Beltane

It seems that during my trip home I have missed more than a few important dates so I am going to attempt to catch up, which may make it seem like I am a little behind the times but I see it as giving you plenty of time to get your hats ready for next year. Starting with Beltane.

I was planning on posting my beltane hats on May day but everything was taken over by royal wedding hats and so I rescheduled to post it on Picti beltane celebrated by the Scottish Picts on the 15th of May but that passed too. I love this festival and all the crazy hats that go with it so I have decided to blog it today with no significance whatsoever to the date.

For those of you that don't know Beltane is one of the four Celtic fire festivals marking the quarter points in the year with Beltane marking the beginning of summer. Fire was believed to have purifying qualities as well as representing the sun. The ritual welcoming of the sun and the lighting of the fires was also believed to ensure fertility of the land and the people. Animals were transfered from winter pens to summer pastures, and were driven between the Beltane fires to cleanse them of evil spirits and to bring fertility and a good milk yield. The Celts leapt over Beltane fires - for fertility and purification.

Edinburgh Fire society's May Queen attendants

There is only one major beltane festival still held in Scotland today, on Edinburgh's Calton Hill, where the Beltane fire society put on their annual show depicting the story of the May Queen and the green man.

This seems to be one of the few festivals of the year where men really get into the hat vibe and outshine the girls spectacularly! The hats below range from home made recreations of the Green man to couture...well, recreations of the green man, with a few May Queen options thrown in too.

Blessed Be*