Welcoming Summer: A Gaelic Festival

Beltane (or Bealtaine) is a Celtic holiday marking the beginning of the summer. Since the countries who celebrate this tradition (mainly Ireland, Scotland and Mann) have a solar-based calendar, it happens on May 1st. Historically, Pagans used bonfires, flowers, such as primrose and marigold, and May bushes to celebrate this holiday, which had different uses. Some of them was to “appease” fairies (stop them from stealing dairy products), which was a popular belief Ireland, and others considered it as a type of pilgrimage toward Holy Wells, which was believed to bring good luck to those who…