Beltane is a traditional Pagan sabbat celebrated by many people today. It spans the night of April 31 (May Eve) and the day of May 1 (May Day). Other names include Roodmas and Walpurgisnacht. The many themes associated with Beltane can give you ideas for planning a ritual or gathering. Good books include Beltane: Springtime Rituals, Lore and Celebration and Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon. The Rites of Spring
Beltane marks the beginning of the “light half” of the year, when the days are long and bright and warm. This is the height of spring, bursting with flowers and the first new foods such as asparagus. As a seasonal celebration, Beltane is all about life busy with creation and full of exuberance.
Decorate the altar with seasonal flowers such as lilacs, hawthorn, and apple blossoms. Include images of animals associated with spring, such as robins and calves. Use spring colors such as green, yellow, sky blue, and lavender. Plan to hold your ritual outdoors if possible — but include a backup site indoors in case of rain.
Protection and Purification
Ancient Celtic tribes used to bring their cattle out of the winter barns at Beltane. Cattle were driven between two huge balefires for purification and protection, before they were released into the summer pastures. Other customs for purification involved birching and picking insecticidal herbs. This was also a popular time for spring cleaning.
To focus on this aspect of Beltane, host a work day for cleaning your covenstead or do some other collective project to clean and refresh your surroundings. Take a bath or sauna for purification. Build a pair of balefires (far enough apart for safety) and lead a line dance between them. Rue, tansy, pennyroyal, and other purifying herbs are appropriate.
Fire Festival
As mentioned above, balefires formed a major part of historic Beltane celebrations. Other fires in the community would be extinguished and relit from the balefires. People also celebrated the growing power of the sun. Belenos the Shining One was honored at this time.
Today, Beltane is often celebrated as a fire festival with bonfires, marshmallow and weiner roasts, burning effigies, fire dancers, and other excitement. Design your ritual around a bonfire; appoint a Fire Keeper to manage the fire and a Water Bearer to supervise safety. For an indoor ceremony, use masses of yellow candles. Thistle, dragon’s blood, hawthorn, and fireweed all relate to fire.
Courtship and Romance
Beltane was a time when young, single people could meet, flirt, and discover potential mates. Games of physical prowess and mental acuity allowed people to show off in front of others. Gifts of sweets and flowers were popular favors. Women would rise early to wash their faces in May morning dew for beauty.
A large Pagan community might benefit from hosting a singles event for Beltane. What better opportunity to meet other Pagans who are open to new relationships? Include icebreaker games, high-action contests, low-action contests, a dance, and some quiet interludes. Performances of love songs, love poems, and scenes from romantic plays are popular. It may be prudent to provide a basket of condoms in case of need. Sweet (rose, jasmine, ylang ylang) or sexy (musk, patchouli) incenses or oils are ideal.
Fertility Festival
As a fertility festival, Beltane encourages the crops to grow and the animals and people to produce new life. The famous May Pole is a phallic symbol and the dancing raises power. Flowers and romantic foods add to the mood.
For someone wishing to conceive, Beltane is an ideal time to hold a real old-time fertility ritual as May Queen and May King. (It’s okay if the choice of partners is a foregone conclusion.) Erect a May Pole and dance around it. Sweet woodruff, strawberries, and white wine or mead are traditional for Maybowl ingredients. Celebrate your bodies and their power. Body painting, purifying baths, and making love outdoors are all popular. Ideally, at least part of the activities should be done skyclad.
The Sacred Marriage
As above, so below: people associate Beltane with love and sexuality because it’s considered the time when the God and the Goddess come together in sacred marriage. The God may appear as Bel, Cernunnos, or Jack-in-the-Green. The Goddess may appear as Flora, Maia, or Danu. Sometimes their human representatives are chosen by lot, other times planned. People often dress up, including a masquerade and procession as part of the festivities.
This theme is especially appropriate for covens led by a High Priest and High Priestess who are married. Sometimes it is performed by a couple who are about to get married. They serve as human vessels for the God and the Goddess, in a symbolic (or in private, sometimes literal) performance of their divine union.
Spirits and Faeries
On certain nights, faeries and spirits roam the world. Beltane is one time famed for faery rades and the Wild Hunt. Ghosts and other spirits are also believed to travel freely on this night. Some practices were aimed at attracting these visitors, most at driving them away.
To celebrate the ethereal aspects of Beltane, consider creating a faery garden with plenty of things that sparkle and jingle, and plants beloved by faeries. The traditional faery color is green, but they adore most bright colors. Snapdragon, meadowsweet, hawthorn, and foxglove are good altar flowers.
To protect against unwanted entities, see the previous section on purification and protection; but also add that salt, iron, and the making of much noise are traditional for Beltane defenses. Plan for an indoor observance in this case.
Sweets evoke the sweetness of love. Fruit pastries and chocolates are popular. Honey is especially relevant because bees are associated with some Beltane themes, and its golden color suggests the Sun and Fire.
Spicy foods correspond to the element of Fire. Hot sauces, peppers, and curries raise the heat of passion too. Candied ginger combines the aspects of sweet and hot.
Aphrodisiacs and other romantic foods suit Beltane celebrations that have a sensual theme. Consider serving almonds, asparagus, bananas, figs, nutmeg, oysters, pineapple, strawberries, truffles, and vanilla.
Goats and cows are associated with Beltane, making good choices for the meat course. Bring out your barbecue grill for beef ribs or steaks. Goat meat, called chevon, works well in stews and curries.
Maybowl or May Wine is a flavored beverage customarily made for Beltane. Alcoholic versions use honey mead or white wine as the base; nonalcoholic versions use white grape juice, ginger ale, or other beverages. The key ingredient is sweet woodruff, strawberries are very common, and other herbs and fruits may be added for flavor.
Edible May Poles may be constructed of various foods. One year we had one made from a chocolate cake topped with green sprinkles, a peppermint stick, and licorice-whip ribbons.
Suggestive shapes can be found in nature, such as bananas, nuts, or papayas. Chocolate, jello, cookies, bread, and other goodies may be molded or cut to resemble favorite activities, body parts, or deities.
Colors: Green represents life, the growing plants, and the God; a bright primary green rather than a paler spring green. This is often combined with rich yellow or gold to stand for the sun. Red corresponds to the element of Fire.
Flowers: Pick whichever flowers are currently blooming in your area. The most traditional is hawthorn, sometimes called “the Blossoming May.” Other good choices include bluebell, cowslip, daisy, lilac, marigold, pansy, primrose, rose, violet, and sweet woodruff. Edible flowers are especially nice.
Incense: Beltane scents are wild and sensual. Lilac, rose, and passion flower are popular floral fragrances. Edible-smelling incenses such as cinnamon or vanilla are also good. Earthy ones include oakmoss and patchouli.
Altar Tools: Masculine symbols such as the athame and wand are prominent in Beltane rituals. If inclement weather prevents outdoor worship, candles or a brazier may substitute for a bonfire.
May Pole: The most famous aspect of Beltane is the May Pole, a tall post with ribbons fastened to the top. Dancers hold onto the ribbons as they circle the post in opposite directions, weaving the ribbons together. Often a crown of flowers is set atop the pole, descending as the ribbons are woven tight.
May Baskets: Historically, boys and men would rise early on May Day to gather baskets of flowers and sometimes sweets for the girls and women of their village. Every female is supposed to get a basket. This is a nice tradition for large groups or households.
Preparation: The altar is made from five log sections stacked together and draped with a cloth. It is set with four figurines to represent the four clans. Also on the altar are the materials needed for each of the elemental activities: a bowl of bubble rings for Air, tinder and incense (with magnesium starter to light it) for Fire, May dew for Water, and stones for Earth. Twigs of Oak, Ash, and Thorn stand in a vase to represent the Faery Triad.
Attendees should bring a small offering to hang on a tree, such as a tiny mirror, ribbon, cloth banner, or bell. Dress code for this ritual is white and/or silver for Sylphs, red/yellow for Salamanders, blue/violet for Undines, and green/brown for Gnomes; each attendee should wear the color of their favorite element. The four Callers each wear a glittering cape appropriate to their Quarter and clan.
West Caller: “Let the clans of the Fair Kingdoms be called!”
East Caller: “Eastern realms! Clan of the Sylphs, Spirits of the Air, of winds, clouds and sky; We summon you, lend of your playfulness. We invite you to our Beltane rite. Hail and welcome!”
All: “Hail and welcome!”
South Caller: “Southern realms! Clan of the Salamanders, Spirits of the Fire, of blazing heat and burning light; We summon you, lend of your passion. We invite you to our Beltane rite. Hail and welcome!”
All: “Hail and welcome!”
West Caller: “Western realms! Clan of the Undines, Spirits of the Water, of sea, river and raindrop; We summon you, lend of your beauty. We invite you to our Beltane rite. Hail and welcome!”
All: “Hail and welcome!”
North Caller: “Northern realms! Clan of the Gnomes, Spirits of the Earth, of the field, mountain and cave; We summon you, lend of your stamina. We invite you to our Beltane rite. Hail and welcome!”
All: “Hail and welcome!”
East Caller:Casts the circle.
North Caller:Leads the guided meditation:
“Close your eyes. Breathe deep and relax. Focus on the world around you. Feel the grass beneath your feet and the breeze against your cheeks. Feel the energy of this magical place. Breathe and relax. Let all your tension flow out of your body and down into the earth. You feel refreshed and alive.
Now awaken your subtle senses, The eyes and ears of your spirit. Become aware of the flowers And the grass. Notice how the sunlight Glimmers through the green canopy Of leaves overhead. With each breath you become More aware of the magical world. Look. Listen. Feel. Do you see a dancing mote of light, Or a shadow that moves on its own? Do you hear the flutter of wings, The chime of bells, or distant laughter? Do you feel tiny feet scampering Over your skin, or invisible fingers Plucking at your sleeves? Such signs as these indicate The presence of faeries. If you sense nothing, be patient, And reach inside for your younger self, Who remembers them well And can reintroduce you to faeries. If a faery makes itself known to you, Then greet it as a friend, and ask Whether it has a bit of wisdom to share. Finally, open your eyes, and remember That you can always return to this place Where the magic lives. For the faeries Can teach you many things – but Some things must be believed to be seen!”
East Caller: “I am the Speaker for the Sylphs. Within every butterfly flapping its wings, Every winter rose, every child’s laugh, The tinkle of a silvery bell, Beats the heart of a Sylph. They ride the breeze On saddles of thistledown Chasing the scent of lilacs. Frolicking within a drift of glimmering globes, We revive the child who lives inside.”
East Caller removes the cloth from the bowl of bubble-rings. She claims one ring for herself and blows bubbles with it. Then she distributes a ring to each attendee, and finally returns the bowl to the altar.
“May the wind always bring you whimsy and joy; May you never be far from the sound of laughter; And play like no one’s keeping score. In the name of the Sylphs, so mote it be!”
All: “So mote it be!”
South Caller: “I am the Speaker for the Salamanders. When you feel a flash of heat, See flames and dying embers dance, Or feel the charge of lightning in the air; When your heart races, your pulse quickens, Your passions grow; When inspiration sparks, And a flare of creativity lights your way, Know that Salamanders And brethren of the Fire Clan are near. Gaze into the flame And look them in the eye. Here you can learn The power of creation and destruction.
South Caller removes the cloth from the bowl of tinder and incense, and passes around incense cones to the attendees. Then he kindles the fire using flint and steel.
“May your passion always grow; May you always savor the spice of life; May the Eternal Flame always light your way. In the name of the Salamanders, so mote it be!”
All: “So mote it be!”
West Caller: “I am the Speaker for the Undines. When you see unexplained ripples in water Or tracks on frosted windows, when you hear Mysterious music along the shores, then You will know my kinsfolk are near. You may attract them with fountains, Glass fishing floats, seashells, or mirrors. Undines bring the gift of Beauty – not merely The beauty of the body, but of the spirit. Legend tells that the first dew of May Enhances loveliness, magical power, And the subtle sight. Behold!”
West Caller removes the cloth from the Water bowl, goes around the circle to sprinkle everyone with May dew, then returns the bowl to the altar.
“May your inner Beauty always show, May magic leap in your hands as a fountain, And may you see the unseen marvels of the world. In the name of the Undines, so mote it be!”
All: “So mote it be!”
North Caller: “I am the Speaker for the Gnomes. When you hear the sound of hidden hammers, See grass bend with no foot near, Or taste blackberries in bleak December, Know that the hands of Gnomes are hard at work. From oak above we gather strength; In the stone we make our homes below. We provide patience and endurance, Willpower and won’t. A well-kept house shall draw us in, And generosity bid us stay.”
North Caller removes the cloth from the bowl of stones and distributes one stone to each attendee. Then he returns the bowl to the altar.
“May the land be bountiful, May your health never fail, And may your Will be steel. In the name of the Gnomes, so mote it be!”
All: “So mote it be!”
West Caller: “On the altar stands a vase with sprigs of Oak, Ash, and Thorn. Legend tells that wherever you see these three trees growing together, they mark a place where faeries meet. Yet trees of all kinds are magical as well, each in their own way.
We have listened to the lore of the faeries, and now it is time to show our thanks. In many traditions, people leave gifts for the Faery Folk by tying small adornments to a tree. This is called ‘The Dressing of the Tree.’ Take now the offering you have brought with you and hang it from a tree somewhere around this meadow.” West Caller demonstrates by tying her offering to a tree. “Thus we give thanks for what we have received. Blessed be!”
All: “Blessed be!”
North Caller: “Northern realms! Land of the Gnomes, Spirits of the Earth, we thank you For lending of your stamina. Remember us always as your allies. Hail and farewell!”
All: “Hail and farewell!”
West Caller: “Western realms! Land of the Undines, Spirits of the Water, we thank you For lending of your beauty. Remember us always as your allies. Hail and farewell!”
All: “Hail and farewell!”
South Caller: “Southern realms! Land of the Salamanders, Spirits of the Fire, we thank you For lending of your passion. Remember us always as your allies. Hail and farewell!”
All: “Hail and farewell!”
East Caller: “Eastern realms! Land of the Sylphs, Spirits of the Air, we thank you For lending of your playfulness. Remember us always as your allies. Hail and farewell!”
All: “Hail and farewell!”
North Caller:Releases the circle.All: “Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!”
* * * Necessary Tools & Supplies
Altar cloth Five log sections for altar Figurines of a Sylph, Salamander, Undine, and Gnome Four elemental bowls Four cloths to cover bowls: white, red, blue, green Vase and water for twigs Oak, Ash, & Thorn twigs Bubble rings for Air Tinder, charcoal, and incense for Fire Magnesium lighter (and regular lighter for backup) May dew/Pagan holy water for Water Stones for Earth Bells, ribbons, cloth banners, tiny mirrors to dress the tree
Ritual for Beltane 2008
Background: This ritual was written by Sir Malachite, inspired by the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. The Greenhaven tradition acknowledges modern myths as well as historic ones. An advantage is that everyone is already familiar with the figures and imagery.
All participants turn deosil in their places to fact each direction as it is called in turn.
Caller for the East: I call to the great satellite dish of the East, and to the broadcast antennae that transmit all things for our viewing pleasure. In their name and by their power I ask that Tweety Bird stands watch over our circle, and provide us with some of his endurance – that like him, we may not only survive the endless trials that try to consume us, but that we thrive and maintain our joy and confidence throughout. So mote it be!
All: So mote it be!
Caller for the South: I call to the great power grid of the South, and to the spark of electricity that flows within it and activates our viewing screens. In their name and by their power I ask that Elmer Fudd stand watch over our circle, and provide us with some of his persistence – that like him, we may never be discouraged by repeated failures, but that we always find the drive to go out and continue hunting for our goals, day after day…after day…after day. So mote it be!
All: So mote it be!
Caller for the West: I call to the great flow of beverages in the West, and to the refreshments that they provide as we relax and watch our Looney Tunes. In their name and by their power I ask that Pepe LePew stand watch over our circle, and provide us with some of his romanticism – that like him, we may never be dismayed when our affections are not immediately returned, but that we continue to love, however unrequited, with our hearts ever optimistic. So mote it be!
All: So mote it be!
Caller for the North: I call to the great wealth of minerals to the North, and to the televisions, computer monitors, PSPs, DVD players, and iPod Nanos that are made wherefrom. In their name and by their power I ask that Bugs Bunny stand watch over our circle, and provide us with some of his resilience – that like him, we may not become too frustrated after taking a wrong turn at Albequerque, but will instead respond to the unexpected circumstances with flair, verve, and audacity. So mote it be!
All: So mote it be!
Cast circle.
High Priest plays musical invocation on recorder: The Merrie Melodies theme (a variation on "Merrily We Roll Along").
Starting with the Caller for the East, each person in turn (moving deosil from East Caller) names aloud a Looney Tunes character that they intend to use as a personal avatar – a character that embodies some aspect, either positive or negative, that the person feels could inspire an appropriate change in their life or behavior. Each individual describes what it is about their chosen character that they will try to emulate (or avoid), and why they feel this change is necessary. Once all have completed this task, energy is gathered and drawn from the collective group, and taken in to help power this personal transformation.
‘Cakes and Ale’ consists of Looney Tune Fruit Snacks, and homemade root beer from a Wile E. Coyoto mug serving as chalice.
Participants turn widdershins in their place to face each direction as it is called in turn.
Caller for the North: In the name of all viewing devices, and the minerals of the earth that make them possible, I thank Bugs Bunny for all we have learned from him, either in circle today or through hours spent enjoying his ‘toons. May “Eh…what’s up, doc?” continue to embody an endless curiosity. That’s all, folks!
All: That’s all, folks!
Caller for the West: In the name of all quenched thirsts, and the beverages that make that possible, I thank Pepe LePew for all we have learned from him, either in circle today or through hours spent enjoying his ‘toons. May “Come with me to zee Casbah” continue to encourage an endless chivalry. That’s all, folks!
All: That’s all, folks!
Caller for the South: In the name of electricity, and the wires through which it flows, I thank Elmer Fudd for all we have learned from him, either in circle today or through hours spent enjoying his ‘toons. May “Be very quiet…I’m hunting wabbits” continue to entice us along our endless quests. That’s all, folks!
All: That’s all, folks!
Caller for the East: In the name of the public airwaves, and the broacasts that occupy them, I thank Tweety Bird for all we have learned from him, either in circle today or through hours spent enjoying his ‘toons. May “I tawt I saw a puddy cat” continue to enable us to identify endless challenges. That’s all, folks!
All: That’s all, folks!
Participants release the collected energy upward (on a 3-count of swinging hands) to bring laughter to the rest of the world.
Everyone: Merry meet, merry part, and Merry Melodies again!
Ritual for Beltane 2013
Background: This year we designed a ritual from outline rather than script. We had a bonfire and tiki torches for light, as the ritual took place after sunset. We called the Three Realms from Celtic tradition, cast circle, danced around a Maypole, distributed cakes & ale, then did the releases.
Sir Malachite wrote a Maypole dance chant which we're sharing here. It's a simple call-and-response where the group only needs to learn one line to repeat; only the call lines are different in each verse.
Dancers chant, raise up the sound Dance the maypole, round and round
Voices echo and rebound Dance the maypole, round and round
May blessed rains come falling down Dance the maypole, round and round
Turning Earth to fertile ground Dance the maypole, round and round
Seeds are sown by ounce and pound Dance the maypole, round and round
Let the many crops abound Dance the maypole, round and round
Farm and field will feed the town Dance the maypole, round and round
Not a hungry soul be found Dance the maypole, round and round
Voices echo and rebound Dance the maypole, round and round
Dancers chant, raise up the sound Dance the maypole, round and round
Ritual for Beltane 2015
Background: This celebration is a fire festival. Before the ritual begins, set up wood for a bonfire. Around it place tall tiki torches at the four quarters. Another set of six tiki torches should form a firelit passage for people to dance through. Set the altar table with the cakes and ale, along with something to light the fire.
Calling the Quarters
Caller for the East: I call upon the East and the Fire that lives in Air, the starfire that shines beyond the atmosphere that shelters us. Join us in our ritual now; hail and well met!
All reply: Hail and well met!
Caller for the South: I call upon the South and the Fire that lives in Fire, the quick tongue of the balefire that cleanses with its blazing light. Join us in our ritual now; hail and well met!
All reply: Hail and well met!
Caller for the West: I call upon the West and the Fire that lives in Water, the bubbling cauldrons of hot springs which boil away all contamination. Join us in our ritual now; hail and well met!
All reply: Hail and well met!
Caller for the North:
I call upon the West and the Fire that lives in Earth, the magma that builds the stone which becomes walls to protect us. Join us in our ritual now; hail and well met!
All reply: Hail and well met!
Casting the Circle
Use whatever method of casting Circle is standard for your coven.
Invitation to the Goddess and God
Evocation of Brigid: Brigid, three-faced Goddess of Fire, we call upon you to come to us this Beltane. You are the fire in the head of the bards, the heat of the forge for the smiths, the cleansing flame of the healers. Join us in our ritual now; hail and well met!
All reply: Hail and well met!
Evocation of Cernunnos: Cernunnos, horned God of the Forest, we call upon you to come to us this Beltane. You are the stag of seven tines whose antlers provide protection against all predators, the guardian of trees and wild things. Join us in our ritual now; hail and well met!
All reply: Hail and well met!
Statement of intent: HP explains the intent of the ritual, to seek purification by fire, and protection from its more harmful aspects.
Lighting of the Bonfire
Caller for the South: Starting at South, Caller applies a lighter to the bonfire at each compass point, deosil in sequence:
At South: I light the sacred fire of Beltane
All reply: So mote it burn!
At West: Which purifies all that its light touches
All reply: So mote it burn!
At North: And protects us from all harm
All reply: So mote it burn!
At East: Throughout the wheel of the year.
All reply: So mote it burn!
Dancing to raise power: Caller for the South leads group in line dance around the fire and the meadow to the beat of a single drummer.
Passing through the Fire Caller for the South brings the Dance to an end by leading the group (for the first and only time) through a row of paired torches, possibly leaping over a small, contained balefire in the process. Each member internalizes their own prayer or intent regarding purification and/or protection, as seems appropriate for themselves.
Cakes and Ale Shared with group by High Priest and High Priestess.
Departure of the God and Goddess:
Devocation of Cernunnos: Cernunnos, horned God of the Forest, stag of seven tines who guards the wilderness from all dangers within and without, we thank you for joining our Beltane celebration. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail and farewell!
All reply: Hail and farewell!
Devocation of Brigid: Brigid, three-faced Goddess of Fire, who aids bards and smiths and healers with the flames of purification, we thank you for joining our Beltane celebration. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail and farewell!
All reply: Hail and farewell!
Release of the Quarters
Caller for the North: I give thanks to the North and the Fire that lives in Earth, the stone walls of protection. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail and farewell!
All reply: Hail and farewell!
Caller for the West: I give thanks to the West and the Fire that lives in Water, the hot springs that boil eternal. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail and farewell!
All reply: Hail and farewell!
Caller for the South: I give thanks to the South and the Fire that lives in Fire, the cleansing light of the balefire. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail and farewell!
All reply: Hail and farewell!
Caller for the East: I give thanks to the East and the Fire that lives in Air, the starfire above our sheltering sky. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail and farewell!
All reply: Hail and farewell!
Opening of the Circle Release the Circle in your usual manner.
All: The circle is open, but unbroken. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.