Beltaine, or Beltane, is one of the major Sabbaths of the Celtic year. It is celebrated between April 30 and May 1. Its position in the calendar, 6 months after the start of the Celtic year, makes it a particularly important holiday. The Celtic year was split in two: it started with the dark part in Samhain (which we know in its popularized form of Halloween) while the light part started with Beltaine.
This holiday celebrates growth, abundance and fertility, love and sexuality at this time of the year when the strength of the sun is increasing and the vegetation is in full bloom. Fire, water and flowers are the essential elements of this celebration.

In fact, in many European countries it was customary to light large fires between which cattle were passed, a magical act which had the property of protecting animals and therefore milk and meat. The population did the same, jumped over fires or danced around, in order to guarantee good harvests. These fires, which are still lit today in many countries, provided health and protection.
Water also holds a major place in the Celtic celebrations of May 1: the first water drawn from the well in Beltaine was considered particularly powerful and magical. Moreover, Druidic ceremonies sometimes took place around the wells. The May Day dew was also known for its cosmetic virtues!
Finally, flowers, especially yellow, were widely used in celebrations: depending on the country, they lined the thresholds of houses or decorated cows and milking instruments with wreaths of flowers.

Various customs derive from all these practices. In many places young people would disappear into the woods the day before May Day only to return the next morning with their arms laden with branches, foliage and flowers. We still decorate "May trees" or "May bushes" and dance around, of course!

Here are some ideas if you want to celebrate this holiday: more than ever, it is the moment to reconnect with nature (well, at the moment, it will not be more than an hour and in nature which is less than one kilometer from your home!). Take a walk, garden, plant flowers, vegetables or even a tree!
Beltaine being also related to blessing and purification, this is the perfect time to take care of the house, clean it, let in light, put candles in the evening, flowers etc. And nothing prevents you from rolling in the dew of your garden like many women did!
Being creative is also a good way to celebrate this day: so get your brushes, tablets, cameras etc.!
Finally, Beltaine celebrates love and fertility. You can plant a decorated branch in your loved one's garden or you can always slip into the woods with your loved one, just like we used to do (but grab a yarn, it's still cool) .