Beltane, or May Day, is a Gaelic fire festival that marks the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. It is typically observed starting at sunset on the last day of April and continues until sunset on May 1st. Given our busy, contemporary lifestyles don’t feel pressured to observe this occasion on those exact days - remember it is about the transition of the season, and we can see and feel the effects of that change over the next few weeks. Find a day and time that works for you!

Some historians believe Beltane is an adaptation of the Roman festival Floralia, which was held at the end of April/early May, to honor Flora, the Goddess of fertility and spring. This is a time when spring is in full force for those in the Northern Hemisphere (in the Southern it would be autumn). Beltane celebrates fertility, renewal, and the awakening of the earth. It's a time for purification and protection, especially as this is believed to be a night when the veil between us and the spirit world is at its thinnest.

The word Beltane means “bright fire”. Fire was (and still is) an important symbol of transformation, renewal, and rebirth, reflected in the changes felt and seen within spring. One of Beltane’s traditions was for farmers to drive their cattle between two bonfires, symbolically purifying and protecting them from disease later in the summer months.

The holiday is largely centered around the theme of fertility. Makes sense - spring is full of life and abundance. Animals are nesting and flowers are blooming. The Maypole is a symbolic union of masculine and feminine energies, with a large pole being placed into a hole in the ground, and then decorated with fresh flowers and ribbons. This is a popular time of year for marriages and handfastings, when new couples celebrate their bond to each other. The backdrop of greenery and blooming flowers that spring provides only emphasizes the potential for their love to grow and flourish.

There are many ways to celebrate Beltane, some as simple as taking a walk outside to observe life unfolding as nature awakens. Other ways to celebrate can include:

Simmer pots with fresh flowers, citrus, and other ingredients to make your home smell beautiful
Protection magic through sigils, runes, or placing iron around your property or house
Bonfires
Divination, especially using Celtic Oghams
Using edible flowers in meals and baking
Setting up a spring or Beltane altar
Decorating yourself and your home with flower garlands, crowns, and wreaths

May Day/Beltane Tarot Spread

This is an excellent time to reflect on the themes of the season, and I’ve created a tarot spread to do just that. Each card position correlates to a word that is symbolic of this festival. You may have specific associations with each word depending on what is going on in your life right now, but I’ve provided some prompt questions to get you thinking about various ways to interpret the cards that you draw. Grab your favorite tarot or oracle deck, take a deep breath, and focus on each word as you pull your cards.