What is Beltane? What is Beltania?
Beltane is an ancient Celtic fire festival celebrating the bright half of the year. Traditionally, the Balefire is lit to signal the return of the sun’s strength, and people dance around the maypole which symbolizes fertility. There’s a lot more to the history, lore, activities, and symbology of Beltane, but suffice to say Beltania is not designed to reenact or recreate ancient Pagan ways. Rather, it’s a modern celebration and interpretation of this May Day tradition.
Beltania is a four-day camping and music festival, and will be filled with workshops, activities, and ritual. Beltania 2009 had seven concert performers including Lunar Fire from Boulder and we plan on Beltania 2010 being similarly filled with a variety of amazing music.
The organizers of the festival are Neo-Pagan and therefore the ritual elements, workshops, and general theme are Pagan-oriented. However, with the wide appeal of many of the musical performers and the broad appeal of many of our activities such as drum circles and workshops, we expect attendance from many who follow an Earth-centered, Goddess-centered, metaphysical, or alternative/individualistic spiritual path who might not label themselves as Pagan.
Most importantly, the organizers hope to create community, celebration, and deep spiritual connection with each other, with the Earth, and with the Divine as we each desire.