Alright, so in Colorado, it’s barely spring. Bealtainne yesterday was a chill 52 degrees in the shade, maybe it got up to 60 in the sun. However, by the ancient Irish seasons and celebrations, yesterday was the first day of summer. It makes sense; even here in Denver, we won’t have as much lower temperatures and the wet season is in full swing. (On the other hand, if the US were going by Colorado seasons, Summer wouldn’t start until the end of June and would end in November!)
Summer brings bounty and hard work. Summer brings fertile crops and grand swaths of fields awash in green. America loves summer, even as many Americans loathe winter. I don’t know how different it is in other countries; I’ve never been, myself, but here, summer is the season of increase.
Imagine some of the icons of summer: lemonade, swimming, fresh pie, Fourth of July feasts and parades. In a way, all these are celebrations of increase, from fresh berries thrown in a pie to freshly-squeezed lemons and sugar. In this “Age of Information”, very few of us actually think about why we would be celebrating such things; after all, we can get lemonade in winter now! This might be a contribution to what I’ve seen as a Neopagan backlash against more modern traditions, and being so removed from the picking of the berries and the tending of the tomatoes and corn, I’m not so sure I blame them. In a modern religion based on ancient ways, I think a Romanesque approach might be wise: The city of Rome had many people who were not agricultural in the least, but in the Roman calendar, the seasons were still closely guarded and celebrated, for in those seasons lay the survival of the entire civilization. It is still so today, and some recognize that. Others, though, so far removed from the agricultural scene, have forgotten, even despite the iconic reminders right in front of them, as shown above.
Bealtainne was a time of the lighting of the bonfires, and the cattle would then be driven through the smoke to bless them for the coming summer. Why was this done? To promote increase. To combat disease and promote high volumes of milk and cheese, so that the people would be well-fed, especially the warriors. I think a lot of people forget that the early Irish people were fighters, who often raided each other for their cattle. Being well-fed, therefore, was a requirement. Also during Bealtainne, those that could grow crops were more apt to plant in the British Isles, whereas the mainland was likely to have already tilled and planted, being farther south.
An increase is seen even in the festival aspect of this time of year. At this time period, more people are apt to brave the weather and come to a festival, or to marry (I cannot count the number of May weddings I know of!), or to attend another such type of event. Parades and block parties are all over the papers starting a little before Memorial Day. Even our own group saw a radical increase this year at Bealtainne: 34 attendees! I was impressed. And more than a little scared, considering I was the officiant that day, but I am very happy that everyone seemed to have a good time.
The blessings from the Gods were all a show of increase this Bealtainne, letting us know that they would be present, that we could continue to come together, and that we would be aided in the problems we faced. This was a wonderful omen, I thought. Of course, I also got an increase of sunburn, but that’s okay.
It was wonderful being able to celebrate the increase of summer. I’m hoping that our next ritual, Midsummer, grants similar blessings.