|
|
|
Festivals and Holidays
Holidays Around the World
 By Nokomis Dream
|
Beltaine
How do you celebrate Beltaine? As you are finding out, I am pretty new to my path, and am very excited about Beltaine this year. The beginning of planting season, (thank you, Mary Q for all your help there!), and the promise of summer has always been so welcome to my cold bones. Beltaine starts on April 30th and lasts until May 1st, which is also known as "May Day" (there is also the cross-quarter day method of determining the date, based upon the day that falls half way between the Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice - 5th to 6th of May).
Interestingly, as a child, we always did special arts and crafts, and had picnics on the first of May. My sister was adamant that her wedding be on "May Day", and boy did she get her way! Little did we know that we were honoring our ancient spiritual ancestors by acknowledging Beltaine. I think that so much of who we are is "old knowledge", kind of just inborn knowing of things from old times. I feel that with so much of life - things that I shouldn't know because I haven't been taught, but yet somehow I do know. So let me share my newfound information with you, as we revel in the coming of the warm season.
In these modern times people choose to celebrate in a variety of ways. There are many groups that get together for a big weekend of workshops, music, parades, magic shows, bonfires and the May pole. Yes, the May pole is alive and well in 2005! Talking of the May pole reminds me - I discovered a beautiful erotic ritual as well, for 2 or more people to participate in at the website of the Tuatha de Brighid Druid Clan (see below). Indeed, let's not forget, that celebrating fertility is a major part of this holiday, and modern Pagans not only accept but greatly enjoy focusing on the erotic pleasure of this day. Of course there is more to it than simply sexual pleasure - one has to eat, sometime! There are feasts, and the ceremonial extinguishing of winter's fire, and the relighting of those flames using the Bealtaine fire. Blossoms are used for decorating, and spring is truly in the air.
As mentioned, Beltaine was celebrated over two days, April 30th through May 1st, starting at sundown as the ancient Celts considered a day to be from sunset to sunset. It was primarily honored by peoples in Western Europe, and the British Isles, as another one of the great "fire festivals" of the year, along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnassadh. We continue to celebrate as they did - venerating fertility, the return of light and end of the dark winter, and the celebration of life. This was the time of year to plant, and to give thanks to Mother Earth for sustaining life. Animals were birthing their young, and people were finally able to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The return of the sun, after a long dark winter must have been very welcome indeed, as these people were without the electricity and heat that we take for granted in these days.
There is some disagreement as to what Beltaine stands for. One idea is that it is named for Bel, or Belenus, sun god of the Gauls, whose feast day is on May 1st. Perhaps it is named for Beli, who gives his name to the bael fire. Depending on who you ask, there seems to be different answers. What is predominant, is that this sabbat is in celebration of the love and marriage of the God and Goddess, the child of which will be born at Imbolc, the next year.
On Beltaine Eve, the hearth fires were ceremoniously extinguished at sunset, and the ashes were thrown into the fields to ensure good crops for the coming year. Fresh bonfires would then be lit by the Druids, and as night deepened, the cattle were driven between them to ensure year-long protection from disease. Fire has always been an important part of the festivities that mark one the turning points of the Celtic New Year. Many theories abound, but the idea that the fire represents the sun, purifies and cleanses and fills the worshippers with magical blessings is popular, and from what we know of the Celts seems likely. There are claims that the festival honours Belinos, a fertility god - the accuracy of this historically is unknown as Belinos was definitely a continental deity, not of Ireland or Britain.
Human participants also "jumped" the fires, probably as a way to draw fertility to them. Around midnight, it was customary to go out and gather flowers and other greenery to decorate yourself and your home. On the way home, revelers would leave flowers at houses along the way.
The maypole was also a large part of the festivities. Originally simply a tall, delimbed, debarked tree, buried deep in the ground for stability decorated wonly with a crown atop it, over time it evolved to the modern version with ribbons. Nowadays, males and females hold brightly colored streamers attached to the de-limbed tree. Dancing about the obvious phallic symbol, males one direction, females the other, they wind their fabric around the tree. The May pole dancing is one of many activities held at Beltaine - people engaged in other dances, mummery, games, and the feasting as they celebrated.
At the night fires, couples would pair off, sometimes with their usual partner, and sometimes with a new partner, for some private time. Greenwood marriages - good for the night only. If you were lucky enough to conceive at this time, your child was thought to be a gift of the gods. These children were called "Merry Be Gots". An interesting note here, in 1644 the Puritans declared the May pole illegal. They were horrified at the "May Day" practices, most of all the men and women who paired up for the Greenwood marriages. These young people went out for the entire night, and at sunrise brought back flowers and greenery to decorate their villages. It's no surprise that the Puritans tried to get rid of these festivities - makes one wonder just how many "Merry Be Gots" came of this night out!
Beltaine is alive and well, and there are many ways that you can celebrate. Around the world, groups of Pagans get together for a long weekend of merry making, complete with bonfires, magic shows, barbecuing, and generally a camplike atmosphere. Make a headpiece out of spring blossoms and later throw it into a body of water. This is a blessing to the spirits of the water. Go enjoy nature, and have a picnic at your favorite outdoor spot. Be sure to add berries, eggs, herbal tea or wine, and green salads. At dawn, women can wash their faces in the dew to make themselves beautiful. This is reminiscent of the old Mother Goose rhyme:
"The fair maid who, the first of May, goes to the fields at the break of day and washes in dew from the hawthorn-tree will ever handsome be".
Men, wash your hands, and it will enhance your skills. It is believed that if you make a ring out of a rowan sprig, and you look through it, you may be able to see fairies. Wear flowers in your hair and spend time with your loved ones. Make up a May basket, filling it with flowers and kindness, and give it to someone who may need some cheering up. Burn some incense, such as Musk, Clove, Cinnamon, Patchouli, and Jasmine. Make a bonfire, if you live in a place where it's appropriate, and (carefully) jump over the flames! Or, if you can't have an actual bonfire, light a candle and jump over that. It's not the size of the flame, but what it stands for! And of course, if you can have a May pole, then enjoy that ancient practice. And give thanks to the God and/or Goddess in your life.
|
|
|
Mother's Milk
The World Around Us: Beltaine Links
Tuatha de Brighid Druid Clan
The Celtic Year
Magic Wicca
Shamans SF |
Staines Morris
Come ye young men come along, with your music dance and song
Bring your lasses in your hands, for 'tis that which love commands.
CHORUS
Then to the maypole haste away, for 'tis now our holiday,
Then to the maypole haste away, for 'tis now our holiday.
'Tis the choice time of the year, and the violets now appear,
And the rose receives its birth, and the pretty primrose decks the earth.
Chorus
And when you were reckoned bold, kisses you your sweetheart gave,
Take them all again and more, for you will never make them poor.
Chorus
And when you've well spent your time, and the day is past its' prime,
To your bed repair at night, and dream there of your days' delight.
Chorus
Come ye young men come along, with your music dance and song,
Bring your lasses in your hands, for 'tis that which love commands.
Chorus
~ May Songs & Beltaine Customs - Staines Morris |
|
Strong female symbols have always intrigued me. Mysterious, strong female symbols are even more exciting. And the epitome of a mysterious, strong female is none other than the Sheela na gig. There is some debate (isn't there always?), about what exactly the words Sheela na gig mean, or stand for. I will not go into all of that as I could write an entire article just on the supposition of what the words mean, but you can explore the links that I provide, and come to your own conclusions. I think that in modern times the definition that connects to your inner knowledge and resonates for you is the one that best explains it.
So, what are the Sheela na gigs, you ask? Physically, they can best be described as carvings or statues that are often found in cemetaries, churchyards, abbeys, and many other structures, in and around Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. They are always female, usually with spread legs, as if squatting, and generally the Sheela is using her hands to spread her vulva wide open. Quite a confrontational image.
Sheelas often appear bald - with maybe a few wavy lines scratched across the skull - as if a crone, and sometimes they have breasts. A few Sheelas have been found with braids, but these are rare. Other times the Sheelas have what can only be described as "emaciated ribs" or scars carved across the chest region. Many of the faces of the Sheelas look mischevious, in my opinion anyway. Some may appear as if sneering, or laughing at the world.
As with the meaning of her name, there is discrepancy about what the Sheela represents. Is she a fertility symbol? Many say "yes", so let's look at that theory.
Breasts are a symbol of fertility. They provide milk to babes, the very essence of life itself. For without breastmilk, and before the invention of formula, a baby had little chance at survival, needing the breasts of the birth mother, or another woman willing and able to share her most wonderful gift. If a woman has full breasts, they can be a symbol of her ability to bear children. They are also a comfort. How many times have we sat upon our mother's knees, and rested our cheek against the fullness of her breasts?
However, full-breasted Sheelas are rare indeed. Those with breasts usually display the long drooping dugs of the crone. Fertility that has been. The grandmother figure who also provides comfort, once provided physical nourishment, but now feeds us with her wisdom and protection.
The Sheela na gigs are often bald-headed. Does this represent the age and wisdom of the crone? If it does, what is she telling us? The crone holds many secrets and much knowledge. She passes on to us things such as the legends of our people, herbal remedies and old ways to cure the ill. The crone has been young, and learned from her mistakes so she can teach us and guide us.
Or maybe the bald head means that she is a newborn? Full of promise of things yet to come. Innocence and assurance that life goes on, and that you must treat her gently, as you would a newborn, and that you, not she, is the leader, the guide in this life.
Sheela's face is not, however, what some would consider beautiful - like a newnborn's her eyes are overlarge and staring, her face wizened. She looks like she may be grimacing - with the effort of birthing? Perhaps she is angry with the lack of obedience in her followers. I like to think that she isn't portrayed as beautiful, so as to turn attention aside from beauty - a mask we all wear at times. So she is made less attractive. Maybe she is laughing at us, because she knows not only about what has happened, but also about what is yet to come.
Why are Sheela's ribs bony and prominent? Again one would have to consider the crone aspect. But is she perhaps warning us, or reminding us of hard times? The existing figures we have were made in the Middle Ages, although evidence points to a more ancient precursor. There was more chance of one not living to a ripe old age through illness, starvation, general ill-health at the lack of good food, death through childbirth, lack of medical knowledge, and the simple fact that people didn't live as long as we do now. Is she portrayed as starving, a reminder of hardship and illness - things she wards against in her role as protector? For Sheela herself is clearly not weakened or dying. She is almost aggressively vital.
Now we look at the spread vulva, and the wide open hole in between. This aspect of Sheela is truly the most confrontational and shocking. We are unaccustomed to viewing women this way, but Sheela makes us do so. She is not flauting but confronting as she displays her innermost parts. But why? What is it she is showing us?
Is she in the process of, or just finished pushing a child out? Maybe she gives birth to the world itself, or all of the human race, a life-giver and primal Mother. Or maybe she gives birth to the underworld, and that is why she is somewhat of a scary figure. One of the theories that I find quite fascinating, is that the Sheela na gig has her vulva spread wide as a doorway - so that when you die you can return to your mother. Some cultures refer to the earth as Mother Earth, viewing burial as a return to the Mother. Sheela would be the path that leads you back to where you come from.
As I said earlier, the Sheela na gig is a mystery and interpreting her is up to you. This really hit home for me. She has the ability to give life, hence the breasts and the vulva, but yet she also takes it, allowing you passage home, back inside of her.
There is a festival day called Sheela's day - commonly dated as the day after St Patrick's Day because some claimed Sheela as the wife of Saint Patrick. That is just not so. Here yet again, we see an attempt by early Christians to incorporate Pagan deities and beliefs into Christianity as a way to tempt early Pagans into their church. Many of the Sheelas have been defaced - most long ago, but some quite recently. Many of them are located in churches in churches. One need not wonder too long why the carvings were defaced, although it is curious that they were placed there originaly. A remnant of the desire for Her protection perhaps?
But I'm off the subject again! At the turn of the 20th century, revelers would take the shamrock worn since St Patrick's day, and down it with drink at the end of the party, celebrating St Pat's "wife", Sheela.
Perhaps the term Sheela has passed into language - to our Australian friends a slang term for female is "sheila"!
Anyway, modern Pagans have moved the celebration into May to a time more suited to honoring powerful women. Placed beside Beltaine, Freyja's Day, and Inanna's Festival, Sheela's Festival is a time to celebrate women. There needs to be more investigation into the people of the time that carved these magnificent figures, and the festival of the same name. At any rate, one way that we can incorporate the festival into our lives is to honor the women we know - not just mothers, as on Mother's Day. But all women. The Crone, the Mother and the Maiden. The women in our lives are the bearers of life, wisdom and promise.
|
|
Are you interested in submitting letters or articles to the Editorial Division? If so, please read the Submissions Guidelines.
They offer details on deadlines and the staff to contact.
Our Editorial staff are also happy to answer questions.
|
|
|
|
|
