Bealtaine
Bealtaine, (Beltane in the Anglicized spelling), falls around the first of May and marks the midpoint between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. It is an ancient fertility festival, although much more complex than that. Traditionally, Bealtaine is the start of the summer season in Ireland and also marks the start of the light half of the year which concludes at Samhain (which we recognize as Halloween) on the eve of November 1 when the darkness takes over for the next half of the year.
Ireland's National Folklore collection has a treasure trove of digitized accounts, writings and oral histories from old Ireland and Bealtaine traditions are included among so may others. Many of the written recollections are in our Irish language while there are some that were recorded in English. Here are a few we gathered to grab your interests and you are encouraged to explore further:
From County Mayo:
"On May Night long ago the people used to leave a cake and a jug of milk on the table because they thought the Irish who were buried in America and other countries used come home on that night and visit their own home. Another old custom was to leave the doors unlocked that night. They considered it unlucky to give butter or milk way to any person on May Day as they would be giving away their luck. No stables were to be cleaned out on that day. The first person to go to the well in the morning was supposed to have luck for the rest of the year. It is not right to give money to anyone on that day. But if you get money on that day you will be getting it for the year."
"The ashes was never put out on May Day long ago. If anyone came for a coal they would not give it as it was said they would not have a fire again for the year. They washed their faces in the dew on May morning before the sun rose and and they would not get sunburned again for the year."
"Cow-slips were hung on the door that day to bring good luck for the year. It was unlucky to get married on May Day and unlucky for a baby to be born on that day."
From County Galway:
"On May Eve people do not like to be out late because the fairies would take them away."
"On May Eve morning old people go out in the fields and pick herbs which they keep all the year round. Any person who gets a sore throat the old people would give the herbs to cure them. The old people scatter butter-cups at their cow house' door so that no evil spirits would steal the butter when people are churning."
"If any person goes in to house when people are churning they would not be allowed out"
"It is a very old custom of the Irish people to send out their children after sunset on May Eve to tether armfuls of bright yellow flowers, known as Marsh Mallow or May Flowers. These they strew on the entrance gate of every field and on every path leading to a homestead outside the doors of homes and outside offices and even on house tops. This was done to keep away ill luck and bring good fortune."
"Some of the flowers they keep and smash them up with a stone and rub them on the cows udder. This they do for fear the fairies or the neighbors would bring the butter. Another custom of the Irish, they would not lend any article or give either milk or food even to beggars. They would not light a fire on May Day until it was late in the day for fear that the people would see the smoke and would bring the butter."
Ancient Celebrations
The Hill of Uisneach, considered to be the sacred center of Ireland and the place where Ireland gained her name, Éire, hosted Bealtaine celebrations in ancient times. Over Ireland, on the eve of May 1, all would go dark until the bonfires were lit on the Hill of Uisneach. Then as the people on the hilltops surrounding Uisneach saw the great bonfire, they too would light fires on the hilltops in a great ring. Then, the people along the coasts would also light fires so if one were traveling in space looking down at Ireland on Bealtaine Eve, staring back would be like a great eve looking to the cosmos, Éire's Eye.
In modern times, this celebration is re-enacted at Uisneach and if you ever have the chance, to be in Ireland during the event, it is a unique Irish experience not to be missed.
Since we are unable to be in Ireland this year, here is a nice video of past celebrations to give you something to look forward to when planning your next trip: