Beltaine
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Beltane is one of the four holidays of the Society of Ancient Irish Religion. Marking it as one of the most important days to the Senchus Calendar. It is also the day of the beginning of the Summer half of the year as well as being considered the new year instead of Samhain.
Beltaine is also the date that the Tuatha De first arrived in Ireland. In fact in some traditions where the Tuatha De have been turned into magical humans, they burn their ships upon arrival. This is used to make sense of the legends of the Tuatha De arriving on dark clouds and smoke, but also to connect their arrival to the bonfires of Beltane.
There is also reference, in Keating to the festival belonging to a deity he calls Beil. If this was true this deity would perhaps be considered a Gaelic reflection of Belenus. However this is unlikely as the etymology of Beltane refers to the fires themselves, not to any god in particular. The May Altar does perhaps suggest that there was a god or gods of Beltane likely connected to its functions.
Those functions mostly concerning the health of people, cattle and crops. Beltane ashes were normally used as protection and blessings and there are many charms and offerings made on Beltane, including in some instances worship of spirits that protect cattle.
Therefore it is likely that there were many different gods worshipped to protect and save cattle from hard ship. This could be a number of known or unknown deities.
Beltane was also considered a time where spirits would roam the earth, there are multiple legends of witches transforming into rabbits to steal milk and harm cattle. There are also numerous charms against the Sidhe, as they were thought of as moving about during this time as well as offerings for the dead as they were also thought to walk the earth.
Apart from the more public rites below, the Druids also practice several more rites and liturgy for this day.
Rites:
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Bonfires:
Beltane was a time for sacred bonfires, all fires were put out before May Eve, it is recorded amongst the modern Irish that it is bad luck to keep your fire going on May Eve. They would light these bonfires on hill tops, these were likely originally lit by a Druid and in the manner of two pieces of wood rather than any modern method.
It is also likely that offerings to the gods would've been given and prayers, the ashes were then to be spread over the crops and fields to give blessings and weeds thrown into the bonfire as an offering. As recorded in modern Ireland.
Two of the most important fires were the Uisneach and Tara fires, the Uisneach Fires were lit every Beltane and featured sacrifices to the gods. However the more important Fire was the fire of Tara, it was to be lit by none other than the High King himself, no other fire could be lit before his in Ireland or it would spell disaster for his reign. Afterwards all other fires were to take from that fire across Ireland, Saint Patrick once broke this when trying to convert High King Loegaire.
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Cattle Drive:
A druid leads the cattle through two great fires and smears ashes upon them in order to bless the cattle for health. Also suggested in the story of Bres's death by Lugh, perhaps also pointing to giving the Cattle protection from evil forces.
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Ancestor Rites:
There are several rites, recorded in the folk traditions of the Irish. The most important is the offering of cakes and milk. The record refers to this being given to the Irish that died outside of the island, possibly pointing to an older practice for those who died at sea or raiding foreign nations. However it is equally true that it may merely be for all the dead of a household, they would leave these on the table, however an altar is also likely. They would also not give out money, food or other such things to others, the record says for luck but it is equally likely that it was because it was rather meant for the dead.
They would further leave their doors unlocked for the dead to enter, however this is a dangerous practice in the modern day and it is not advised. Acts of cleaning was also disbanded for the day, perhaps pointing to the lack of work during Mayday.
left over food from the May Eve feast was also considered for the Sidhe and the dead and left out for them.
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Offerings:
Milk was supposedly made in the sign of the cross according to Records, this could point to Milk being offered religious during the festivities like it is in the Ancestors rites. Further Cows were crossed when being milked, likely apart of the Cattle Cleansing rite.
Further eggs may have been given up as an offering on May Day according to records, however never salt nor coal. Likely because they had negative association with the gods.
Other offerings included Caudle made of eggs, butter, oatmeal and milk and oatmeal cakes given to the spirits and the gods. Historically lamb was also sacrificed and lamb meat is an appropriate offering.
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Mayflowers:
According to folkloric record there was a custom that children would collect Primroses or Marsh Marigolds which they would call 'May Flowers' and lay them on their doorstep or hang them from the door on May Eve. This may call to mind the record of Keltiberians sacrificing and giving offerings outside their doors during the Full moon festival.
Further May Flowers were recorded as being tied around the horns and tail of cattle, likely because of their religious significance, giving protection to the cattle for the year.
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Maybush:
The Maybush was a bush that was decorated with flowers, ribbons, tinsels, candles and coloured eggshells and had games played around it, doing dances and singing songs and then left it out for night as an offering to the Sidhe. The bush, according to multiple records could be a number of plants, including Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Sgeach. The bush was also left in crossroads, crossroads are a common place of offering and worship.
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May Altar:
According to records, a special Altar was set up to Mary on May Eve, the statue of Mary was set up and washed in a similar manner as the blessings. This is most likely a survival of Paganism, a May altar will be set up by the Society, it will further lead prayer and wassh the idol. The Society cannot yet do this.
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Cleansing:
People in May (And most likely Beltane) would rise to wash their faces in the morning Dew. The record points this as a protection of Sun burn, however it could also be explained as gaining blessings and cleansing yourself for the rituals. The suggested time seems to have been six O'Clock in the morning before the sun rises.
Further, the first person to make it to a well was recorded to have luck for the year. Likely hinting towards another cleansing at a well or perhaps to its connection to the underworld.
Further it is recorded that people would sprinkle 'May Water' (Water from wells or other clean bodies of water onto people, crops, homes and cattle to give them blessings and protection.
It was also a time of bonfire leaping and the spreading of their ashes over fields.
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Charms:
Branches Mountain Ash, Chestnut and Rowan gathered on May Eve was considered a charms and were put by the byre and on the door for the purposes of luck and likely divine protection in records. Rowans also bless the fields and crops if hung over your door and the household.
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