Today, May 1, is May Day, a celebration of spring.
But to my Celtic ancestors, the day was "Beltane" and it marked the return of summer.
"Beltane" roughly translates as "bright fire." Among ancient Celtic tribes, homes' hearth fires would be extinguished and people would gather for the lighting of a large fire, called a "neid fire." From this fire, two bonfires were lit and the tribe's cattle were driven between the bonfires into their summer pastures. Fire was seen as a purifier and healer, and the bonfires were meant to cleanse the cattle of disease, ensuring their future health and the health of the families they would feed.
Members of the tribe would walk or dance around the neid fire then, as they returned to their individual homes, they would bring flame from the neid fire to light their hearths anew. In this way, the community were all connected to each other by the sacred, central fire.
Descendants of those ancient Celts no longer observe Beltane in quite the same way, of course. But Beltane/May Day is an important celebration nonetheless. In Asheville, NC, the Beltane sunrise is celebrated with dancing up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at the Tanbark Ridge Overlook. I've attended a couple of these celebrations - as observer, not as dancer! - with The Asheville Morris Dancers and Ashgrove Garland Dancers. (Both Morris Dancing and Garland Dancing originated in England and are therefore not "Celtic." But who cares?) It's in the 40s in the upper elevations of the Southern Highlands, so its doesn't feel like summer. But it's a fun way to anticipate the warmer days of summer, and you just can't beat the thrill of seeing the sun finally peeking over the ridge!
