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05/01/2008: "May 1..."

The old Celtic name for May Day is Beltane, meaning 'bright fire' or 'lucky fire' and it is held on May 1st. It celebrates the start of summer, the crop and pasturing season. Beltane honors the ancient continental Celtic sun and healer God, Belenus.
Beltane festivities would begin days before May 1st. The villiagers would travel into the woods to gather nine sacred woods needed to build the Beltane bonfires. Each wood had a magical property. Birch was for the Goddess; Oak was for the God. Hazel was for knowledge and wisdom. Rowan was for life, and Hawthrone for Purity and fairy magic. The Willow was for death. Fir was for Birth and rebirth. Apple was for love and family and the Vine was for joy and happiness.Celebrations include weaving a web of life around the Maypole and leaping the Beltane fire for luck.