Beltane Traditions upheld in Glastonbury celebrations

Dancing at the White Spring Glastonbury Beltane

I'm getting very excited to be going down to Glastonbury for Beltane again this year. I have just been reflecting on how we celebrate Beltane in Glastonbury and how this mirrors the traditional way Beltane would have been celebrated. Beltane marks the beginning of Spring and the union of the Goddess and the God. Beltane is a really joyous Sabbat and I thought I would dig out a few photographs that show the wonderful happiness that show the fun that this time on the Wheel of the Year represents. Our Mother Earth Gaia is coming alive at this time of year, and this is a fabulous time to celebrate. In Glastonbury at Beltane we watch the dawn from the top of Glastonbury Tor

Blessing the Fire Glastonbury Beltane

which is a wonderful sight to behold. Beltane is a fire festival, traditionally cattle were driven between two Beltane fires to cleanse them and protect them from disease for the coming year. At Glastonbury we leap the fire in traditional manor to bring luck and fertility to our lives. 

The maypole has long been a traditional part of Beltane celebrations. The tall maypole is

Maypole outside Goddess Temple

said to be a fertility symbol and often young girls touched the maypole in the hope of bringing fertility into their lives. We enjoy dancing around the maypole at the Goddess temple on Beltane eve, at the Chalice Well gardens and again at Bushey Coombe. There is always much singing and dancing as there would have been in times gone by. 

Maypole dancing Bushey Coombe Glastonbury Beltane