Beltane

American  

[bel-teyn, -tin] / ˈbɛl teɪn, -tɪn /

noun

1. an ancient Celtic festival observed on May Day in Scotland and Ireland to mark the beginning of summer.

---

Beltane British  

/ -tən, ˈbɛlteɪn /

noun

1. an ancient Celtic festival with a sacrificial bonfire on May Day. It is also celebrated by modern pagans

---

Etymology

Origin of Beltane

1375–1425; late Middle English ( Scots ) < Scots Gaelic bealltainn, Old Irish bel ( l ) taine, perhaps equivalent to *bel- an obscure element, perhaps the name of a supernatural person + tene fire

Example Sentences

She crosses the video game’s Scottish Highlands on her journey to the coast in time for the Gaelic May Day festival Beltane, where her uncle, a lighthouse keeper, is waiting.

From New York Times

If you have any witchy or Wiccan friends, come late April, you'll likely see their tributes to Beltane popping up in your social media feeds.

From Salon

But while it may seem like a new trend sparked by recent "witchcore" aesthetics, Beltane's origins go so far back that there aren't historical, written documents to certify its inception.

From Salon

Beltane traditionally kicks off at sunset on April 30 and continues through the night into May 1, a day traditionally seen as the beginning of summer.

From Salon

There's Beltane on May 1; Lughnasadh, which notes the start of harvest festival, on August 1; Samhain, a celebration of the end of harvest season, on October 31 – November 1 ; and Imbolc on February 1, which marks the start of spring.

From Salon