Beltaine

"Unite, unite, let us all unite, 
For Summer is a-come unto day
And wihither we are going we will all unite
On the merry morning of May." 
   ____"Padstow Night Song, traditional Cornish song

    At twilight this evening, May Eve, the great festival of Beltaine begins, a
great communal celebration that excludes no one from its embrace.
Ancient Celtic celebrations involved the kindling of bonfires at this time -
indeed, the name of the festival derives from 'bright fire'. The Beltaine
fire itself was kindled in a special way: evidence from nineteenth-century
Scotland reveals that the wood had to be of nine different kinds, that
it had to be gathered by men with no metal about their persons (metal
being inimical to the faerykind), and that it had be kindled without metal.
The ancient method of fire-raising involved a fire spindle and a small
piece of wood to create friction or by the rubbing together of two oak
poles. This arduous task was traditionally performed by nine teams of
nine married men - eighty-one firstborn sons.
   Once the fire had been kindled, people danced sunwise round it and
jumped through the flames. As the fire was dying down, the animals
that had wintered over in barns and local pastures were driven, on
their way up to summer grazing, between the parted fire to ensure
their fertility. Before the coals died out, people took fire from the
ceremonial blaze to rekindle their hearths (which had been extinguished
in every household prior to the festival).

Welcome in the May by making your own fire or lighting a candle 
and singing May-time songs. Honor the coming of summer in your 
own way. Rise before dawn and wash your face in the dew tomorrow
morning to receive the blessing of Beltaine.  If you have a partner, this 
is the best time for sexual fun and frolic.