As April wanes and May unfurls its floral cloak, a threshold opens: not merely in time, but in spirit. This is Beltane, the festival of fire and fertility, ancient and evergreen. Long before springtime parades and floral crowns adorned social feeds, Beltane crackled at the edge of human consciousness, rooted in the loamy soil of pre-Christian Britain.The Festival of Fire and FertilityBeltane (from the Celtic Bel Tene, “bright fire” or “Bel’s fire”) was traditionally observed from sundown on April 30th through May 1st. It marks the midpoint between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice — the height of spring, when life rushes forward with abandon, and the world spills over with potential. The ancients kindled great bonfires on hilltops to honor Belenus, a god of light and healing, and to bless livestock, fields, and the bonds between lovers. Cattle were driven between twin flames to purify them. Couples leapt the fires to solidify unions or ignite new ones. And all the while, Earth herself seemed to pulse beneath bare feet.It was a time of ecstatic communion: between people and land, between seen and unseen, between the sacred and the sensual. Beltane wasn’t merely celebrated, it was embodied. Somerset: Where Myth Breathes Through the HillsThe name Somerset comes from the Old English Sumorsǣte, meaning “the people of the summer lands.” And indeed, this region, cradled in mist and myth, has long been seen as a place of spiritual awakening and natural magic.At the heart of it lies Glastonbury Tor, the sacred hill spiraling skyward from Avalon’s mists. Ancient peoples once gathered here at the liminal festivals: Imbolc, Samhain, Lughnasadh, and most fervently, Beltane. The Tor is a natural altar where earth meets sky, where lovers of the Old Ways still gather to greet the rising sun of May.Beneath the Tor flows Chalice Well, its blood-red waters rich in iron and legend. A site of pilgrimage for centuries, it may have once been sacred to Brigid, goddess of the forge, fertility, and sacred wells. On Beltane morning, the spring is adorned with blossoms and ribbons, its waters offered in quiet reverence to the energies of growth and healing.Further afield, the Quantock Hills, Cheddar Gorge, and Exmoor’s moss-veiled woods host their own quiet enchantments — places where the wild still whispers, and where the Green Man waits among the leaves. Archetypes of the Season: May Queens and Green MenBeltane is rich with archetypes that transcend time and culture. The May Queen, garlanded in blossoms, is the maiden aspect of the divine feminine, radiant and unbound. She is crowned not by authority, but by vitality. She walks barefoot upon the awakening earth, and all things bloom in her presence.Opposite her stands the Green Man, the virile force of nature. He is the consort, the trickster, the protector of wild things. His face peers from medieval church beams and Beltane masks alike, his essence rising in the sap of the trees and the call of the cuckoo.Together, they embody the sacred marriage — hieros gamos — the union of earth and sky, male and female, spirit and body. Their dance is one of balance and creation, not dominance. How to Celebrate Beltane in Modern SomersetWhile 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 TorJoin 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 WellThe 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 CeremonyLocal 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 GreenTraditional Maypole dancing can be found in towns like Dulverton, Wells, or Bruton, where communities revive old customs with colour, music, and laughter. Children and elders alike spiral around the pole, re-enacting the ancient courting dance of Beltane.Forage and FeastMay 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. Nightwalks and Moon RitesBeltane traditionally involved nighttime vigils, revelry, and connection to the moon’s energies. Take a night walk through the Levels or Mendip Hills under May’s full moon. Sing to the stars. Remember the old gods.Re-Enchanting the EarthBeltane is more than a seasonal turning. It is a reminder: that life is sacred, sensual, and cyclical. That we are not observers of nature but participants in its wild unfolding. In Somerset, this wisdom is still palpable—in the curve of its hills, the shimmer of its springs, and the firelight dancing in the eyes of those who remember.So if you find yourself called to the land this season, do not come merely to witness. Come to join—in reverence, in joy, in wild remembering.Blessed Beltane. May the fire find you.
