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The River Reporter May Day - Pagan festival of life
By TOM RUE Beltane -- celebrated in many parts of the world as May Day -- is rooted in ancient cultures. The day represents a reconciliation of opposites, marking the time when winter meets summer or darkness meets light. Traditions point to a belief common to many world religions, ancient and modern, that the deity must be slain and die in order to rise again and give new life to the world.The festival has been celebrated variously with circle dances, maypoles, Robin Hood (Puck) festivals, cheese-rolling and Godiva rides. Ironically, it is also currently a day in some communist countries when weapons of war and death are paraded with nationalistic pride. According to one tradition, on the night before Beltane, all lights in the village are extinguished in preparation for the one sacred fire on the local "high place," usually near an oak tree, to be kindled by rubbing two sticks together. The holiday is marked by pageantry and frolicking. As with another pagan observance, Samhain (or Halloween) bonfires sometimes called "bone-fires" once dotted European hilltops. This is not entirely coincidental. Essentially, Samhain commemorates the sun's retreat, while May Day observes its return. It celebrates the natural fecundity of life on earth. Some scholars say the name of this Sabbat stems from the old Irish word LaBeal-tine, meaning either "lucky fire" or "two fires." Others contend it translates better as "Beal's fire." However, most seem to agree Beltane originated as a festival honoring Belenus, the Celtic god of light. Nineteenth century Scottish scholar John Ramsay recorded that celebrants "thought it was degrading to him whose temple is the universe, to suppose that he would dwell in any house made with hands. Their sacrifices were therefore offered in the open air, frequently upon the tops of hills, where they were presented with the grandest views of nature, and were nearest the seat of warmth and order." Ramsay's use of the masculine pronoun in reference to the divine here is unfortunate, since images of a mother goddess pervade ancient religions known variously as Artemis, Astarte, Ceres, Brigid, Isis, Aphrodite or other names alongside their male counterparts. Commemorating the symbolic marriage of the goddess and god, as the wheel of the year turns, a phallic pole embedded in the earth is often used in modern-day celebrations, followed by games, dance and merrymaking. Alluding to puritanical denunciations of Beltane practices, due to the freedom of lovemaking for which they are known, Gerald B. Gardner revised a poem reportedly written by Rudyard Kipling: In some regions, the Sabbat was a wild festive orgy with much drinking and dancing. Participants selected partners for a jolly time in the hay. Of course, modern covens stress that the individual freedom witches have historically prized so highly included the right to choose monogamy or sexual abstinence, in addition to other options. As part of the ceremony, bits of white and brown cake called bannocks are often mixed together in a bag and distributed. Those who chance to grab a brown-meal cake are symbolically "sacrificed" to ensure a plentiful harvest in the coming season. The holders of oatmeal cakes sing, dance and clap their hands on approval, as the holders of brown bits leap three times over the flames, or run between two fires. Reportedly, the direction the wind blows the flame portends the severity of remaining spring weather. If the blaze inclines to the south, conditions are expected to be mild and genial; to the north predicts a cold spell. But before the embers begin to die, livestock is led from winter stables, around the fire pit sunwards (deosil), to ward off murrain and other illnesses, and to bring a good milk yield. Coveners are free to take charcoal logs or ashes home for use in their home fires to bring good fortune. Vestiges of older pastoral religions and traditions are seen in many of today's dominant religious institutions. Some people find a return to such fundamentals more spiritually fulfilling and meaningful than other forms of worship. Interestingly, the sometimes emotionally charged word "pagan" comes from the Latin pagani, simple meaning "one who dwells in the country." A similar word "heathen" used as an epithet by some Christians simply refers to those in old England who dwelt on rural parts of the heath or wildwood, where changes in belief systems were slow to take hold. Many today feel no shame in these words, or in words like "pagan" or "witch." Contrary to media depictions, Wiccan religions bear more similar to Buddhism than to satanic perversions of Christian rituals many of which may actually be traced to earlier Pagan origins. Each year, particularly in warm weather, thousands of North American pagans unite for large-scale ritual "gatherings" in secluded sites around the country. On a local level, smaller groups called covens meet as often as monthly to honor the cycles of the earth and harmonize themselves with the principles of nature. Beltane is such an occasion.
In response to the above, senior editor Bert Feldman, began his May 11, 1989 "Recusant Reporter" column with the following: Two weeks ago in The River Reporter, my learned colleague, Tom Rue, did write in length on the advent of the month of May, complete with mythology, history, and the like. The main thing to remember about May is that most people go a little bit wild, just being plain glad that the winter is finally over. May is the real goods; as they sing in the song June is Bustin' out all over: "April is full of promises, then along came pretty little May." * * * The May Pole illustration at the top of the page is from Chambers' Book of Days. |
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© 1985-2006, Tom Rue. All rights reserved.
