~ Fantasy Masks Gallery ~
"Beltane Goddess with Fruit Crown " ~ $85 USD ~
Beltane, or May Day is one of two important Celtic festivals and is celebrated on May 1. Beltane celebrations involve the ceremonial lighting of fires and dancing around the maypole. It is considered a fertility festival and celebrated in spring when the earth is waking up from winter and rejoicing at signs of new life and growth.
What I find most interesting is a very distinct memory of dancing around the maypole in the 3rd grade at my elementary school! The teachers brought the children out of class to the basketball court where they had erected a large vertical pole. The pole had green, pink, and yellow crepe paper streamers hanging down and each child would be given a streamer to hold as the teachers had us 'dance around the maypole' in a manner that caused the streamers to have a woven effect. Of course, this was in the late 60's; now, I cannot imagine any public school celebrating this pagan holiday. Perhaps the teachers didn't actually know the meaning of the maypole dance -- or, perhaps they did! ;-)
I also remember my parents teaching us to make little baskets out of construction paper which we would then fill with flowers we had picked from our garden. It was great fun to take basket and put it on the porch of someone we liked, ring the doorbell and run!
What I find most interesting is a very distinct memory of dancing around the maypole in the 3rd grade at my elementary school! The teachers brought the children out of class to the basketball court where they had erected a large vertical pole. The pole had green, pink, and yellow crepe paper streamers hanging down and each child would be given a streamer to hold as the teachers had us 'dance around the maypole' in a manner that caused the streamers to have a woven effect. Of course, this was in the late 60's; now, I cannot imagine any public school celebrating this pagan holiday. Perhaps the teachers didn't actually know the meaning of the maypole dance -- or, perhaps they did! ;-)
I also remember my parents teaching us to make little baskets out of construction paper which we would then fill with flowers we had picked from our garden. It was great fun to take basket and put it on the porch of someone we liked, ring the doorbell and run!