Beltane - from morning to midnight

Beltane Festival in Ulster County, NY

My hometown has a decent sized Beltane festival every year. It is not a renfaire or any specific/organized pagan group or coven - this is truly a community event for everyone. While this might look fantastical or odd to some, this is completely normal to me and it was how I was raised. No matter where I am in the world, I make sure to make it home for this.

If you are unfamiliar with Beltane, fire festivals, and the associated traditions, here are a few informative links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/beltane_1.shtml
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=holidays&id=2765
Holiday ideas from Flora: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f8ysb-uZIQ

Tidbit: The May Queen (and King) at our festival is actually passed down from year to year. The girl in white was crowned May Queen the previous year, and she is now passing the crown to the girl in red who will continue the tradition.

I've been meaning to put together a video for a long time, but I was really inspired and motivated after the release of T by iamamiwhoami. If you are unfamiliar with the group, their viral campaign, and the meaning behind their videos, I highly recommend you check it all out.

Official music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW89Pv8QrX4
Band website: http://www.iambounty.com
Great guide to the videos: http://hellaine.livejournal.com/49637.html?thread=622821

Lyrics:
Above this world, now back again
Millions of years, where it all began
And there's a halt
For the savior who had the purest of heart
Let this be with you soon

There's a new world laid at your feet
We build an army from nothing
We raise our children to the beat
Of this comforting, bonding love

Before the dark
Sought against our ways and means
We're now against our own uphold, 'til we find a cure
And another path into the deepest hole

Behind the insecurities
There is wall of assurance
She is her own worst enemy
She fights her battles for no one

You walked my life, you took it back
We made you sing, now turn the clock
There's a was or a something new
Throw my body at the stars
Where the angels look

Let us sing here for a new beginning
You know by now
Water fills her lungs and she's inhaling
You feel that now
Underneath the stars her body's sinking
You know by now
The air is silent, not a sound

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• beltane
• may day
• pagan
• paganism
• ireland
• celtic
• gaelic
• scotland
• isle of man
• sabbat
• wicca
• neopaganism
• goddess
• gods
• polytheism
• animism
• may queen
• may king
• maypole
• green man
• oak king
• fire festival
• open circle
• may
• spring
• new york
• upstate
• new paltz
• rosendale
• tilson
• ulstery county
• faeries
• horned god
• wheel of the year
• hippies
• witchcraft
• east coast
• tribal
• twisted tassels
• vanaver caravan
• bellydance
• may lady
• may lord
• balefire
• css
• spirituality

[GreenCastlesInc]

i so wish i could come...is it like just a town thing or are others welcome ?

[usamuun]

@GreenCastlesInc It's primarily a local thing, but anyone and everyone is welcome. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

[Shadowp03]

i have watched this at least 50 times already

[JustBeingInvisible]

where is this, it looks like so much fun <3 i wish my town did this...

[sugarxsickness]

Wow, what town is this? :D It looks like so much fun! What a great community event

[sanguinaryheart]

As others have said, I WANT TO BE THERE SO BADLY <3 It looks wonderful...

[smoosei]

That is an amazing video, thank you for sharing it :)

[xNewYorkNinja]

I wished I lived upstate. Looks so much more peaceful than here in the city. :/

[Nyghtshade409]

I want to be in such a place. 

[tstalsby509]

I want to live where you live O_O