Beltane is an ancient Celtic fire festival that is one of the major Sabbats in the Pagan/Wiccan year. It is considered to be a time when the young Goddess and the Sun God are united and life returns fully to the earth. The ancient Celts were a pastoral people and Beltane was the time of year when they brought their herds to summer grazing land. It is believed that the Druids would drive the herds between two lit bonfires as a way to purify the animals of any negativity. Because the survival of the community depended greatly on the meat of the herd this ritual was also very likely considered to be a fertility rite in hopes that the continued fertility of the herd would be ensured.
The word Beltane is said to mean Son of Bel, in connection with the Sun God Belenus, however there is some dispute over this meaning. Belenus was not recognized in Britain and Ireland until after the Roman occupation. The Romans brought with them their gods and goddesses from the region of Gaul and it’s not clear if the festival of Beltane was ever celebrated in Gaul. Because of this, many people believe that it’s more likely that Beltane means “bright fire” or “new fire”. Because the Celts traditionally extinguished their hearth fires at the time of Beltane and then relit them with the embers of a large bonfire that was lit by the Druids, this meaning would make more sense.
