Beltane Maypole!

Lo some pretty young thang is gonna drag out of your seat for a twirl...:D
 
Greenman- XTC

Please to bend down for the one called the Greenman
He wants to make you his bride
Please to bend down for the one called the Greenman
Forever to him you're tied

And you know for a million years he has been your lover
He'll be a million more
And you know for a million years he has been your lover
Down through the skin to the core

Heed the Greenman
Heed the Greenman

Please to dance round for the one called the Greenman
He wants to make you his child
Please to dance round for the one called the Greenman
Dressed in the fruits of the wild

And you know for a million years he has been your father
He'll be a million more
And you know for a million years he has been your father
Run to his arms at the door

Lay your head, lay your head, lay your head, lay your head on the Greenman
Lay your head, lay your head with mine
Lay your head, lay your head, lay your head, lay your head on the Greenman
Build a bed out of oak and pine

See the Greenman blow his kiss from high church wall
And unknowing church will amplify his call
 
while humming a song I walk through this thread dropping flowers as I go....
 
Re: Re: Beltane Maypole!

Kalypso said:
What? You just getting started???

You east coast people...you should have already started this thread!:D
 
Rhiannon rings like a bell thru the night
and wouldn't you love to love her?
she rules her life like a bird in flight
and who will be her lover?

all your life you've never seen
a woman , taken by the wind
would you stay if she promised you heaven?
will you ever win.........?

CHORUS: Rhiannon......
Rhiannon......
Rhiannon......

she is like a cat in the dark
and then she is the darkness
she rules her life like a fine skylark
and when the sky is starless

all your life you've never seen
a woman..taken by the wind...
would you stay if she promised you heaven?
will you ever win.....?
will you ever win.....?

CHORUS:
Rhiannon......
Rhiannon......
Rhiannon......

Dreams unwind
Love's a state of mind
 
Cleo32 said:
History lesson please?

Edited to add:

Will dance for information.

Now get on those dancin' shoes!

May Day, which was also called Beltane (Bright Fire) by the Anglo-Saxons, was considered the first day of summer. May Day was symbolic of a return to life, of the defeat of the hard winter, with new hopes for good planting and rich harvests. Beltane was the time of milk and honey, the primary time of pleasure, of blossoming and blooming, of desire and satisfaction, so the cow and the bee were both significant symbols for this celebration. The cow's miraculous ability to create great amounts of milk and the bee's creation of honey, the sweetest food on earth, were absolutely magical. After blessing the cows with protective bonfire smoke, they were turned out to pasture. Because of the abundance of grass, the milk was of finer quality, the cows yielded much more abundantly, and had to be milked 3 times each day. So it was in May that the Anglo-Saxons began making cheese. Special May Day sacrifices were offered, even including human beings. The people built great bonfires on hillsides, leaped over flames, or drove cattle through them. Large oatcakes, called bannocks, were eaten as part of the festivities. Traditionally a portion of the cake was burned or marked with ashes. The unfortunate soul who received the marked piece was sacrificed to the gods. More recently, the recipient simply jumped over a small fire 3 times instead. It is said that the custom of leaping over flames continued in some parts of Britain as late as the 18th century--the height of their leaps was supposed to forecast the height of crops.
 
[O my luve's like a red, red rose]

O my luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June:
O my luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry.
And the rocks will melt wi' the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve !
And fare thee weel a while !
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho' it were ten thousand mile


Robert Burns
1759-1796
 
Okay but why wind a bunch of ribbons around a pole???

:confused:

Traditionally, this is a large fir tree cut and its branches removed. The evergreen branches are woven into wreaths and flowers are added for decoration. Just as in the Yule celebration, the evergreen symbolises the everlastingness of life and the circle is the unbrokeness of time. The Maypole dance is also a circle and spiral dance. (like the Samhain rituals only this time with ribbons and flowers) Again, traditionally, young unmarried men and women decorated the large pole with ribbons. (usually red and white but some chose other colours) Then the men take one color and the woman another and they work opposite each other weaving a pattern as they go around the pole. This weaving symbolises the tapestry of life, a symbolic death and resurrection.
 
Merry Meet and Hearted Bright Beltane Blessings to each and all :)


Havent yet been to a Beltane celebration so may as well wing it;

( smiles bowing to each lady, offering a dance and twirling often those whom wish it )
 
The Queen of the May.

The Sacred Marriage between the Lord and Lady takes place at this time of year. Persons representing the Lord and Lady, the King and Queen of the May, were chosen with methods similar to those described above by MsMuffet. LukkyKnight's sometime avatar depicts the Lord in his Jack 'o the green guise. The May King (bedecked in leafy greens or with stag horns representing the Horned God~depends on your tradition~) mates with the May Queen ( a virgin) to promote fertility across the land. (a really excellent description of this is in The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley) Many traditions now only treat this mating symbolically. (although many handfastings are performed at this time...I'll explain handfasting some other time) However this is a time to celebrate life and its continuance, so, a lot of folks will sneak off to the forest together ...
 
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