Beltane

Good Morning and Blessings Everyone!


As we move along the Wheel of the Year we come up Beltane. Beltane is celebrated the first of May. First I'll give you a little history about Beltane then I will talk to you about how the children in my day celebrated and saw the first of May. Beltane is a time when we welcome the abundance of a fertile Earth which is needed to feed the crops, fruits, trees, flowers that will care for all living creatures on Earth. Many in the past and even today have taken to celebrate this day with a Maypole dance. In ancient times Beltane festivals were started the night before, the last day of April. They kicked off this celebration with a bonfire leading way to a Maypole dance which usually didn't start until just after sunrise on the first day of May.

The scene that usually unfolded as everyone crowded around to start their Maypole dance was a dead giveaway to the events that occurred the night before during the inspiring lustful bonfire. Picture this, everyone excited about the blessing of a new crop in the field, the bonfire is set, its a bit chilly out so everyone gather round and keep warm. In doing so the couples of the village usually paired off to themselves and found a hay stack or two and nuzzled up. The romance of a burning fire and for them what it symbolized at that point and time brought a rather exciting night of lust to those fields blessing them even further with fertility. In the morning the tell tale signs of the escapades of the night before were evident when those who were in the fields came in for the May pole dance all disheveled and in need of repair. Clothes all twisted and turned, hair a mess, not to mention hay in places it really shouldn't be.

A pole was erected for the dance in the center of the village or even a handy field. Some areas had these poles in the ground permanently and others had to use a different one each year. Brightly colored ribbons were attached to it. The young people of the village came forward and each one took the end of one of the ribbons. The dance ensued with them wrapping the ribbons around the pole, braiding it, men going one way, women the other. The braid completely engulfed the pole like a sleeve. This was the symbolism for engulfing the Earth's womb around the pole. By the time the dance was completed there was little to no pole visible as it was completely covered in the beauty of these ribbons.

I remember doing a maypole dance or two when I was in school. It was fun and children today should be blessed with these memories. Other memories I have of the beginning of May are a bit more comical and perhaps some of you will remember them. Although some tell me it must be a Jersey thing.

First of May was petticoat day. Yep the boys went around and picked up the skirts, of the girls who were silly enough to wear a dress to school that day, just to get a look at their petticoats! NO! I'm not that old we did not wear petticoats in my day but hey the boys didn't care. (haha)

Second of May was shoelace day. This was a pain in the butt day because everyone, of course, went around untying your shoes.

Third of May now this was really a painful day, not a pain in the butt day but a painful day because it was Pinching day! Now from when we are toddlers getting into our own power our parents taught us no pinching however on the third of May everyone went around pinching one another to see who can pinch the hardest. I had so many black and blues you could have used me for a checker board.

Fourth of May was another ouch day! Fourth of May was bunching day. The boys were good on this day though I have to admit because they never punched the girls to hurt them. At least not the boys in class. I think they were afraid of our fathers and brothers....lol. The final day of all this torment was the

5th of May. This was zipper day and no I did not go around and undo any boys zippers! Not to say some of my friends didn't, haha, you know who you are!

There were the five days of terror at the beginning of May. Another found memory I have of this month is with me to this day. May is the month of our Holy Mother Mary. It was in the month of May Fatima first appeared to three children in Portugal, May 13, 1917. One tradition of Catholic Churches is do a walk through the streets where the parishioners live with the Statue of the Holy Mother being pulled along on a float down the street. Music plays, people come out and pay homage to the Holy Queen of the Rosary by placing money at her feet. I have joined many of these walks and let me tell you they do not just walk around the block. This takes hours to achieve. It is like bringing the Church door to door to each and everyone that goes to church or doesn't go to church. Religious or not, Catholic or not, people come from their homes to see the Holy Mother as she makes her way back to her home.

For me the story of Our Lady of Fatima is one I will hold in my heart forever. I have read books on it and have done reach on Our Lady since I was a young girl because she was the first saintly image to come to me. She was what I kept telling my parents about, my beautiful Lady in White who came when I needed her. She still does even when I just need to talk she is there to listen. They all are for everyone. You don't have to be able to see them to speak to them. Just take the time to sit down and say what is on your mind. Speak quietly in your mind or verbalize the words out loud because no matter which way you do it they will hear you and come. Some times when you are in this state of need you may feel as if you have just been given a hug and for some reason the burden is no longer as heavy. That's because you have been hugged and your burden is now being shared. Just some food for thought!

                                                         Beauty of May

                                                        By Toni Gamaro

                                               Oh how I love the beginning of May,.
                                               Different flowers blooming each day,
                                               All the colors of the rainbow popping out,
                                               The beauty of it makes you want to shout,
                                               Stop what you are doing and soak it all in,
                                               For a new spring is about to begin,
                                               Must be ready to celebrate and have some fun,
                                               Remember to thank the God of the Sun,
                                               For with his blessings of warmth and light,
                                               Spring pops through with a fight,
                                               Flexing it's muscles and pushing away,
                                               The dreariness of the winter day,
                                               So put away your hat and coat,
                                               And take a ride on a paddle boat,
                                               Enjoy the sun and gentle breeze,
                                               Blowing softly through the trees,
                                               Smell the fragrance of the spring air,
                                               Of your surroundings become aware,
                                               Pick up the trash and the mess,
                                               Help keep the Earth free from distress,
                                               Help keep the air fresh and clean,
                                               And the grass growing green,
                                               Enjoy the brightness of the day,
                                              Give a shout out and say,
                                               Thank you for everything that you do,
                                               For sun showers and skies of blue,
                                               For thunder storms full of power,
                                               For each and every flower,
                                               For all this beauty in which you bless,
                                               With a loving caress,
                                               Thank you for letting the spring in,
                                               For allowing new life to begin.


To Be Continued................