Magic Is Reality, Reality Is Magic: Beltane

Magic is Reality, Reality is Magic is a series that highlights aspects of religions, particularly Paganism. We pull things from everyday life to use in our fiction. Magic is one of the key attributes of fantasy. Why not explore the realm of magic that many people already have in their lives?

Picture By Michael Maggs May 1 heralds Beltane, also called May Day. It's a day that represents fertility and a day to celebrate all the earth has to offer us. We're firmly in spring and everything is growing around us, giving us the bounty of the earth. Life is the central focus of celebration on Beltane. One of the main colors of this sabbat is green, unsurprisingly.

The most well-known symbol of Beltane is the Maypole, which traditionally used to be the trunk of a tree. Ribbons hanging from the Maypole are part of the Maypole dance. However, there is another large symbol for this sabbat, and that's the balefire, or Beltane fire. Fire can be seen as a clear representation of life, and the balefire is a central symbol of Beltane. Also prominent to Beltane celebrations are garlands, chaplets, and baskets of flowers--flowers that are blooming and prolific during this time of year.

Beltane is a wonderful sabbat to read about, and if you'd like to learn more, you may wish to look at the following websites to start with: Beltane, All About Beltane, and Beltane--Holiday Details and History.

Further Reading Suggestions:

Grimassi, Raven. Beltane. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 2001.

I hope you found this tidbit interesting! If you would like me to touch on a particular topic that fits in this series, please don't hesitate to contact me with suggestions.

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