My favorite visual of Beltane is from The Wicker Man. You see? I say to my Pagan friends, they rehearse! Rehearsal may just be the essential step to preventing a maypole from becoming a big ol’ puppy pile. But I’ve never been able to get my people to rehearse. I think they must prefer the puppy pile.
My favorite mythic understanding of Beltane is derived, I think, from Welsh Tradition. It is that Beltane is the New Year of the Goddess. The year, as I see it, is divided, just as the day is divided, into day and night, light and dark. The Goddess Year is the light year; from Beltane to Samhain, and the God Year is the dark year, from Samhain to Beltane. Which explains why there are Pagans who consider Samhain the New Year, and Pagans who consider Beltane the New Year—they’re both right (it’s a dessert topping and a floor polish).
There are all sorts of fun activities associated with Beltane, including (but not limited to) maypoles, bonfires, masques, anonymous outdoor sex, and athletic competitions. Take your pick.
One of my singing friends is having a concert tomorrow night that features a maypole dance. The children in her class have been practicing for weeks!
Yeah. We just fuck it up.
anonymous outdoor sex and athletic competitions.
Same difference.
I know perfectly well how you are supposed to do a Maypole, but I love turning around partway through so I get to dance with every one 😉
I hope you had a happy, bles’t Beltaine. Alas, I’ve never participated in a maypole, but have seen them done. The anticipation of a puppy pile is what makes them fun!