form the Celtic Custom book....
CELTIC. To the Celts the winter sun Grianon reigned from sunset on 31st
October (Samhain or Samhuinn) to sunrise on 1st May (Beltane or Bel),
and today his daughter Cailleach Bheur (Scots Gaelic) or Cally Berry
(Ulster) or Caillagh ny Groamagh (Manx - The old Woman of Gloominess),
the goddess of winter, turns to stone. The two great fire festivals of
the Celts, Samhain and Beltane, in honour of the sun, are thus six
months apart. Beltane may derive its name from the Celtic pastoral god
Belenos, or it may be derived from the old Celtic for 'bright fire'.
Certainly it has nothing to do with the Canaanite god Baal. At fire
festivals the forces of nature were propitiated to ensure fertility,
which meant sacrifice. This was originally human, but later were
propritiated to ensure fertility, which meant sacrifice. This was
originally human, but later animals and finally food were offered.
People danced sunwise round the fires. Purification, often with the
smoke from fires, of family, house, animals, animal houses and fields
was done to protect from malevolence or mishap. Animals were driven
through the fire or hoops of rowan, and pitchforks of blazing material
carried round fields. The baking of oatcakes and their use in choosing
someone to leap through the bonfire flames was a common feature, perhaps
originally a scapegoat or sacrificial victim. Ash and charred brands
remaining were regarded as fertile and protective. House fires were put
out and rekindled from a burning faggot from the bonfire.
At Samhain the animals were brought in for the winter and the crops
harvested. Beltane fell when livestock were taken to their summer
pasture and the planting of seeds had finished. The journey was called
the Flitting, and ended with a feast of lamb.
Walpurgis Night is an important witches' festival. Malevolent fairies
were abroad and people protected their houses with crosses made from
rowan wood and with elder leaves. The latter also healed wounds.
Talismans were used as protectors, examples being crosses or other
objects made from rowan or iron, yellow flowers, salt and holy water.
The period from sunset today to sunrise on 1st May was the most feared
in terms of the actions of faeries, witches and supernatural forces.
This became the most unlucky day of the year to be born on.
As befits a day signifying a change of season and pattern of life,
divination customs were widely practised. Snails were commonly used in
divination today.
In later times, in areas of English population or influence, the Celtic
customs were gradually replaced by those of the English May festivities.
This was particularly the case in Cornwall, south Dyfed, the Welsh
Marches, and south and east Scotland. Houses were decorated with
branches of rowan, birch, sycamore or more rarely may (hawthorn). This
was called 'Bring in the May'. Blackthorn was regarded as unlucky and
was not touched. Certainly both traditions had always involved bringing
in greenery and flowers of some kind.
--
Pat Connors, Sacramento CA
http://www.connorsgenealogy.com
Professional Genealogy Research
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