Beltane

Beltane
/bel"tayn, -tin/, n.
an ancient Celtic festival observed on May Day in Scotland and Ireland to mark the beginning of summer.
[1375-1425; late ME (Scots) < ScotGael bealltainn, OIr bel(l)taine, perh. equiv. to *bel- an obscure element, perh. the name of a supernatural person + tene fire]

* * *

or Beltine or Cétsamain

In Celtic religion, a festival held on the first day of May, celebrating the beginning of summer and open pasturing.

Beltane was one of two turning points in the year, the other being November 1 (Samhain), the start of winter. At both, the bounds between the human and supernatural worlds were erased. On May Eve, witches and fairies roamed freely, and measures had to be taken against their enchantments. As late as the 19th century in Ireland, cattle were driven between two bonfires on Beltane as a magical means of protecting them from disease. See also Halloween.

* * *

also spelled  Beltine , Irish  Beltaine  or  Belltaine , also known as  Cétamain 

      festival held on the first day of May in Ireland and Scotland, celebrating the beginning of summer and open pasturing. Beltane is first mentioned in a glossary attributed to Cormac, bishop of Cashel and king of Munster, who was killed in 908. Cormac describes how cattle were driven between two bonfires on Beltane as a magical means of protecting them from disease before they were led into summer pastures—a custom still observed in Ireland in the 19th century. Other festivities included Maypole dances and cutting of green boughs and flowers.

      In early Irish lore a number of significant events took place on Beltane, which long remained the focus of folk traditions and tales in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. As did other pre-Christian Celtic peoples, the Irish divided the year into two main seasons. Winter and the beginning of the year fell on November 1 (Irish: Samain) and midyear and summer on May 1 (Irish: Beltaine). These two junctures were thought to be critical periods when the bounds between the human and supernatural worlds were temporarily erased; on May Eve witches and fairies roamed freely, and measures had to be taken against their enchantments.

      Cormac derives the word Beltaine from the name of a god Bel, or Bil, and the Old Irish word tene, “fire.” Despite linguistic difficulties, a number of 20th-century scholars have maintained modified versions of this etymology, linking the first element of the word with the Gaulish god Belenos (Irish: Belenus).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Beltane — Beltane, auch Beltene, Beltaine, Bhealltainn oder Bealtaine (irisch [ bʼeltanʼe]), ist im irischen Kalender der Sommeranfang. Das Fest trägt auch den Namen Cétsamuin (kymrisch Cyntefin), dieser Name bezog sich auf den Beginn der schönen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Beltane — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Beltane Beltane o Bealtaine (en irlandés Buenfuego) es un antiguo día festivo irlandés celebrado el 1 de mayo. Históricamente esta festividad se celebraba en Irlanda, Escocia y …   Wikipedia Español

  • Beltane — Bel tane, n. [Gael. bealltainn, bealltuinn.] [1913 Webster] 1. The first day of May (Old Style). [1913 Webster] The quarter days anciently in Scotland were Hallowmas, Candlemas, Beltane, and Lammas. New English Dict. [1913 Webster] 2. A festival… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Beltane — early 15c., from Lowland Scottish, from Gaelic bealltainn May 1, important Celtic religious rite marking the start of summer, probably lit. blazing fire, from PIE root *bhel (1) to shine, flash, burn (see BLEACH (Cf. bleach)) + O.Ir. ten fire,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Beltane — [bel′tān΄] n. [Scot < Gael Bealtainn] Celtic May Day …   English World dictionary

  • Beltane — Infobox Holiday holiday name = Beltane type = Pagan caption = official name = nickname = Lá Bealtaine, Bealltainn, Beltain, Beltaine observedby = Gaels, Irish People, Scottish People, Manx people, Neopagans begins = ends = date = Northern… …   Wikipedia

  • Beltane — Beltaine Beltaine (Bealtaine, Beltane ou Beilteine) est la troisième des quatre grandes fêtes religieuses de l’année celtique protohistorique, fêtée le 1er mai. Elle vient après Samain et Imbolc et marque la fin de la saison sombre et le… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Beltane — Bel|tane an ancient Celtic celebration on May 1st when fires were built ( Beltane fires) and the cattle brought to them to guard against illness in the coming year …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Beltane —    This word, variously spelled and meaning bright fire or lucky fire , is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name for *May Day, and is particularly associated with the custom of lighting *bonfires on the eve of the feast, to protect cattle from… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • Beltane Fire Festival — is an annual participatory arts event and ritual drama, held on April 30 on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. It is inspired by the ancient Gaelic festival of Beltane which was historically held on May eve and marked the beginning of summer. The modern… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”