Conway Mill Trust

The festival of Beltane begins on May 1 and marks the second half of the Celtic year. Beltane means “fire of Bel” after the sun god.  When summer begins, plants blossom as do good spirits.  People would gather flowers to decorate their homes and women would braid flowers in their hair.  Traditionally, a bonfire was lit at night and young people spent the night in the woods “a-Maying;”and the next morning, they danced around the May Pole.  At this time a marriage of one year and a day could take place.  A May Queen is chosen and she goes from door to door, singing and soliciting donations for merrymaking.