Beltane

E675385

Beltane is a traditional Gaelic May Day festival marking the beginning of summer, historically celebrated with bonfires, fertility rites, and protective rituals for people and livestock.

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Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Celtic seasonal festival
Fire festival
Gaelic festival
May Day festival
Pagan festival
aimsToProtect livestock
people
associatedWith Gaelic culture
Ireland NERFINISHED
Isle of Man NERFINISHED
May Day customs
Scotland NERFINISHED
blessing of livestock
cattle driving to summer pastures
fertility of animals
fertility of land
fertility of people
liminal time
protection from disease
protection from fairies
protection from spirits
protection from supernatural harm
rituals for cattle protection
seasonal transition
celebratedBy Neopagans NERFINISHED
Wiccans NERFINISHED
features bonfires
fertility rites
protective rituals
hasNameInIrish Bealtaine NERFINISHED
hasNameInManx Boaltinn
hasNameInScottishGaelic Bealltainn NERFINISHED
influences modern Beltane fire festivals
involves driving cattle between fires
extinguishing household fires
feasting
lighting new communal fires
passing people between fires
seasonal offerings
marks beginning of summer
notableModernCelebration Beltane Fire Festival in Edinburgh NERFINISHED
occursOn 1 May
oneOf four major Gaelic seasonal festivals
pairedWith Imbolc NERFINISHED
Lughnasadh NERFINISHED
Samhain NERFINISHED
partOf Gaelic seasonal calendar
revivedAs modern pagan festival
usesElement fire
smoke
water

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Wicca celebrates Beltane
Celtic festival Samhain relatedFestival Beltane
subject surface form: Samhain
Gaels traditionalFestivals Beltane