Earth-Based Family Traditions for Beltane

Beltane marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere, at least in terms of the weather and temperatures and what it feels like to us. It’s getting warmer, there’s lots of sunshine, and folks are enjoying the first fruits and vegetables of the growing season. Animals both wild and domesticated are burgeoning with new life—lambs, chicks, calves, kids, and cubs.

From a Gaelic Polytheist point of view, Beltane celebrates the fertility of our world and what it means for our survival and simply having enough to eat and make it through the winter that will come again. Lights are extinguished and relit from communal hearth fire. Bread and first fruits are shared. In many communities, a lively Maypole Dance marks the occasion. Livestock are sained by driving them between bale fires for purification and productivity of offspring and milk. Couples longing for children in the upcoming season might jump over the same low-burning fires, as well.

In modern times, some earth-based practitioners also see Beltane as a time to celebrate other forms of fertility and creativity that center on the arts and other work productivity. Others often celebrate sexual pleasure apart from any baby-making that might result in such joys. All of these are meaningful and appropriate ways to celebrate the turning of the wheel to Beltane and to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

If you have younger children, however, you might find that the adult focus on sexuality in many worship groups makes it difficult to include your littles into community life and worship. When mine were that age, I was in communities that had such a strong ritual focus on strictly cis-hetero al fresco carnal relations, as the popular song says, that I wasn’t always sure what to do with my kids.

So I’ve compiled a list of child-friendly experiences to help the younger set celebrate Beltane. These are in no particular order of significance, and while all of these activities are for younger children, they aren’t specifically toddler safe or practical for all families. Choose any that you find meaningful and appropriate for your own young ones.

Make butter

Kids have so much fun with this! All you need are small glass jars, such as baby food jars, and some whipping cream. Pour about three tablespoons of cream into each jar, put the lid on tightly, and let your child shake it up until butter forms. It takes just long enough for that amount of cream to make butter, but not so long that it gets boring.

You’ll wind up with a knob of butter and a small amount of buttermilk. Rinse the butter (in COLD water!) You can save the buttermilk for baking if you like. You might also knead a pinch of salt into the butter at this point. Kids love, love, love eating their own butter on a muffin or piece of toast!

Caution: I’ve seen some instructions that suggest using film canisters. Does anybody have those anymore? Probably not, but I should point out that no amount of washing them will remove all the silver halide from the film, and it’s toxic. Don’t use film canisters.

Make lemonade

Recipes abound for lemonade. You can squeeze fresh lemon, depending on the ages you’re working with, but bottled works just fine, too. Add water and sugar or lemon-lime soda to taste. You could be super fancy if you like and add food-grade lavender, grenadine, or water flavorings to your lemonade.

Go camping or build a bonfire

Suit your family’s situation to this. Can you get away to a campground? It will be a memorable experience! Can you pitch a tent in the backyard? You kids will look at their known world with new eyes. Can you make a tent out of blankets in the living room and have a picnic? You and your kids will have a blast!

Make a fire outside in a fire pit or campfire, checking local laws and safety requirements, and make s’mores.

Bless your pets

“Drive” your “livestock” through two flames to sain them. If you have fire safety concerns, use two LED candles. Yummy pet treats for an after-blessing snack are highly appropriate.

Volunteer at a local food bank as a family

Not everyone in our community is privileged to share in the bounty Beltane represents. Volunteering at the food bank and distributing food to others can be a fun and educational way to celebrate the first fruits of the season. Or you might gather a donation for a local pantry, if you are able. Kids love to do things that help others.

In the event none of the above is possible, as a family, you could go to freerice.com and do the educational activities there. Each correct answer means a donation to world hunger agencies. Work as family to collect a total of 100,000 grains of rice in your bowl, and you will fed one hungry person for one day.

Bake a fruit or veggie pizza

Recipes for these are easy to find online, so I won’t give lots of details here. They usually involve premade dough or crust, cream cheese, and an assortment of either chopped fruits or vegetables. Suit your family’s dietary needs and tastes.

Ritual

If you’re solitary in your practice, but want to involve your family, you can use bubbles to call in the four directions, the Land, Sea, and Sky, or other appropriate entities. Fun, safe, and if it gets spilled, it’s just soap!

No Maypole? Fasten colorful ribbons to a stick and have a parade or a dance.

Set intentions

Help your child set one, two, or three intentions for this “growing season.” How can they grow over the summer? Maybe they have a skill they could learn or a goal to reach. Write them down if they aren’t writing yet and post them in their room or on the fridge so they can keep their intention in focus and track their progress.

Wishing you and yours a blessed Beltane and summer. May it be filled with growth, intention, and grace! ~ Beth

~ Beth Buchanan is a long-time Kansas City-area pagan, Gaelic Polytheist, and author of The Wheel of the Year series. You can find her at https://bethbuchananauthor.wordpress.com