#bealtaine — Public Fediverse posts

Hill of Uisneach, Ireland

People take part in the Bealtaine fire festival, an ancient Celtic rite that marks the beginning of summer.

Photograph: Niall Carson/PA

#photography
#Ireland
#Celtic
#festivals
#solstice
#Bealtaine
#AltText

One of the theories I explore addresses the question: why are these two Munster-Mórrígna found in seasonal *triples* celebrating #imbolc, #Bealtaine, and #Lughnasa, but not #Samhain? And the answer, I think, is that in these guises they represented stages of the Corn: Planting, Ripening, and Harvest.

That leaves one season and one goddess, but we already have a good idea: the last sheaf of the corn was woven and kept respectfully for next year, and called the #Cailleach - the same name as the goddess of Winter.

That seems to put the Mórrígan in the position of being the representation of the "Maturing/Ripening" stage of the Corn. Planting should be done by Bealtaine! Planting is Brighid's business! :)

As promised: today's issue of The Gods and Their Croziers is my second issue on the #Morrigan. Like my first Mórrígan issue it's a mess of cross-identifications, cosmic thoughts, and speculations about the wider role of the Mórrígan outside "war".

It's built around an observation, that several fairs in areas associated with the #Mórrígan, and feast days of several local saint versions of her, are held at or near #Bealtaine / #Beltane

But, it leads to interesting observations that suggest further identifications for her throughout myth and folklore: from Clídna to Aífe to Crédhe of the Yellow Hair.

As ever: this is not ”all" the Mórrígan, and it's not counter to what we already knew.

May 6th: The Mórrígan, Queen of Summer, as Sts. Inghean Bhuidhe & Cróbh Dearg
https://buttondown.com/godsandcroziers/archive/may-6th-morrigan-queen-summer-inghean-bhuidhe-crobh-dearg/

@L2actual Oh wow, that sounds fab (well, maybe apart from those the fires..! 🙈) - like a fair weather Hallowe'en bonfire, esp after the reclamation of the childers (love your phrasing!).

#Bealtaine #MayDay #Limerick #MastoDaoine

I swear I had planned the next video to be a proper mapping video, but here we go again with #Wikidata. The project did involve mapping on #OpenStreetMap, though. And just in time for #Bealtaine. https://youtu.be/OV4aL2PdjIc?is=XGovVVguGMQ_A2g-
#Holywells #IrishSaints #folklore

A very blessèd Beltane to all who celebrate (or who simply want to be included)! 🌟🔥🌼💐🌞

#Beltane #Beltaine #Bealtaine #LáBealtaine #BlessedBeltane #BlessedBeltaine #BlessedBealtaine

Lá Bealtaine shona daoibh 🌸🌼
The first day of May marks the official beginning of summer in Ireland, according to Celtic tradition.

In Ireland, it was tradition to decorate a 'May Bush', often a whitethorn or gorse bush, on May Eve or May Day, with painted egg shells, ribbons and bunches of flowers.

Image: https://doi.org/10.7486/DRI.66839k65r

#Bealtaine #LaBealtaine #MayDay

Pretty in pink ar Lá Bealtaine! Happy May Day ♡ #bealtaine #mayday #flowers #nature #photography #kerry #speirghorm #bloomscrolling #may1st #pink

Happy Lá Bealtaine - the swallows have arrived and summer's on the way 🔥

Prints: https://www.ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/bealtaine-a4-fine-art-prints

#Art #MastoArt #MastoDaoine #Ireland #FediGiftShop #Bealtaine

The Flower Moon is riding low just under the horizon tonight. The plum blossoms are fragrant, the frogs sing in the swamp. May this Bealtaine night manifest your desires with magic and will. Bíodh sé amhlaidh!
#Bealtaine #Paganism

Happy Bealtaine Eve, folks.

#mastodaoine #Bealtaine #MayDay

I should add; specific points in the calendar are rarely associated only with one God or God-narrative. So when I say that Bealtaine is the Mórrígan Festival, I'm referring to the Festival Traditions and Seasonal Associations.. but there are other things that mythically happen on Bealtaine Eve/Day that have little to do with her.

Nevertheless - these Saints of Bealtaine look very like Mórrígans, and we know at least some ancient festivals were held on sites associated with her, too. #Walpurgisnacht too has many traditions in common with Celtic #Beltane / #Bealtaine / #MayDay traditions, and I see the hallmarks of the Mórrígan's parallel mythic roles there too. I'll try to do those justice in the upcoming May 5th issue..

I'm changing the schedule for upcoming issues, again (pray I do not change it further).

I was planning a special issue for #Bealtaine (aka #Beltane) to follow up on my special issue for Imbolc. Then I realised that I didn't actually write an issue for Imbolc, I instead divided talking about it over two issues for the Fire gods who share the festival.. And actually, that sounds like a good idea for Bealtaine, too.

The next issue of TGaTC is going to be about "Saints" Cellach & Muiredach of Killala. These are the first example of the "Divine Twin" gods that I'll get to talk about, so I'm excited. I have no idea why they're being celebrated at Bealtaine, though - I see no connection yet.

Nevertheless, I'll have some detail on the festival in the "Patterns" section of that issue, scheduled for 30th April.

A performer holds an axe on fire at the #Bealtaine fire festival, marking the beginning of summer at the Hill of Uisneach in Rathnew, #Ireland, May 10, 2025. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

@photography
#festivals
#fire

A reveller poses next to a statue at the #Bealtaine fire festival, marking the beginning of summer at the Hill of Uisneach in Rathnew, #Ireland. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

@photography
#festivals

According to ancient Gaelic tradition, #Bealtaine is the time to wash your fleecy Christmas pyjamas, and put them away for the 2 months of the Irish summer.

Happy Beltane, everyone! 🌟🌸🌹🌺🌞

#HappyBeltane #Beltane #Beltaine #Bealtaine #Pagan #Neopagan

Lá Bealtaine shona daoibh go léir!🌞

''...anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh''

#Bealtaine #GaeilgeGachLá #Gaeilge

Bealtaine, blazing sunshine and beautiful today. #Bealtaine #Beltane #Summer #MayDay #Trees #Mastodaoine #Dublin #RoyalHospitalKilmainham #IMMA