Happy May Day everyone! Today is one of the Grand Sabbats for Wiccans known as Beltane (aka May Day, Rood Day, Rudemas, and Walpurgisnacht in Germany). This Sabbat is derived from an ancient Gaelic festival that involved circling a bonfire and decorating doors, windows, and cattle with yellow flowers. In parts of Ireland, they would also construct a May Bush by decorating a thorn bush with flowers, ribbons, and bright shells. This may have been a precursor to the Maypole.
The ancient Romans celebrated this day as well, worshipping the spring goddess Maia, who encourages crops to grow. On this day, the flamen (priests) of Vulcan sacrificed a pregnant sow to Maia. This month gets its name from this goddess who is also identified with Terra (Earth) and Bona Dea (the Good Goddess). May 1 is also the day that the Romans honored the Lares, protectors of the city, hanging wreaths on their altars and burning incense. This connection with May 1 may come via Maia's son Mercury who fathered the mute twin Lares with the former nymph Lara. Non-Christian cults were banned from the 4th century onwards, but unofficial worship of the Lares continued until at least the 5th century.
One May Day tradition is that of gathering dew from the grass and wildflowers to use in good luck potions. A Wiccan Beltane ritual is to bathe with a penny wrapped in the washcloth for good luck. The Celts also had a myth associated with dew gathered on May 1; they believed that Beltane dew promoted beauty and youthfulness.
Even more special than May Day, May 1 is the poodle's birthday. Happy birthday, Little Miss Sunshine!
I don't think I'll be sacrificing any pigs (pregnant or otherwise) to Maia, but I think it might be a nice gesture to honor her somehow as the growing season gets under way. If she can help make my flowers, veggies, and newly-placed sod grow, I'll at least think about frying up some bacon to celebrate.
Wishing you happiness in spades,
M.R.S.
The ancient Romans celebrated this day as well, worshipping the spring goddess Maia, who encourages crops to grow. On this day, the flamen (priests) of Vulcan sacrificed a pregnant sow to Maia. This month gets its name from this goddess who is also identified with Terra (Earth) and Bona Dea (the Good Goddess). May 1 is also the day that the Romans honored the Lares, protectors of the city, hanging wreaths on their altars and burning incense. This connection with May 1 may come via Maia's son Mercury who fathered the mute twin Lares with the former nymph Lara. Non-Christian cults were banned from the 4th century onwards, but unofficial worship of the Lares continued until at least the 5th century.
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| Maia with Vulcan |
One May Day tradition is that of gathering dew from the grass and wildflowers to use in good luck potions. A Wiccan Beltane ritual is to bathe with a penny wrapped in the washcloth for good luck. The Celts also had a myth associated with dew gathered on May 1; they believed that Beltane dew promoted beauty and youthfulness.
Even more special than May Day, May 1 is the poodle's birthday. Happy birthday, Little Miss Sunshine!
I don't think I'll be sacrificing any pigs (pregnant or otherwise) to Maia, but I think it might be a nice gesture to honor her somehow as the growing season gets under way. If she can help make my flowers, veggies, and newly-placed sod grow, I'll at least think about frying up some bacon to celebrate.
Wishing you happiness in spades,
M.R.S.
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