May Day pagan rituals are ancient celebrations that have been practiced for centuries on the first of May. These rituals have their roots in pagan religions, specifically in the Celtic festival of Beltane. **Beltane** was a celebration of the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, marking the arrival of longer days and the start of the farming season. It was believed to be a time when the veil between the human and spiritual worlds was thin, allowing for easier communication with the divine. A **central** aspect of May Day pagan rituals is the **bonfire**. This fire represents purification and fertility.
Beltane is a Gaelic holiday celebrating the halfway point between the spring equinox (March 21) and the summer solstice (June 21). Traditionally, Beltane was a focus on fire and fertility; a time of seed-planting in all of its forms and joy.
This year, I tracked down someone whom I hadn t spoke to in many years, but who had great impact on my family s life and I knew was a celebrator of this shift into summer. Others know it as May Day a Euro-based spring holiday only vaguely recognized in the United States that encourages people to commune with nature in whatever way it works for them, from firing up the grill to digging in the dirt until sundown.
This fire represents purification and fertility. People would gather around the fire and take part in various activities, including **dancing, singing, and storytelling**. It was believed that these activities would bring good fortune and fertility to the community.
Hold my broom: May Day / Beltane
You don't have to get skyclad and howl at the moon to celebrate May Day (based on the Gaelic holiday, Beltane), but we're not judging you if you do. Today is simply about stopping to smell the flowers.
By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published May 01, 2021 at 10:31 AMHold My Broom is an OnMilwaukee exclusive series exploring the magickal, mystical and cackle-worthy.
For many, May 1 marks the time when we can finally start getting stoked for summer. Others know it as May Day – a Euro-based spring holiday only vaguely recognized in the United States – that encourages people to commune with nature in whatever way it works for them, from firing up the grill to digging in the dirt until sundown.
May Day is also International Workers’ Day, or what my partner calls, “The real Labor Day.”
May Day might also conjure images of poles adorned with ribbons and folks getting frisky outdoors (ahem), but now we’re also talking about a holiday that May Day is based on: Beltane.
Beltane is a Gaelic holiday celebrating the halfway point between the spring equinox (March 21) and the summer solstice (June 21). Traditionally, Beltane was a focus on fire and fertility; a time of seed-planting in all of its forms and joy.
Today it is celebrated by Pagans, Wiccans and spiritual nature lovers alike. For some, it includes rituals both old and new, for others it is simply a time to pause and reflect on growth, literally and/or metaphysically.
In short, Beltane is a time to stop and smell the flowers.
For me, it’s the time of year when I shave winter’s afghan off my legs and blaze up fires in my yard on a regular basis. This year, I tracked down someone whom I hadn’t spoke to in many years, but who had great impact on my family’s life and I knew was a celebrator of this shift into summer.
Mary O’Connell is a farm-based educator who owns Paradise Farms in West Bend. Many moons ago, she was the director of LifeWays, an early childhood center located in the magical Koenen nature preserve in Riverwest and the place both my sons started their journey into the world without me.
Last week, I called to ask her if she was doing anything cool on the farm for the first of May, and like I was hoping, she is indeed.
Mary was in the process of creating a maypole with 10 families who had been coming to the farm every Wednesday for months to learn about nature, spend time safely with others during the pandemic and meet like-minded families with whom they could further build a community.
“This was the perfect activity for us. Both adults and kids participated from start to finish: went into the woods, found a dead tree, hauled it out, cut off the branches, dug a hole, made a ‘May Crown’ for the top, cut ribbons and hung them from the crown," she says.
Since then, the group has been practicing traditional maypole dances in preparation for a May Day celebration next week. One of the dances she told me is called “The Spider’s Web” where people move around each other and weave a web of ribbons above their heads. Another is called “The Barbers Pole” where they methodically and joyfully wrap the ribbons around the trunk so it looks similar to an actual barber’s pole.
At the end of our call, Mary pointed out that people can celebrate May Day/Beltane – and any holiday or event for that matter – however they want, as big or as small as they are able and in whatever way works for them.
“You don’t have to go fell a tree in the forest,” says Mary. “Some years I just wrapped crepe paper around a pole in my garage.”
Happy May Day, Merry Beltane to all.
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Molly Snyder Senior Writer @mollysnyderMKE
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
In Oxford, May Day morning is celebrated from the top of Magdalen College Tower by the singing of a Latin hymn, or carol, of thanksgiving. After this the college bells signal the start of the Morris Dancing in the streets below.
**Maypole** dancing is another key component of May Day pagan rituals. A tall pole would be placed in the ground, adorned with flowers and ribbons. People would then dance around the pole, weaving the ribbons together as they moved. This dance symbolized unity and the intertwining of the masculine and feminine energies. **Flowers** also played a significant role in May Day pagan rituals. People would gather flowers in the early morning and create **flower crowns** or **garlands** to wear. These floral arrangements were believed to bring luck and protection. They were an essential part of May Day processions and also used to decorate houses and communities. Other activities that took place during May Day pagan rituals included **feasting**, **making offerings**, and **ceremonies to bless fields and livestock**. These practices were believed to ensure a bountiful harvest and the well-being of the community throughout the coming year. Today, May Day pagan rituals are still observed in some parts of the world, albeit in a more limited way. While many of the original religious beliefs behind these rituals have faded, they continue to be celebrated as a way to welcome the coming of spring and connect with nature. In modern times, these celebrations often intertwine with other traditions, such as the Labor Day movement, resulting in a blend of old and new practices. However, the essence of May Day pagan rituals remains the same - a joyous celebration of life, fertility, and the changing of seasons..
Reviews for "May Day Morris Dancing: Uncovering the History and Meaning of this Traditional Dance"
1. John - 2/5 - I attended a May Day pagan ritual for the first time, and it was quite underwhelming. The whole event felt disorganized, and the rituals were hard to follow. I expected a more immersive experience, but it felt like a bunch of people just going through the motions without any real meaning or purpose. The lack of structure and guidance made it difficult to connect with the spiritual aspect of the ritual. Overall, it left me feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - I had heard so much about May Day pagan rituals, but my experience was far from enjoyable. The event was overcrowded, and it felt more like a social gathering than a sacred celebration. The energy was chaotic, and there was no sense of reverence or focus. The rituals seemed rushed and superficial, lacking the depth and intentionality I had anticipated. It felt like a missed opportunity to truly connect with nature and experience the spiritual essence of the occasion.
3. Mark - 1/5 - Attending a May Day pagan ritual was a complete waste of my time. The whole event was strange and confusing, with participants dressed in costumes that looked more silly than meaningful. The organizers failed to provide any explanation or context, leaving newcomers like myself feeling lost and excluded. The lack of structure and guidance made it impossible to engage or connect with what was happening. I left feeling bewildered and disillusioned, with no desire to ever attend such an event again.