History of the Holiday
Things have been a bit depressing lately, and even though it was a few days ago, I wanted to discuss something fun today. Often held on May 1st, Beltane is an ancient Pagan festival signifying the thaw of winter and the arrival of a warmer spring. The largest gatherings often take place across western Europe, but many of these activities can be enjoyed with friends, family and even alone.
Communing With Nature
Commune with Nature is a great spell, don’t get me wrong; beyond Dungeons and Dragons however, Beltane is a great day to search for wildflowers, play with butterflies and go cloud watching. Common activities include making flower crowns and dressing up in colorful garb. If you’re like me, working in an office all day can be depressing. I feel like I’m gaining weight, I get lethargic and my co-workers annoy me. Beltane is a good excuse to take the day off and leave that stuffy interior behind.
Even something as simple as going to a park, or a quiet nature trail. For Beltane this year and friend and I were fortunate enough to visit the Art Institute of Chicago together, and even though we were in a major city, we spent a lot of time strolling through Millennium Park and other natural areas along the lake.
Dance Around a Maypole
Put a giant wooden pole in the ground, or find one conveniently located in a nearby field. Attach a colorful ribbon to the top for each participant and sort everyone into two groups. One group will circle clockwise, and vice versa. As both groups go around and around the pole will be covered in a repeating pattern of celebratory colors until almost none of it is visible. There are lots of variations and the rules don’t have to be very strict. You can check out this variation of a Maypole dance from the movie Midsommer (yes, it is a horror movie.) You can also find more friendly advice about how to celebrate with a Maypole.
Lighting A Blazing Bonfire
When darkness settles and stars begin to rise, the time is nigh to light a bonfire. Once the fire is hot, it’s time to jump over, walk around and dance through the flames. Not many things are as enchanting as a campfire in the dead of night; festivals all around the world use fire to gather people around a unifying symbol. In ancient communities, it was common to extinguish hearth fires at home and relight them with torches from this central Beltane blaze. Spend time gathering with friends and family to roast marshmallows, eat smores, and tell campfire stories.
Relax
Go to a museum, blow bubbles or have a spirited conversation with an imaginary friend. Search for four leaf clovers or meander through a friendly field. The important thing to remember is to enjoy yourself. Holidays are times to celebrate, to free yourself from the worries of everyday life. Civilizations from the Egyptians to the Mesopotamians used holidays as a break from daily work and in the 21st century, I don’t see why it should be any different? No matter what you believe, Beltane is a reminder that flowers are beginning to bloom, bumblebees are awakening from their long slumbers and if you’re a monarch butterfly, you’re probably returning from your extended vacation in Mexico; the cold dark days of winter are on their way out and warm sunny days are on the rise.
