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Description
The first of May was a very important day for the Celtic people. It was the festival of Beltane which marked the beginning of summer and was celebrated with fire. Beltane was associated with important events in Irish mythology, such as the arrival of the Tuatha de Danann and the mating of the god Dagda and the goddess Boann.

The festival name is synonymous with the month marking the start of summer in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. In Irish, the festival is called Lá Bealtaine, while the month of May is Mí na Bealtaine.

Beltane was a time to protect cattle, people and crops, and to encourage growth. Special bonfires were kindled, whose flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around or between bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused and then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire.

These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food and drink would be offered to the aos sí, or fairy folk. Doors, windows, byres and livestock would be decorated with yellow May flowers, perhaps because they evoked fire. In parts of Ireland, people would make a May Bush: typically a thorn bush or branch decorated with flowers, ribbons, bright shells and rushlights¹. Holy wells were also visited, while Beltane dew was thought to bring beauty and maintain youthfulness¹.

Beltane was also a time of fertility and love. Couples would spend the night in the woods or fields and return with flowers or branches to decorate their homes. The god Belenus, whose name means 'bright' or 'brilliant', was associated with Beltane and may have been a sun god or a fire god.

Description
The first of May was a very important day for the Celtic people. It was the festival of Beltane which marked the beginning of summer and was celebrated with fire. Beltane was associated with important events in Irish mythology, such as the arrival of the Tuatha de Danann and the mating of the god Dagda and the goddess Boann.

The festival name is synonymous with the month marking the start of summer in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. In Irish, the festival is called Lá Bealtaine, while the month of May is Mí na Bealtaine.

Beltane was a time to protect cattle, people and crops, and to encourage growth. Special bonfires were kindled, whose flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around or between bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused and then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire.

These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food and drink would be offered to the aos sí, or fairy folk. Doors, windows, byres and livestock would be decorated with yellow May flowers, perhaps because they evoked fire. In parts of Ireland, people would make a May Bush: typically a thorn bush or branch decorated with flowers, ribbons, bright shells and rushlights¹. Holy wells were also visited, while Beltane dew was thought to bring beauty and maintain youthfulness¹.

Beltane was also a time of fertility and love. Couples would spend the night in the woods or fields and return with flowers or branches to decorate their homes. The god Belenus, whose name means 'bright' or 'brilliant', was associated with Beltane and may have been a sun god or a fire god.