Welcome back to the Wheel of the Year series, this time taking a look at the upcoming holiday of Beltane!
A fun fact about the Good Dirt Farm fam – Andy and I were married on the eve of Beltane! We picked the date mostly by accident, but I like to think instinct led us there.
Beltane, also known as May Day, is the celebration of the peak of spring. It’s a day to celebrate all things green and growing and is strongly associated with fertility. As such, weddings on Beltane are actually something of a tradition.
When is Beltane?
Traditionally, Beltane is celebrated on May 1st each year, hence its alternate name of May Day. It’s the rough halfway point between the Spring Equinox (Ostara) and the Summer Solstice (Litha).
Here, spring is at its peak, and the natural world shows it in earnest. Birds are building their nests and animals are pairing up and getting ready to increase their numbers.
Ways to Celebrate Beltane
There are many ways to celebrate and honor Beltane, and most of them involve getting out and being with nature. After all, we’re marking the warm times in the Northern Hemisphere, and waking up from all that winter hibernation in earnest.
Decorate With Flowers & Ribbons
Bring in the spring vibes by gathering flowers and other greenery to decorate your home. Make a wreath with or bouquet of flowers to bring a reminder of all that blossoming into your home space.
Much like the Maypole tradition of ringing ribbons around a pole, many people like to celebrate Beltane by hanging ribbons from the trees on their property. You can even imbue a wish in your ribbon before you tie it, sending your hopes for the season out into the universe.
Hold a Picnic and Bonfire
Whether or not you want to fully dance around a Maypole, the best way to celebrate Beltane is to spend it outdoors and in community. Invite friends and family for a picnic – bonus if you grab some fresh seasonal foods to share (here at the farm, our first round of crops will be ready to harvest right around Beltane!)
In many cultures, holding a bonfire on Beltane is part of the tradition to mark the day. It lets us linger outside later into the evening and also celebrates the fiery energy that comes along with nature re-awakening and reaching its most energetic state.
Wear Green & Flower Crowns
Wearing the color green is another traditional way to mark Beltane. You can also make a flower crown and add some of nature’s springtime bounty to your attire for the day.