Glastonbury Beltane
A tale of seasonal fertility
During our visit to Rhodes this May, I noticed brightly coloured phallus-shaped bottle openers, eye-catching and displayed outside various shops. These items represent a whimsical blend of ancient Greek fertility symbolism and modern novelty. And speaking of fertility, May 1st marked Beltane, a Celtic festival observed in England that is bursting with energy to herald the summer’s fertile and fruitful season.
“Hail bounteous May that dost inspire
Mirth and youth and warm desire!
Woods and groves are of thy dressing,
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.”
In mythology, Beltane and Samhain (Halloween) are celebrated as nights of the spirits, moments when the veils between our world and the spiritual realm are at their thinnest. Beltane embodies a time when the boundaries between people and passions, restraint and release, dissolve, inviting embraced connection.
Morris dancers celebrate the Beltane Dawn ©Martin Urch
Mayday embodies the life-giving forces of nature, revealing the magic and wonder of the growing season. Druids and Pagans embrace Beltane’s fiery, passionate spirit, celebrating with barefoot dancing, floral garlands, and toasting with sweet mead to honour spring’s peak and the turning of seasons.
Mead
he honey-based drink has long been a cherished tradition among newlyweds in Celtic culture, designed to inspire fertility and symbolise the sweetness of love and bright new beginnings during a month-long celebration following weddings. Mead links to the term “honeymoon,” where “honey” embodies new love, while “moon” reflects the lunar cycle that guides the bride and groom towards creating new life.
Glastonbury
Glastonbury was calling and I had to be there. This festival pulses with the vibrant energy of the town’s reputation as a spiritual haven, intricately linked to ley lines and iconic landmarks like Glastonbury Tor and Chalice Well. Their Beltane festival bursts forth as a thrilling blend of ancient rituals and contemporary festivities, offering an extraordinary glimpse into Celtic traditions and the spirit of community. Get ready for an unforgettable experience filled with magic and celebration!
Chief Druid Rollo Maughfling leads the pre-dawn ceremony. ©Martin Urch
Sunrise
Before dawn on May 1st, I walked to the breathtaking top of Glastonbury Tor for the 5:00 a.m. Druid Ceremony. It included pleas for peace and blessings for the May Day sunrise that heralds the coming of summer. Just as Chief Druid Rollo sounded his horn, the sun burst over the horizon, and two fiery hot air balloons emerged, soaring majestically towards us. Meanwhile, spirited Morris dancers filled the scene with vibrant energy. What an exhilarating way to welcome the day!
The sacred fire keeper. ©Martin Urch
Fire
It was a hot May Day in the UK, blessed with clear blue skies and building to a sizzling afternoon temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. The 7 am fire ceremony erupted into life at Chalice Well, a sanctuary for reflection and renewal. The morning light danced through the trees, casting a magical glow over the scene filled with drumming and Pagan songs.
Our narrator captivated everyone with tales of Beltane’s fire ceremony, describing a spiritual custom marking the sun’s growing strength and the rising sap of summer. She said that to leap over a sacred fire is an ancient tradition to invoke fertility for people and the land, while passing through its smoke will cleanse negative energies—a symbolic act of renewal.
Leaping through fire and smoke. ©Martin Urch
Parade
The Glastonbury Beltane parade is a magnificent celebration. By 11 am, the streets brimmed with visitors, captivated by the town crier, enchanting bardic performances, Morris dancing, a choir, and the lively beat of dragon drummers. Beltane signifies a powerful release, a great breath to exhale following the long inhale of winter. At midday, the May Queen was blessed and led a maypole procession, with live music played at full volume, through the town.
Dancing with joy and mead. ©Martin Urch
Maypole
The maypole has red and white ribbons, symbolising man and woman, that are intertwined in dance as a symbol of love and union. Glastonbury’s maypole is taken to and erected at Bushy Combe hilltop for the marriage of the May Queen and King. The community barefoot ‘Dance the May’ to music while drinking from goblets of mead. Couples touch the maypole in unity pledges. Then, in the late evening, the maypole is taken to White Spring to replace last year’s, which is, in turn, ceremonially burnt with final offerings.
Young couple’s unity pledge at the Maypole. ©Martin Urch
Conclusion
A revival is currently happening in England, where an increasing number of people are reconnecting with natural spaces and participating in ancient seasonal customs. Historically, the Romans claimed that the Druids first set foot in Britain, and what an enchanting chapter of our history! The modern Druid and Pagan community’s love, trust, and energy enhance the Beltane experience for everyone involved. Attending the festivities in Glastonbury presents a unique opportunity to experience the remarkable cultural spectacle and engage meaningfully with tradition.
What next?
Experience the thrilling Hunting of the Earl of Rone, an Ascension Day tradition in Combe Martin! Banned in 1837 for its wild antics, this legendary reenactment returned in 1974. Watch as valiant grenadiers fire at the Earl, who dramatically falls, only to be revived by the whimsical Hobby-horse and mischievous Fool. They hoist him, facing backwards on his donkey, as the tale continues. It’s an exhilarating spectacle filled with rich tradition!
Martin Urch Photography owns the copyright to all writing and images.
