
Beltane
/ May
Day
May 1
May
Eve Chant
A old Celtic Chant (April 30)
Oak and May and Beltane fire
In these we know but one desire
May all good people on the Earth
Come to Love and Health and Mirth
Some say Beltaine (also spelled Baltane) or May Day is a holiday that originated with
the ancient Celts. One
of the rituals performed by the druids, the Celtic scholars and priests,
was to drive all the cattle that belonged to a clan between two
bonfires. This protected the cattle and the food they produced from
the many demons and evil spirits that the ancient
Celts believed inhabited the earth.
Some people believe the ancient Romans "invented"
the May Pole! Like other ancient civilizations, the ancient Romans worshipped
many gods and goddesses. To honor the deities of new life and flowers, legend
suggests they cut down a tree, decorated it with ribbons, then danced around
it. This was the beginning of the May Pole. It could be true. It would certainly
be in character!
No one is quite sure who first originated the
idea of May Day, but for all the ancient cultures, the coming of summer was
cause for celebration. It meant food could be gathered and planted. As part
of their celebration, some ancient people gathered flowers and put them on
window ledges to keep out pesky fairies. Others filled baskets with gifts
and greenery to give to friends and loved ones. The ancient Celts built bonfires,
with nine different types of wood, then leaped over the flames for luck.
In the Bavarian regions of Germany, people played tricks on each other!
Yet, for all its appearance of merriment, for
most ancient cultures, May Day was a very serious celebration. Many rituals
were designed, not to thank, but to please and to appease the gods. It would
not be until the autumn festivals, when the crops were safely harvested,
that these ancient people would heave a sigh of relief.
Today, May Day is celebrated as a workers holiday,
a day off from work with pay, in just about every country in the world
except for the United States. The United States does not recognize May Day
as a
federal
holiday. In the U.S., workers are honored on
Labor Day, which falls
on the first Monday in September, each year.
May Day provides an opportunity to compare all
ancient cultures
or world cultures (Continents
& Cultures - East,
C&C - West) studied
to date. Briefly discuss this holiday with your students. Then ask how they
would guess each ancient culture might have celebrated May Day and why. It's
timely review. Using a holiday, especially one that is not typically celebrated
in the classroom, makes it fun.
Celebrate
May Day
Celebrating May Day Classroom
Activities
Learn about the ancient
Celts (daily life site, Donn)
HUGE
SITE - Each calendar date has lessons, free ecards, games
Beltane
Have a great year!
Counter start date January 2006
Have a great year!