I'm really crap at remembering when the Sabbats and Esbats are on their way and generally only remember the day before when it's often too late to arrange a proper celebration. It's only because Christmas and Easter are so well promoted with advertisements and the sale of decorations and Easter Eggs months in advance that these holidays are celebrated easily at our house. Unfortunately for a pagan in the Southern Hemisphere, these are mainly celebrated for the kids' sake, but are still fun. I'm working on being better at remembering when Yule and Ostara are due to arrive so my children can enjoy the Pagan holidays as well as the commercialised Christian holiday. What kids wouldn't love to have Christmas and Easter twice a year?
Beltane (also spelled Beltaine) this year was pretty much the same - only remembered it this morning after trying to mental note a few weeks ago that it was coming up. I tried to explain the day to the boys as being about love and marriage to which Mr nearly 7 replied 'yeah, yeah, blah blah..." Clearly it's not as exciting as that other holiday being celebrated today. Those in the Northern Hemisphere are celebrating Halloween tonight, and many people here are following suit. I know there are some kids in our street trick or treating tonight and we will do our best to accommodate ie fun sized choccy bars at the ready.
As I'm celebrating Beltane in this house, the festival of fertility and the high point of Spring between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice (although the ceramic jack o'lantern will make an appearance tonight mainly for the kids' sake and will bring it out again in April for Samhain.). Tomorrow the kids have their usual swimming lesson but we might celebrate the day out in the garden, tidying up and getting the vegetable garden going.
I don't really do alters as it's difficult with the kids and dog around so I just went outside and brought in some flowers from one of our blossoming trees.
Tonight for Beltane eve we are having:
Fish and chips from the local. (fish has been long associated with love and sex) Chips just come with it and I'm not complaining!
Lemon Tart which I whipped up this morning. (a yummy dessert to welcome in the upcoming Summer) Lemons are also associated with love, marriage and faithfulness and the eggs in it are associated with fertility.
Might wash it down with a glass of white wine for celebration (come to think of it I celebrate quite often!)
Because I already have 3 children and am not really wanting anymore, I'll be celebrating Beltane for love moreso than personal fertility! It's just going to be a nice time to reflect on my marriage to my lovely husband.
Got to go and draw some scary faces on the kids now and rummage through the costumes.
Happy Beltane Everyone!!!
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