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Beltane or Lร Bealltainn (Scottish Gaelic, pronounced Byal-din) is held on 1st May and is one of the four quarter festivals of the Gaelic year.
The etymology of the word is uncertain, with folklorists believing its root is from the name of the Phoenician god Baal, and others believe it's root comes from old English bรฆl meaning fire, bonfire, or bale (fire). Other's think it stems from the Celtic god Bel or Belenos. It has a strong association with fire, and is often described as a fire festival due to its connection with the sun and the coming of summer, as well as the traditional use of bonfires and balefires to drive cattle through to rid them of evil or illness.
Lร Bealltainn was seen as the beginning of summer and usually a time when cattle were driven out to their summer pastures.
This was also a time when it was believed witches would be up to their mischief and so people would put protections on their livestock and property by saining them. It was believed that those skilled in charms and magic were particularly powerful on quarter days, and so folk would ensure not to give out loans or even fire to a neighbour (in the form of kindling) as it was believe this could give them the means of taking the toradh (substance, benefit) from it. This was why blessing and protecting livestock was also important, in particular cattle so their milk couldn't be spoiled or stolen through magical means. If one did happen to to share their belongings or fire with another, even by accident, they would throw a piece of burning peat into a tub of water as soon as the neighbour left. This would counteract any evil intentions.
Houses and byres were decorated with hoops made from rowan, ivy and bramble to stop witches and fairies interfering. Tar was put behind the ears of cattle and the root of the tail on Bealltainn Eve
On 1st May, it was traditional to visit holy or healing wells to make a wish or seek a cure to an illness. St Fillans well was one such visited, as well as St Anthony's well in Holyrood Park where Edinburgh lasses visited at Beltane to drink from and make a wish.
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