Beltane Greetings Card by Karen Cater

£1.60

A beautiful Beltane card by UK artist Karen Cater. Beltane, a celebration of the vitality and fecundity of the natural world, is marked on 01 May.

Karen's work is immensely detailed and meticulously researched, and the cards include a wealth of information. Here is the text from the back of the Beltane card:

In ancient times, Samhain and Beltane were the two main festivals of the year, one symbolising death and the other life in all its glory. May eve is the traditional night for young people to indulge in night time revels to encourage fertility back to the land through sympathetic magic.

In the morning people 'Welcome in the May'. Some bathe their faces in the dawn dew. Some rituals involve the death and regeneration of a ceremonial 'Obby 'Oss - any woman caught under the 'Oss is certain to become pregnant within the year. In the South East, Jack in the Green is abroad, and the Green Man elsewhere. And every Morris Dancer worthy of the name dances to welcome in the Summer. The illustration shows this at Kits Coty in Kent - a modern, very widespread custom reflecting the woodland revels of the past.

This card comes cellophane wrapped and has a bright green envelope.

It measures 6" x 4" (15cm x 10.5cm).

It's blank inside for you to write your own message.

Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. Beltane means "fire of Bel", one name for the Sun God, whose coming to manhood the festival celebrates. As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails.

Associated colours are red and white, and associated herbs are ash, cinquefoil, frankincense, marigold, meadowsweet, and woodruff. Angelica, bluebells, daisy, hawthorn, ivy, lilac, primrose, and roses can be used as offerings or decorations.

In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unbridled sexuality and promiscuity; young people would spend the entire night in the woods "A-Maying," and then dance around the phallic Maypole the next morning. The Maypole was a focal point of the old English village rituals. Many people would rise at the first light of dawn to go outdoors and gather flowers and branches to decorate their homes. Women traditionally would braid flowers into their hair. Men and women alike would decorate their bodies.

Beltane marks the return of vitality and of passion. Ancient Pagan traditions say that Beltane marks the emergence of the young God into manhood. Stirred by the energies at work in nature, he desires the Goddess. They fall in love, lie among the grasses and blossoms, and unite. The Goddess becomes pregnant of the God.