Beltane: Fire, Fertility, and Forbidden Flames
When the sun begins to rise high and the nights grow warmer, witches know: Beltane has arrived. Celebrated on May 1st, Beltane is one of the fire festivals in the ancient Celtic Wheel of the Year—opposite Samhain, its shadowy twin. Where Samhain opens the gates to the dead, Beltane opens the gates to the living. It honors passion, fertility, life, and lust—but under its blooms and bonfires, there’s a history soaked in blood, fire, and fear. The Origins of Beltane “Beltaine” comes from the old Irish “Bel Taine,” meaning “bright fire,” honoring the solar deity Belenus. Ancient Celts would light two sacred fires and drive livestock between them to purify and protect the herd. People leapt the flames for fertility, love, and luck. Entire communities would feast, dance, and—yes—frolic in the woods under moonlight. But Beltane wasn’t all flowers and flutes. It was also a night when the veil thinned just enough to let spirits and the Fae slip into our world. Witches kn...
