Each year at mid-Spring, typically from the evening of April 30 through the evening of May 1st, the festival of Beltane is celebrated. Beltane (pronounced BEL-ta-nah) is a Celtic/Gaelic word which means "bright fire" and is indeed commonly celebrated by lighting bonfires through the night. One of the eight great feast days on the wheel of the year, Beltane is an observation of the Earth (symbolized by the mother goddess reaching maturity as the "May Queen") coming into full bloom of life and lush verdant greenery. This is in correspondence with the seasonal period of Taurus, wherein we see the initiating spark of Aries (which burst forth at the Spring Equinox) solidifying into its physical form and manifesting as the vibrant colors of life we see around us at this time. Traditionally, this time is said to correspond with the blossoming of the Hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) which are known as the "May bush" and are said to be a home to the Fae folk.
Beltane is celebrated as religious (for lack of better term) ceremony by many pagan paths, and includes such practices as dancing around the May Pole (another symbol of Earth's fertility, this time in the masculine sense represented by the "Horned God") and lighting bonfires, as mentioned. As a feast day, there is of course a lot of seasonal food and drink also associated. These will typically include fresh produce and greens, butter and milk dishes, and often with foods grilled over fire to symbolize the flames of Beltane. Bread, cakes, and drinks are often sweetened with honey.
Beyond the more structured traditional observations of the season followed by some practitioners, there is simply the acknowledgement of the beauty and bounty of the Earth at this time. Spring has sprung and is now in full bloom all around us. This is a reminder of the vitality that surrounds us and is a part of us. It is a reminder to be thankful, and to look forward to a productive season to come as we, like the Earth, emerge in bloom to go about our business of growth and development in our lives.
Perhaps the simplest and yet most profound observance of Beltane is to get out into the garden and plant some greenery. Sowing the seeds into the fertile Earth is an offering to the Mother, which She will then take and manifest into further beauty for all to enjoy. Some traditional associations here are Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), as mentioned, as well as violets (Viola spp.), mugworts (Artemisia spp.), apple blossoms (Malus sylvestris), and roses (Rosa spp.) Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is the plant perhaps most associated with this time of year, as its Latin name translates to "that which belongs to the month of May."
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