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Kindling the Sacred Fire
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Origins of Beltane
KINDLING THE SACRED FIRE
ORIGINS OF BELTANE Celtia, Flidais Niafer As part of our Springfest and Beltane, we re-enacted a torch run in which representatives of Celtia's clans carried the sacred fire from its kindling in Lugdunum (Lyon in ancient Gaul) to the Irish Hill of Tara. The end result was an incredible crazy quilt of history, humor, topography and imagination, seamlessly sewn together by some of the most creative writers in Celtia! As the torch passed from one hand to the next, each person added their own twist to the race, urged ever onward by a crowd of spectators from all over Ancient Worlds. It was a very special occasion, from the first spark of kindling to the blazing bonfire finale. Everyone knows that this torch run could have never happened in reality but the torch-runners and spectators brought the spirit of a Celtic fire-festival to life, each person presenting their own view of the event but all amazingly united by the flame of Beltane. What are the true origins of this festival of fire? Today most people think of maypoles and lusty couplings, or perhaps neopagan Beltane celebrations honoring the god Bel or Belenus. It is widely believed to be the traditional time for weddings or handfastings. Naturally in springtime, our thoughts turn to love. But historically, none of this accurately represents what Beltane meant to the ancient Celts. The beloved "phallic symbol" of the maypole is in fact a Germanic tradition, never used in early Irish celebrations. As far as weddings are concerned, Beltane was more likely to be a time of divorce than handfasting, as couples re-assessed their relationships after sharing the hardships of a long dark winter. The urge to literally seek greener pastures at Beltane was probably stronger than any urge to settle down. Cattle were moved to summer grazing lands, farmers went to the fields, fishers went to sea, craftspeople had their busiest season, and the overall focus of life shifted from indoors to outdoors. And the sun-god Bel? This deity was unknown in ancient Ireland. Belenus didn't appear in Britain until after the Romans came, bringing gods and goddesses from Gaul. And Beltane was not observed in Gaul, so the link with Bel or Belenus is a dead end. The earliest mention of the name Bel in Eire was made by the devoutly Christian ninth century king-bishop Cormac mac Cuilennáin in his "Glossary." This was either an off-the-wall reference to the Biblical Baal, or else he was assuming that since Bel was the first syllable of Beltane, it must be connected with Belenus. The word "Beltane" is Gaelic for the seasonal feast that marks the end of the dark half of the year. It is pronounced "bel-ten-ya" or "bel-chen-ya" and spelling varies from Irish, Scots Gaelic, to Manx. It is also known as Cetshamain in Ireland, Cyntefin in Wales, Cala Me' in Cornwall and Kala-Hanv in Brittany. The word probably stems from some ancient form of "sacred fire" or "new fire". One tradition that still holds true is the extinguishing of old hearth fires. In the darkness that follows, a new spark is kindled to ignite the bonfires from which people take a token flame to their homes as a symbolic blessing. The hearthfire was never allowed to go out except on important ritual occasions when it was deliberately smoored and re-lit. Although not really a good day for weddings, Beltane is favorable for beginning any other major endeavor. According to the Book of Invasions (Lebor Gabala) both the Partholonians and Milesians invaded Ireland on Beltane. It also marked the landing of the Tuatha de Danaan in Connacht. Both Beltane and Samhain are pivotal points of the Celtic year, the times when the most changes can be observed in the natural world. Everything seems to be in a state of flux and the borders between the material world and the Otherworld are wide open. For that reason, it is timely to wrap up old business and start new projects, pay off debts, make alliances and contracts, and consult diviners to see the future on the two pivotal points of the year, Beltane and Samhain. According to the Dindshenchas, Mide, foster son of Eriu, was the first to light a fire in Erin and this was kindled at Uisneach on Tara Hill. Even today, beacon fires are still lit atop this hill on Beltane. The lofty site of Uisnech offers the most expanive view of all Ireland, overlooking twenty counties. Bonfires lit on this summit can be seen over a quarter of the island, making it a natural center for fire festivals. A 1927 survey of Uisnech revealed a substantial accumulation of ash across the southern arc of a prehistoric ring-ditch which "must either have been a relic of a perpetual fire or else (and more probably) of a great bonfire lit at frequent intervals." Burnt remains of carcasses support Uisneach as most likely the national hearth that was described in the Dindsenchas - "the tangible traces of the great sacred flame, which made so deep an impression upon folk memory." References: Michael Dames - Mythical Ireland, Thames & Hudson, 1992 Ronald Hutton - The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles, Cambridge MA 1993 James MacKillop - Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Oxford University Press, 1998 Dinshenchas - 12th century collection of stories in verse and prose from archaic oral sources explaining origins of Irish place-names. |
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