Nowhere is Beltane more vivid than in Somerset, where the land still murmurs its old names, and the veil between worlds thins like morning mist.
Beneath the Mayfire: The Ancient Heart of Beltane
As April wanes and May unfurls, the season turns. This is Beltane, the festival of fire and fertility — ancient and enduring. Long before floral crowns appeared on social feeds, communities lit fires at the edge of spring, marking the abundance of life and the turning of the year.
The Festival of Fire and Fertility
Beltane (from the Celtic Bel Tene, “bright fire”) has been observed from sundown on April 30th through May 1st for centuries. It marks the midpoint between the equinox and solstice — the height of spring, when growth accelerates and the world brims with possibility.
Fires once blazed on hilltops to bless fields, livestock, and the bonds between people. Cattle were driven between twin flames for protection, couples leapt the embers in hope of love or renewal, and all the while, earth itself seemed to pulse beneath bare feet.
Somerset: Where Myth Breathes Through the Hills
Somerset, “the land of the summer people,” has long been known for its atmosphere of myth and nature entwined. At the heart of it lies Glastonbury Tor, the hill rising skyward from Avalon’s mists. Here and in the surrounding landscapes — Chalice Well, the Quantock Hills, Cheddar Gorge, and Exmoor’s mossy woods — the season’s arrival is still marked with quiet reverence.
Archetypes of the Season: May Queens and Green Men
Beltane carries imagery that recurs across time. The May Queen, garlanded in blossoms, represents vitality and renewal. Opposite her, the Green Man embodies the untamed force of nature. Together, they symbolize balance and creation — the dance between growth and grounding.
How to Celebrate Beltane in Modern Somerset
While the fire festivals of old may have dimmed in some parts of Britain, Somerset is a rare flame that still burns. Here are some of the most potent and inspiring ways to immerse yourself in Beltane's spirit:
Sunrise at Glastonbury Tor
Join a quiet but powerful pilgrimage to the summit of the Tor on Beltane morning. Bring a drum, a song, or simply your breath. Watch the sun rise over Avalon as chants rise from the stones, and the land blesses the new season.
Offerings at Chalice Well
The Chalice Well Trust holds seasonal gatherings throughout the year, including Beltane. Leave a ribbon on the Holy Thorn Tree, walk the garden’s sacred geometry, or drink from the Lion’s Head fountain in silence and gratitude.
Attend a Fire Circle or Earth Ceremony
Local eco-spiritual and pagan communities around Glastonbury, Frome, and Totnes often host Beltane circles, ecstatic dances, and rituals in private woodland clearings or eco-centres. Keep an eye on notice boards at The Assembly Rooms or The Red Brick Building in Glastonbury for community-led events.
Weave a Maypole in the Village Green
Traditional Maypole dancing can be found in towns like Dulverton, Wells, or Bruton, where communities revive old customs with color, music, and laughter. Children and elders alike spiral around the pole, re-enacting the ancient courting dance of Beltane.
Forage and Feast
May is a lush time for foraging wild herbs and flowers—hawthorn, nettle, dandelion, elderflower. Join a foraging walk (local guides abound) and create a Beltane feast using what the land offers. Eat with intention.
Re-Enchanting the Earth
Beltane is more than a seasonal turning. It is a reminder that life is cyclical, abundant, and interwoven with the land around us. In Somerset, this truth is still felt — in the curve of its hills, the shimmer of its springs, and the firelight reflected in gathering eyes.