Lá Buí Bealtaine [Video]
Golden Days of Bealtaine - ‘We Brought the Summer With Us”
Bealtaine marks the beginning of summer in the ancient Celtic calendar. It is a Cross Quarter Day, halfway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. In ancient times, bonfires were lit to mark a time of change and transition, celebrating the season's turning.
It is the time of year when our ancient ancestors celebrated the coming of the Sun, the vibrant life energy of the sun, and the fullness of Summer. Rituals were practised in the hope of a good harvest later in the year and to protect the people from harm from the otherworld. The bonfires were also lit to protect animals as they moved to other pastures for the summer months.
Bealtaine - Origins in Ancient Ireland
The name Bealtaine derives from the Irish meaning “Bright Fire” or Beal-tine (mouth of fire). In the Old Irish, “bel” also means “good, fortunate, safe”, - so it can also mean the bright or “Goodly” fire. In modern Irish, the usual meaning of “bel”, is a “way or path” (“bealach”) - so the “way of fire” can be another interpretation of Bealtaine.
The earliest mention of Bealtaine is in the medieval texts Tochmarc Emire and Sanas Cormaic. These texts say that Bealtaine was held on 1st May and marked the beginning of summer. The texts describe the ritual to protect cattle from disease, how the druids would make two fires “with great incantations” and drive the cattle between them.
I have always found it very beautiful how our early ancestors marked the changing of the seasons of nature and the changing season in their own lives, too, with ritual.
Our early Neolithic (Stone Age) people built stunning monuments such as Brú na Boinne (Newgrange), aligning them to the major solar events - the Winter Solstice, the Spring Equinox, the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. The solar year was further divided to mark the halfway points between the major solar events, giving the cross-quarter days of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain.
There is a Stone Circle in County Donegal called Beltany Stone Circle, whose name is derived from Bealtaine. The sunrise at Bealtaine is aligned with the only decorated stone in the circle, dating from around 1400-800 BC. The circle has 64 stones today, situated at the summit of Tops Hill. There were originally 80 standing stones on the site. It is a beautiful reminder of the landscape, of the power of ritual and celebration of the seasons in the lives of our ancestors.
Traditional Customs at Bealtaine
Traditional customs, particularly involving fires, marked Bealtaine. Old fires were extinguished in the hearth, and new fires were lit from the old flames. At this time every year, our early Irish ancestors gathered on the Hill of Uisneach in County Westmeath, lighting fires on that sacred hill. It can be seen by the surrounding countryside for miles and miles. This was to welcome the Summer in.
Ancient verses known as the ‘Dindshenchas’ (Lore of Places) tell us that the first great fire was lit on the Hill of Uisneach by the druid Míde (the eponym of Meath). The fire burned for seven years, and across the land, every chief’s hearth was lit from it.
The Symbolic Significance of Bealtaine
Symbolically, when we think of Bealtaine and the fire lighting, we are symbolically casting off the darkness of winter and embracing the fires in our own lives— a fresh new beginning. Fire is also symbolically associated with imagination and creativity as well as renewal. Summer is full of abundance. Flowers and foliage are in full bloom. It is a season of growth, power, and passion, too. Eros and the renewal of life. Bealtaine is also associated with the Goddess Ériu; the goddess Ireland is named after - Ériu - Éire. She is the goddess of fertility, abundance and sovereignty.
Archetypally, fire is seen as the essence of life, represented by the sun. The sun makes life on earth possible. Fire brings warmth and inspiration. The fire archetype also suggests paradox because fire is a very destructive force. In the landscape, fire can cause great damage and harm. It destroys and can serve a regenerative purpose, where new growth and fresh life can flourish. Fire is a part of the cycle of life. Creation and Destruction. It demands respect. With the fires of Bealtaine, we are reminded of the symbolic fires of transformation and renewal, what needs to be cleared away in our lives for new life to flow in.
Thugamar Fein an Samhradh Linn
In this month of Bealtaine, I am always reminded of this ancient Irish folk song lyric - Thugamar Fein an Samhradh Linn (We brought the Summer with us). I often find myself humming it. It is a traditional, very ancient song whose author and date are unknown. It is traditionally sung on May Day to celebrate Bealtaine and the coming Summer. It has passed down the generations and is of very ancient origin. It is a real celebration of Summer. It is still very much part of the living tradition in Ireland today. Many Irish people learned this song in school. It has been passed down and survived through the centuries.
The earliest written version appears in the Neales’ Collection of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes in 1726, considered the first real collection of exclusively Irish folk music.
I love the sense of rejoicing it evokes that Summer has finally arrived. It is full of hope and lightness, and like all these ancient Gaelic songs and poetry, it is a felt sense of connection to our ancestors, a deeply rich and mysterious lens into the ancient Gaelic world.
Samhradh, samhradh, bainne na ngamhna,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Samhradh buí na nóinín glégeal,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Thugamar linn é ón gcoill chraobhaigh,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Samhradh buí ó luí na gréine,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Bábóg na Bealtaine, maighdean an tSamhraidh,
Suas gach cnoc is síos gach gleann,
Cailíní maiseacha bán-gheala glégeal,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Cuileann is coll is trom is caorthann
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
An fuinseog ghléigeal bhéil an Átha
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Samhradh, samhradh, bainne na ngamhna,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Samhradh buí na nóinín glégeal,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Bábóg na Bealtaine, maighdean an tSamhraidh,
Suas gach cnoc is síos gach gleann,
Cailíní maiseacha bán-gheala glégeal,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Samhradh, samhradh
Samhradh, samhradh
Is cé bhainfeadh dínn é?
Samhradh, samhradh
Is cé bhainfeadh dínn é?
Is cé bhainfeadh dínn é?
Ó lui na gréine
Summer, Summer, milk of the calves,
We have brought the Summer with us.
Yellow summer of clear bright daisies,
We have brought the Summer with us.
We brought it with us from the leafy woods,
We have brought the Summer with us.
Yellow Summer from the time of the sunset,
We have brought the Summer with us.
Mayday doll, maiden of Summer
Up every hill and down every glen,
Beautiful girls, radiant and shining,
We have brought the Summer with us.
Holly and hazel and elder and rowan,
We have brought the Summer with us.
And bright ash-tree at the mouth of the Ford,
We have brought the Summer with us.
Summer, Summer, milk of the calves,
We have brought the Summer with us.
Yellow summer of clear bright daisies,
We have brought the Summer with us.
Mayday doll, maiden of Summer
Up every hill and down every glen,
Beautiful girls, radiant and shining,
We have brought the Summer with us.
Summer, summer
Summer, summer
And who'd take it from us?
Summer, summer
And who'd take it from us?
And who'd take it from us?
From sunset
