Beltane
May 1 · Level 10 · #162 of 2238
Beltane is a Gaelic festival welcoming the start of summer, with fire, fresh greenery and the return of livestock to pasture. In Ireland and Scotland, it marked a seasonal turning point when the welfare of the herd mattered to the whole community.
How it is celebrated: people light bonfires, decorate with flowers and branches, and gather for music and dancing. Modern festivals also feature theatrical processions and fire performances.
Cattle were once driven between two bonfires because the smoke and flames were believed to protect them from disease.