Happy May Day to you and yours.
Today, Bealtaine, is one of the ancient Celtic Fire Festivals, - I've written more about it here and about the tradition of MayFlowers where I come from.
This is positively my favourite time of year to be at home and in this old garden which was planted back in the 1930s and still has traces of violets and cowslip through the lawn as well as these lovely buttercups - although they look more like Marsh Marigolds to me.
The large golden flowers of Marsh-marigold certainly look like the cups of kings and the Latin name Caltha is derived from the Greek for 'goblet'. Hence, Marsh-marigold is also commonly known as 'Kingcup'. It is a widespread plant of ponds, marshes, damp meadows, ditches and wet woodland and, before the draining of the landscape for agriculture began, was a conspicuous spring flower. Source : www.wildlifetrusts.org
To the Celts, the winter sun reigned from sunset on 31st October (Samhain) to sunrise on 1st May (Bealtaine) and on that day, his daughter, the Cailleach Bhéara (The Old Woman of Beara) turned to stone. Then the summer sun reigned for the other six months of the year.
Happy May Day and may summer bring you blue skies and big smiles. Do you observe any MayDay traditions where you live?
What a rich culture you have in song and music. And pretty May flowers too.
ReplyDeleteHi Fil - I too love this time of year ... it's the best - and your choice of Dolores' singing .. it is mournful, but so beautiful ..
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Spring and early summer .. cheers Hilary
I love love love celtic tales and history. I told you I have celtic roots (a short story, but not pertinent now :) and I simply ALWAYS loved celtic traditions... so as I read your amazing post, about Bealtaine and kingscups, and listen to this phenomenal song... I feel nostalgic, in a way I can't explain - like a "lost path"? I don't know, but it's like I have been part of it... studies say that the DNA remembers all... I don't know, but it's an incredible sensation :) Too much written, probably nonsense, but I just wanted to say that I love learning from what you write! Dolores Kean (an important name in my family, by the way) is now one of my favorite singers! Thank you so much for that!
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I hadn't even registered that this was Walpurgis Nacht of May Day. Too many other things taking up my attention I guess.
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