Beltane Correspondences
Beltane
(beel-teen or bell-tayn) bel is`shining/brilliant, tene is fire. Hence, Beltane means "brilliant fire, - Major Sabbat (High Holiday) - Fire Festival April 30-May 1st
AKA:
Bhealltainn, Bealtaine, Beltaine, Beltinna, Lady Day; Samhradh; La Baal Tinne May Eve, May Day, Walspurgis Night, Rudemas, Walburgal, Giamonios, Shenn do Boaldyn, Galan Mae, Whitsun, Rudemas, Festival of Tana(Strega)
Animals/Mythical beings:
the white cow, goats, giants, rabbits, honey bees, faeries, satyrs, pegasus
Gemstones:
emerald, orange carnelian, sapphire, rose quartz, lazuli, sapphire, yellow agate, bloodstone
Incense/Oil:
passion flower, frankincense, tuberose, vanilla, lilac, rose
Colors/Candles:
red & white (symbolizing God and Goddess), dark green, dark yellow, rainbow spectrum, blue, pastels, all colors
Tools/Symbols/Decorations:
maypole & ribbons, flower crowns, fires, bowers, fields, May baskets, white flowers and ribbons, daisy chain, flower chaplet, white wine in clear crystal glass, chalice, butterchurn, blackthorn & hawthorn branches, seasonal fruit
Goddesses:
May Queen, Flora, Maia, Flower Goddesses, Lady of the Greenwood, Divine Couples, and Goddesses of the Hunt, Aphrodite(Greek) Blodewedd(Welsh), Erzulie(Voodun), Baubo(Greek)Rhea(Cretean), Prithvi(Hindu)
Gods:
May King, Jack in the Green, Horned God(European), Herne (Greek), Green Man, Bel(Celtic), Baal (Phoenician), Gods of the Hunt
Essence:
compassion, youthful play, exhuberance, sensuality, pleasure, action
Dynamics/Meaning:
sacred marriage of the Lord and the Lady, arrival of the Tuatha de Dannan in Ireland
Purpose:
fertility festival, celebrate 1st day of Celtic summer, 1st day of the light half of the year
Rituals/Magicks:
The Great Rite, love, romance & fertility magicks, elf & faery power, offerings to elementals, crop blessings, relighting sacred fires, divination, building shrines, fire-calling, honoring house guardians, snake dancing, bathing faces in the morning dew of May to retain their youthful beauty
Customs:
maypole erection, dancing around the maypole, bonfires, jumping fire, mating, picking flowers, making flower baskets, frolicking throughout the countryside, archery tournaments, sword dances, feasting, drinking and music, moving the herds to high pasture
Foods:
dairy, honey, oats, red fruits, herbal salads, red/pink wine punch, large round oatmeal/barley cakes, sweets
Herbs:
almond, angelica, damiana, hawthorn, hibiscus, saffron, ash tree, bluebells, cinquefoil, daisy, frankincense, hawthorn, ivy, lilac, marsh marigold, meadowsweet, primrose, roses, satyrion root, woodruff, yellow cowslip, yarrow
Element/Gender:
air/male
