28 Apr 12
2 edits
Beltane's Day - 1st May
A pagan fire festival which goes back to pre-Christian times - originating with Baal in
Phoenicia. It was supposed to encourage the crops to grow. There has been a holiday
at the start of May in many parts of Scotland for centuries. Young girls would also rise
early to wash their faces in the May dew. The custom of lighting fires at this time has
come through in place names such as Tarbolton in Ayrshire ("tor" meaning hill and
"bolton" from "Beltane". The ancient Druidic Fire Festival has been revived by "New
Age" followers who gather on the historic Calton Hill in Edinburgh.
Any of the Christians celebrate this?