Cultural events are listed here with basic background details. For specific events, dates, and times, please see the Featured Events on the Cultural Calendar main page.

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Beltane is the Gaelic May Day festival, marking the start of the pastoral season. Beltane has a focus on fertility and protection, emphasizing the potential for new life as the year's major growing season arrives and safeguarding the crops that are produced.
The celebration is considered a fire festival, often featuring a large bonfire as the centrepiece in modern festivities. However, sometimes a small torch or candle are used instead for areas where a bonfire isn't possible.
Beltane is an ancient harvest festival but has seen a revival since the late 20th century, with Celtic neopagans and Wiccans observing it as a religious holiday.

LIKELY DATES

In the Northern Hemisphere, Beltane is held on the 1st of May, about halfway between spring equinox and summer solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere, Beltane is celebrated around the 1st of November.