Welcome, May!

May peace and plenty bless your world
With joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
Bring the best to you and yours.

Happy Medieval Monday! Welcome, May!

Nestled between the spring equinox and summer solstice, the first of May has been celebrated since ancient times. It was Floralia to the Romans, Beltane to the Gaels, and in many countries has been called May Day for centuries.

Beltane was -- is -- a celebration of life, nature, and fertility. Although not yet the summer solstice, it's considered the beginning of summer. 

For the medieval Celts -- and many other medieval peoples -- it was a time of joy and anticipation. Crops were beginning to grow, fruit trees were budding, and animals could finally be led to pasture. ​The dark days of winter were well and truly over.

Also, according to pre-Christian beliefs, it was a time when the veil between the worlds was thin. Bonfires were lit for protection against evil.  Rituals, dancing, and feasting took place around the fire.

While Beltane traditions waned in later centuries, they never completely disappeared. In many places, Beltane and other May Day celebrations have made a comeback. Edinburgh's Fire Festival on Calton Hill, for one, is a huge, unique, and important cultural event.

Beltane Fire Society

A Detailed History of Beltane

At its core -- now as much as in days of old -- Beltane is a celebration of hope. Isn't that nice?

I, with my agrarian tendencies, will smile upon my little garden, think of my loved ones, and consider the world. And I will send up prayers of hope and gratitude.

For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis.

Wishing you a beautiful day -- and a beautiful May!