Beltane

Beltane

SPECIAL NOTES: April 30th/May 1st is known by many different names. My family is Irish so we celebrate Beltane. Most Pagans seem to celebrate Lady's Day or May Day. Basically this Sabbat is a celebration of fertility. You can explain it to your children as the marriage of the Lord of the Greenwood and the Lady of the May. Or, depending on the ages of your children, you might want to use this festival as a very basic sex education lesson. The Lord and Lady came together, made love and created new life. Our ancestors mimicked this most sacred union by choosing a May King and Queen and dancing around the May Pole. This ritual was a prayer for fertility, not just so they would be blessed with children, but also so their livestock and crops would be fertile as well. Of course if you don't want to get into the sexual aspect of this day you can just concentrate on the wedding. (An interesting aside, it seems in ancient times people weren't allowed to wed in the month of May because it was the time of the Goddess and God, which is why there were, and still are, so many June brides!)

Beltane is halfway around the Year Wheel from Samhain. While Samhain celebrated the dead, Beltane celebrated new life and the end of Winter's rule. Back at Samhain we made a figure to represent Old Man Winter. It was constructed out of dried straw gathered from the fields after Last Harvest. For the last 6 months it has had a place of honor in our home (hanging on the wall in the dining room where we do our rituals). But on Beltane Old Man Winter's reign ends so he must die. This ritual is a lot more fun (and safe!) if it can be done outdoors. We go to a local campground because they have those outdoor grills which make a perfect burning space. You can also use your backyard grill or any heat-proof container. If you're in an area where neighbors make an outdoor ritual impractical, don't worry. It's the thought that counts. You can always burn a small paper figure at the table lighting it from your Sun candle and letting it burn in your cauldron or other heat-proof container. Whatever you choose, please make sure you exercise EXTREME CAUTION so this joyous day doesn't end with burned fingers or a fire.

EXTRA SUPPLIES: The figure of Old Man Winter we made at Samhain. If you don't have one, draw a picture of him instead! (Even if you do, encourage the kids to make a drawing anyway, so they have something to burn too!) A bell, matches or a safety lighter to start the fire and a jug of water to put it out. We also bring the egg shells saved from Ostara and our colored egg shells from Easter. If you didn't save your eggs shells from Ostara, don't worry. Any egg shells will do, or use breakfast cereal instead! The birds love it!

Begin your ritual by ringing the bell to establish Sacred Space.

The child chosen to be Bell Ringer rings the bell three times and says:

I ring the bell

To cast the spell

Let sacred time begin

1 - 2 - 3

So mote it be

Let sacred time begin.

Then an Adult casts the Circle by saying:

Great Mother,

Weave around us

A circle of radiant light

Where we can honor Our Lord and Lady.

Protect us, guide us and love us.

Tell the kids to imagine a silvery-blue light surrounding the table to create a Circle. Explain that this "Circle of Light" means we want to make this a sacred place to honor the Goddess and God. Explain that a Sacred Place doesn't have to be a church. It can be in your dining room, a special spot in the forest, or even at school, as long as you show the respect and honor the Goddess and God deserve by creating your Sacred Space first. Next we "Call the Quarters." Explain that this is asking the Ancient Ones to add their powers to ours to make our Circle stronger. Because we do this outside (and you don't want to have too many fires lit!) we pass on the candle lighting and just have the children invoke the elements verbally. It's a great chance to actually connect with calling the Elements!

The child chosen to call the Eastern Quarter faces the East, raises his/her hands and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the East

Guardian Spirits of Air

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle

The child chosen to call the Southern Quarter faces South, raises his/her hands and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the South

Guardian Spirits of Fire

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

The child chosen to call the Western Quarter faces West, raises his/her hands and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the West

Guardian Spirits of Water

To Witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

The child chosen to call the Northern Quarter faces North, raises their hands and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the North

Guardian Spirits of Earth

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

Then the Adult says:

The Circle has been cast

The Ancient Ones have been called

Now it is time to welcome

The Goddess and the God.

Great Mother,

Whose symbol is the bright night moon,

Heavenly father,

Whose symbol is the fiery sun,

We ask you to join our family

For this Beltane Celebration.

The adult begins by explaining that Beltane is a Sun celebration, marking the end of Winter and calling for the return of Summer. S/he holds up the figure or drawing of Old Man Winter and says:

Winter, you have had your time,

But now your time has passed!

It is Beltane!

Today the Sun will rule

And you will die!

Good bye Winter!

Good bye and good riddance!

Everyone repeats:

Good bye and good riddance!

The adult tosses the figure of Old Man Winter into the grill or other heat-proof container. Striking a match s/he says:

The fire of Summer has returned

To burn away the last remainders of Winter!

Toss the match on Old Man Winter and, hopefully, he'll start to burn right away. (If you want to lay small twigs on your drawing to keep it from blowing away, that's fine. If you want to put charcoal lighter on your figure or drawing to insure a quick start, that's OK too. Just be VERY careful. Lighter fluid is obviously very flammable and often goes up in a small explosion that can be dangerous if you're too close.) Have the kids toss in their drawing of Old Man Winter too. As he burns they can say more "Good byes!" Ask them what they plan to do as Summer time comes - swimming, camping, fishing, etc. Depending on how big your "bonfire" is you can let them toss in twigs or dried leaves to keep it going. Again please be VERY CAREFUL. If they're singers, here's a Beltane tune my 6 year old made up. It's sung to the tune of Frere Jacques:

Summer's coming!

The sun shines bright!

Pretty birds are singing!

See the sun!

When you're done with the burning, the Adult gathers everyone back around the fire. Make sure each child has a portion of the colored egg shells (cereal or whatever) to toss. The Adult says:

The Wheel of the Year has turned again

Bringing us to the greening time!

New life springs up all around us

A gift from the Lady and her Lord!

The cycle of life continues and we are part of it!

We have made it through another Winter

And may now enjoy The blessings of Summer!

At this the Adult tosses a handful of colored egg shells onto the ground and says:

The blessings of Summer on all of us!!

And the children do the same repeating:

The blessings of Summer on all of us!!

When everyone is finished you can close the Circle. Explain to the children that the ritual is over. Now it is time to thank the Ancient Ones for their help and their guidance.

The child who called the Eastern Quarter now says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the East

Guardian Spirits of Air

Go in Peace.

The child who called the Southern Quarter now says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the South

Guardian Spirits of Fire

Go in Peace.

The child who called the Western Quarter says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the West

Guardian Spirits of Water

Go in Peace.

The child who called the Northern Quarter says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the North

Guardian Spirits of Earth

Go in Peace.

Then the Adult says farewell to the Goddess and the God:

We thank you God and Goddess

For sharing this special time With our family.

May we keep you in our hearts,

And follow your path of love

Every day.

Blessed be!

Now the Bell Ringer rings the bell three times to release the Sacred Space and says:

I ring the bell,

Release the spell

And Sacred Time will end.

1 - 2 - 3

So mote it be,

Until we meet again.

Explain that this is the signal that Sacred Time is over. The Circle has been released and the Sacred Space is no more. Now the Adult says:

The Circle is open

And yet it remains a Circle.

Around and through us

Always flow its magical powers.

This ritual is over.