I'm learning to walk through places I haven't been before. One such is the place before holidays were holidays. Under Communism, in Romania, and I believe in other Eastern European countries, May 1st was traditionally a worker's holiday, one that has today retained the simple, somewhat brutish blue-collar celebrations. It's customary here to "celebrate" May 1st with a barbecue, by littering local camping grounds, and drinking obscene amounts of beer. None of which ever appealed to me much, so for a long time, the 1st of May has meant very little to me.
This year, perhaps, it changes. I don't remember how I first learned about Beltane, but being as I am fascinated by the origins of our holidays, I can say it was love at first sight. I learned, for instance, of the Beltane bonfire, and how all the candles in your home are put out, only to be relit by light from that bonfire. Another one of those traditions Christianity "borrowed" from the pagans, and presented to the world as their own. It was, forgive the pun, enlightening to learn where that really comes from, and so much more about Beltane. How it is a midway celebration of spring, and nature, and fertility. Of flowers, and all that is beautiful. Of new life, and warmth.
Not normally a fan of cut flowers, but they are here now. A gift.
Beltane is the exact opposite of Samhain, or Halloween, as most of us know it. Like that, it has deep ties to nature and agriculture. Turns out, May 1st has as much to do with beer and BBQs as October 31st has to do with werewolves. Who woulda thought? Although feasting, of course, was customary, as is the case for most harvest and nature celebrations.
Taking more than you need, however, does not equate a celebration. In Romania, as perhaps in other countries, stuffing yourself has become synonymous to having a good time, and marking a special occasion. It doesn't sound much like either to me.
This year, I'm learning to lean towards things I resonate with, and away from those that don't, and Beltane is one such thing. I resonate with this celebration of spring, fertility, and the natural world. Though, much as I recognize aspects of myself here, as of another life, I am still only just a visitor. I try to keep an awareness that I understand little about these practices, and their weight for other people, so for now, I'm only wandering. I am learning. I am, perhaps, returning to myself in a previous life. I'm reaching about across the (digital) bonfire, to squeeze another's hand raised in this beautiful celebration of life.
For me, this Beltane is...
...Not taking more than I need.
...Eating fresh, in-season produce.
...Taking a moment to meditate on what has been so far, and on the blossoming inside and outside of my soul.
...Walking among the flowers, without cutting them down.
...Feeling the dirt under my bare feet, and hands.
...Turning off my phone.
...Letting the sunlight into my soul and eyes, to cast off the lingering vestiges of winter.
...Wearing green, for like nature, I have an infinite possibility to be reborn.
...Moving with grace, and gratitude.
...Warding off the bad and malevolent from my hearth.
...Thanking Mother Nature for everything I am, have been, and will be.
You made me laugh :-) I was thinking a lot about beltane and may 1 today... And one of those thoughts was, they turned it to a day with politics bla bla and much too much beer. Away from Feeling what it was meant to be.
Started some years ago to celebrate those days with the ful moon. This year my beltane is May 5th
:-) maybe it feels coherent for you too.
!LUV
Seems most holidays have been turned into that, no? I mean, parties are all nice and well, just seems there should be a little more :) Thanks! I'm glad you resonated. Yes, I'm becoming more attuned to the moon, and to nature, and will keep an eye out for the full moon on the 5th. Honestly, I find making small celebrations of life, to blossom and reassess is wonderful, no matter what you guide them by. Thank you!
The only significance May 1 ever had for me was the opportunity to make "May baskets" and deliver them secretly to the neighbors, hanging them on the doorknob or placing them beside the door, ringing the doorbell or knocking, and then running to hide where we could watch them open the door and find the flowers. There were usually plenty of wildflowers in bloom by then, where I grew up, and perhaps some garden perennials as well. My children were raised in a cooler climate so they never got the chance to deliver May baskets.
What a lovely tradition! I wish that had been a thing where I grew up, it definitely would've been a nicer one than BBQ and beer xD
Me too. Literally. I arrived on Tenerife on the afternoon of 2023.04.21, and I am getting used to the steep, rocky landscape.
By the way, we (Hungarians) are celebrating the labor day or labour day today (on 2023.05.01).
Have a nice day. All the best. Greetings and much love from Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
What's it like? I was actually talking to someone about Tenerife recently, and Spain is always very dear to my heart, so greetings back to you from Romania :)
At first the daylight temperatures (around 23 °C) feels very hot, and the night temperatures (even the 20 °C) feels cold. This is in the spring. The summer will be hotter. I heard that the daylight temperatures will be around 50 °C.
And you're staying long? I heard the same about the summer -- I'm thinking about moving to southern Spain for a while, but the thought of a 50C summer seems nuts (assuming summers in Hungary are similar to the ones in Romania, I'm guessing it'd be quite a shock for you too).
I am planning to (for years/decades). We will see.
I've never heard of that holiday but how you intend to celebrate it sounds incredible!
Thanks so much!
@honeydue...
You are most welcome! Thank you for deciding to post in my community! Love your positive energy, and the discovery of the content in your post was quite fascinating! I found this information on the site beltane.org:
To the pastoral Celtic people’s of Europe the changing pattern of the seasons was a matter of life and death, and marking these changes key moments in the life of the community. Beltane – “bright fire” – was one such marker celebrated in various forms across Ireland, Scotland and Man as the starting point of summer.
This is certainly something I find quite interesting... I will be researching further, thanks to your awesome post on this... I only have one small suggestion... and it is only meant to be a kind suggestion, to help elevate the awesome of your energy. Anytime you share photos with your readers... please let them/us know what device you have used, to take this unique photograph. Truly a wonderful gift you were given... Your placement screams out, "Be a fan of cut flowers!!". I hope you are having a good week... the weekend is almost here!! Love and light...
!LUV
Thank you for that! Yes, I find it fascinating how much more connected our ancestors were to the cycles of nature, and the cosmos.
Oh okay, generally when I don't attach a source, it's because the photos are my own, either taken with my phone or camera. This one was a quick smartphone snap :) will keep in mind. Thank you very much!
@honeydue, @wesphilbin(2/10) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community |
HiveWiki | 
NFT | <>< daily
Thank you so much!
!WINE
Congratulations, @wesphilbin You Successfully Shared 0.100 WINEX With @honeydue.
You Earned 0.100 WINEX As Curation Reward.
You Utilized 1/5 Successful Calls.
Contact Us : WINEX Token Discord Channel
WINEX Current Market Price : 0.093
Swap Your Hive <=> Swap.Hive With Industry Lowest Fee (0.1%) : Click This Link
Read Latest Updates Or Contact Us
Congratulations @honeydue! You received a personal badge!
Wait until the end of Power Up Day to find out the size of your Power-Bee.
May the Hive Power be with you!
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
Check out our last posts:
Support the HiveBuzz project. Vote for our proposal!
Congratulations @honeydue! You received a personal badge!
Participate in the next Power Up Day and try to power-up more HIVE to get a bigger Power-Bee.
May the Hive Power be with you!
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
Check out our last posts:
Support the HiveBuzz project. Vote for our proposal!
Thank you! You too, I hope :)
Aww hi there. What's his (?) name?