Beltane heralds the beginning of the bright time of year, a time when we emerge from the darkness of winter into lighter, airy days. From the perspective of the ancient Celts ... they'd been cooped up in doors for a long winter. Beltane came at the peak of spring, and brought life back to the people and the land.

The reason this holiday is so sexy yet sacred is that it is symbolic of the passion and love between the Goddess and God. Spring was seen as a time when people fall in love and consume one another in fiery passion. Divine passion, it was believed, was evident in all of nature’s bounty springing forth this time of year.

As an ode to nature -- and an offering to God and Goddess – maids and lads would frolic in the fields from Sundown to the morning after. Part of this celebration included enacting the rites of fertility as an offering to ensure continued fertility of the lands – as well as the continuation of the tribe.

The local men and women did it, in the groves and the fields. It’s been said that the annual Beltane Baby Boom – 9 months later -- was legendary in ancient times

Maypole and Fertility

The Celts divided their year into eight parts, as opposed to 12 months, and Beltane continues to be celebrated one of the four great festivals of the Celtic Pagan wheel of the year.

Long before our current high school prom king and queen, villages had a young, attractive couple to represent the King and Queen of the May. Dancing around the maypole was a focal point of activity. The Maypole was made of oak, and had ribbons of many colors. When the ritual was over, the ribbons would be entwined and this represented the sacred lovers entwined.

Women would grab a ribbon and dance around the maypole. It was said that last woman left holding the ribbon would be crowned the May Queen.

Talk about a big wedding! A wedding feast for the God and Goddess, and for all, was prepared in advance of the dance around the may pole. The “bride and groom” often did not they were the bride and groom until after the maypole dance and other competitions.

The May King and Queen would consummate their “marriage” as a symbolic gesture of fertility. All the townspeople would emulate them and head off to partake in some sacred lovin'. It was a bit of free love and wanton lust sometimes called “Greenwood Marriages.” It's been said that married folks were able to partake as well.

What happened in the Groves, stayed in the Groves.

Bringing in the May

One of the most beautiful customs associated with this festival was called "bringing in the May." Young folk would go out into the fields on April 30th and gather flowers and then would bedeck themselves, their families, and their homes.

They would walk in processional back into the villages, stopping at each home to leave flowers, and to receive the best of food and drink that the home had to offer. As symbolic messengers of renewal they also enjoyed the ritual sharing of the substance of life -- food. These visits put forth the ideal that this generosity must keep circulating.

We can all go “a Maying” on May 1 by doing something nice for others, talking a walk among flowers and trees, or sharing a spring ritual with the one you love!

© 2007, Reverend Laurie Sue Brockway

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway is a leading interfaith and non-denominational wedding officiant. She creates unique ceremonies for couples of all backgrounds and faiths, and is also widely recognized as a relationship coach, bridal stress expert and columnist. She is author of WEDDING GODDESS: A Divine Guide To Transforming Wedding Stress into Wedding Bliss. Visit Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway at www.WeddingGoddess.com.