Celebrating Beltane

The end of winter and the start of summer, Beltane. A celebration from ancient Celtic times to welcome the warmer days, cleanse the cattle after the winter, light fires, promote fertility and rejoice with friends. If you are looking for some events over the holiday weekend, here are a few Beltane events to rekindle your inner Pagan.

The Green Man and the May Queen Maisna / Shutterstock.com

Clun Green Man Festival Shropshire  3rd to 4th May
A wonderful array of characters from the Frost Queen, the Green Man, Mummers, Jack the Jester and Morris Dancers. Singing, dancing and food and drink aplenty. The Frost Queen and Green Man will have a battle to see if summer can start in Shropshire and then the party starts at Clun Castle with the knights and revellers.

Butser Ancient Farm, Hampshire Saturday 2nd May 2015. 4.30pm until 10pm
Live music and the ceremony of burning the wicker man at dusk, no sacrifices! Sounds wonderfully atmospheric and a true Beltane celebration.

Beltane at Thornborough Sunday May 3rd starting at 12 noon

Tin whistles, green men playing the bagpipes and a whole load of extravagant dressing up. Held at prehistoric Thornborough Henge in Yorkshire, a site of mysterious importance.

Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival 30th April

Spectacular show of fire dancers and half naked people painted up, looks like complete madness but with crowds of up to 12,000 this is the Beltane party to beat them all.

Celtic Harmony Beltane Festival, Hertfordshire  Bank Holiday Monday 4 May from 10 till 5 pm

A lovely Beltane family event incorporating story telling, making May crowns, owl displays, a fire procession and much more. 

Image source: Shutterstock Wheel of the Year