Happy May Day - Beltane - Welcome summer! In ancient Celtic culture Beltane was the welcoming of summer and the coming season of planting. Cows were lead int to the summer pastures and bonfires were lit to protect the powers of growth and fertility. Now doubt to stimulate new growth in the fields as well as to purify the livestock from disease. Great bonfires were the center of celebration and people were encouraged to dance around them or jump over them.
A great feast was prepared and food and drink were offered to the spirit folk or Aos si' or sidhe - literally people of the mounds.
In Neolithic Ireland the pre-Bronze age culture worshiped the sun and built magnificent ceremonial tombs under the earth.
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| Newgrange Passage Tomb |
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| Sun symbols |
Originally a fire festival, Beltane is now more associated with fertility - the maypole dance between the May Queen and the Horned God.
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| The Green Man |
The best good thing about today was my car's battery dying. I had to walk everywhere and spent lots of time outside on this beautiful first of May.
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Please tell me what good thing you encountered today.