FLOWERS AND GREENERY TO DECORATE THE MAYPOLE, HOMES AND SELVES.

In the Alps, a man would climb the dangerous Alps to gather eidlweiss to present to the lady of his choice. If she accepted the bouquet, they were considered as good as engaged.

Go ahead, wear that loud pin of a violet spray Aunt Mabel gave you that is too garish to wear with your mundane clothes.

4. WEAVING AND PLAITING ARE TRADITIONAL ARTS, TO SYMBOLIZE THE JOINING TOGETHER OF TWO SUBSTANCES TO FORM A THIRD. WEAVE WREATHS OF FLOWERS OR FOLIAGE TO BE WORN THEN USED AS AMULETS UNTIL MIDSUMMER WHEN THEY WILL BE ADDED TO THE FIRE.

Also, take a day to make an herb wreath of living greenery to decorate the outside of the home. Bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon sticks, a vine wreath and a glue gun are all that is needed. Decorate with a ribbon if desired.

A more complex herb wreath is made by taking wire forms and stuffing it with sphagnum moss, then tucking in herb seedlings. You just soak the moss very well before stuffing. Then keep the wreath well misted and hang it in a sunny location outside.

5. CROWN (EITHER OF FLOWERS OR A METAL CROWN) FOR MAY QUEEN. THERE ALSO A JACK OF THE GREEN CROWNED. This is usually the High Priest and High Priestess, but can be anyone elected by the coven.

This is easily accomplished by using florist's foam cut into the shape of a wreath, then tucking in flowers which have been put in tiny florist's vases. Most of this will be available at a craft store too. Save the foam and the vases for the next year.

6. SONG IN BUCKLAND'S "COMPLETE BOOK OF WITCHCRAFT" (Voice hears groans) Sorry, y'all. But it is pretty!

7. TIE A WHITE RIBBON AROUND THE BELTANE FIREWOOD YOU COLLECTED IN MARCH. ADORN WITH WHITE FLOWERS. WHITE IS THE COLOR OF THE GODDESS WHO IS BEING HONORED.

You didn't collect any? No problem. Just try to get good, dried deadfall from the woods or even (if you must) one of those pressed wood logs.

Heat and whip paraffin over a very low heat for a burnable glue to add herbs and flowers to the bundle.

Ribbon remnants are easy to acquire at local fabric shops. Skip the silk flowers, though, no matter how tempting. They stink when burned, ruining the effect.

Also, anything may be purified in the balefire. This is a good time to burn your old, worn out besom or pass through the smoke ritual tools, jewelry, heirlooms and anything that may need cleansing.

8. MAKE A MAY BOWL. PLACE A FEW BLOSSOMING SPRIGS OF SWEET WOODRUFF IN A GLASS PUNCH BOWL AND POUR OVER IT 2 BOTTLES OF WHITE WINE AND TWO BOTTLES OF STRAWBERRY WINE.

ADD A PINT OF HULLED AND WASHED FRESH STRAWBERRIES. ADD SUGAR/SWEETENER TO TASTE, IF NECESSARY. POUR LIBATIONS TO THE GODS. DRINK.

For the children, make strawberry kool-aid and add some strawberries to their punch. For a special addition, add strawberry ice cream.

Something special to do in advance of the Sabbat is to take the children strawberry picking. Not only will you have a great time for a cheap price, but you will have buckets of strawberries to freeze for treats throughout the summer and even into winter. Wash, hull, and pack the strawberries in sugar, then stuff in zippered freezer bags. (Yes, it is that easy!)

9. BLESS A NEARBY WATER SOURCE, SUCH AS A RIVER, SPRING, LAKE OR OCEAN. This can be as simple as tossing your Beltane chaplet in the water after ritual and giving appropriate thanks. Get as elaborate as you wish.

(May I recommend watching that old movie, The Ten Commandments, and noting how the Egyptian priests blessed the Nile?)

10. BECOME ONE WITH YOUR WORKING PARTNER, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY IF POSSIBLE. IN OTHER WORDS, PERFORM A PRIVATE GREAT RITE. I don't care (or need to know) if it is real or symbolic.

Just be aware that the days may be warm, but the nights may still be chilly, so be prepared with a blanket or use the comfort of your own bedroom.

RECIPES

1. Incense: 3 parts Frankincense, 2 parts Sandalwood, 1 part Benzoin, 1 part Cinnamon, a few drops Patchoulli essential oil. This makes an easy powder to throw on a charcoal block or on the balefire.

2. Ritual soap: Add Thyme and rose to an old knee-high stocking filled with those soap slivers you saved. The soap will tempt the fair folk into joining your celebrations, if it is possible.

3. Anointing oil: Add lily of the valley essential oil (no more than 8 drops to 1/8 cup good nut oil like peanut or safflower) and warm slightly. This will provide more than enough to anoint everyone in the circle.

4. Any chocolate recipe is great for Beltane, as is any oyster or other aphrodisiac food. Besides being a frankly sexual holiday, there is also Cinquo de Mayo in Mexico. Chocolate is traditional for that holiday.

I use and recommend Marcel Desaulniers's "Death by Chocolate" cookbooks. They include techniques and explanations to make your chocolate experience truly holy. (grin)

Don't forget to taste the thrill of the grill. If the weather and your situation are right for it, grill out! There are so many things to grill besides hot dogs and hamburgers, I urge you to experiment.

For a special and easy treat for the sensual and the kids, freeze green seedless grapes on a cookie sheet a day or two in advance. Feeding grapes to your working partner can be a great way to get the ball rolling.

As an adjunct to the above for the "I can't boil water without burning it" crowd, may I recommend the new sparkling grape jello products? Make the jello, and put it in your best champagne glasses for an elegant treat they'll think you slaved hours for, even if you just top it with Cool-Whip.

Another Beltane food is cherries. C'mon folks...this isn't hard. A can of cherry pie filling and a pre-made pie shell are all you need. Just follow directions. For the more ambitious, cherry parfaits are a sensual delight.

Bibliography

Besides my own BOS, (sorry!) here are the books I used as references.

A Victorian Grimoire by Patricia Telesco ISBN# 0-87542-784-7 This is the greatest book for references to the unusual and elegant things to do for any time of the year. This is also where the soap recipe can be found.

A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook by Patricia Telesco ISBN# 1-56718-707-2 I found over 20 recipes for Beltane alone before I gave up and decided just to reference this book to you! Each recipe has its own Sabbats and symbologies.

The Sabbats by Edain McCoy ISBN#1-56718-663-7 Great things to do for any and all Sabbats. Recipes here too!

Wheel of the Year by Pauline Campanelli. (Sorry, no ISBN#. My book is on loan) Also look into her "Ancient Ways" book too.

Death by Chocolate by Marcel Desaulnier ISBN#0-8478-15644-1. Actually, there is also a DbyC cookie book out. But this is the one that started it all.

These books alone will give you great celebrations for any Sabbat.