Beltaine Customs in Scotland

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The festival of Beltaine, which literally means "Bel's fire" (Beal-teinne) marks
the beginning of the summer and the light half of the Celtic year.
Traditionally, all fires were extinguished on the eve of Beltaine, to be re-lit
from the sacred 'needfire' kindled at dawn. The Celts were predominantly pastora
l people and Beltaine was the time when the cattle were put out to their summer
grazing on the higher slopes. The cattle were driven through the sacred Beltaine
fires for purification. The sacred fire would also, it was believed, bring prot
ection, good fortune and fertility to the people.
There are numerous folk customs that have until recently taken place at this
time of year throughout Britain, and which clearly show surviving traits of this
ancient festival. As far as we know, the last public Beltaine festival to be he
ld on Arran was as late as 1895. The men of a certain townland made a
need-fire (tein-eigen) and kept it burning with sacred faggots on Beltaine eve.
Local people drove their herds through the fire.
The Beltaine fires and festivals went on all over the Highlands until the
mid-nineteenth century. Also, in the Shetlands dancing went on around the
bonfires and it was considered lucky to jump over the flames without injury. The
Shetland fires were kept going for three days.
The Cloutie Well
Beltaine rites still take place at the famous Cloutie Well in Inverness-shire. T
his well is situated on Culloden moor and is known by various names, such as Tob
ar Ghorm (the Blue Well) and Tobar n'Oige (Well of youth). Cloutie means a cloth
or rag. These clouties are tied on the surrounding trees by pilgrims to make a
wish. Wells were seen by the Celts as bringers of good health. The well is visit
ed by Highlanders on the first Sunday of May, that being the day dedicated to th
e sun.
People arrive long before dawn (and originally should have been away from the
well before sunrise, however this is no longer observed). Before drinking from t
he well you must first walk three times 'sunwise' around it, and offer a silver
coin. Finally, you must tie a rag to an over-hanging tree.
Arthur s Seat
Arthur's seat, Edinburgh, is a traditional site of Beltaine fires which were lit
at sunrise. Many people still climb to the top of this summit to watch the May
sunrise.
May Dew
Growth requires not just the fire of the sun, but also moisture. The dew of
Beltaine gathered before dawn was considered particularly beneficial. People who
were sprinkled with May dew were assured of health, happiness, and in the case
of young women, beauty. All over Scotland young girls go out on May morn to bath
e their faces in the dew.
To ensure a good milk supply, dairymaids would draw a rope made from the tails o
f Highland cattle through the May dew grass saying:

Bainne an te so shios, bainne an te so shuas, 'nam ghogan mhor fhein

(Milk of this one down, milk of that one up, into my own big pail).
Beltaine Bannock
As well as the widespread lighting of Beltaine bonfires on moors or hilltops
throughout the Highlands, a special cake or bannock would be made using eggs,
milk and oatmeal. These bannocks, which were kneaded entirely by hand and should
not come into contact with steel, were being made up until the end of the ninet
eenth century.
In Perthshire, one piece of the bannock cake would be blackened with charcoal
and distributed along with the other pieces. Whoever drew this piece out of the
bonnet had to leap three times through the flames. Unlike the Gaulish druids, we
have no evidence of human sacrifice committed by the late Bronze Age Celts of A
lba. By this time the 'scapegoat' or Fool served a very important role in that i
t was believed that any ill fortune would fall to that person, sparing the rest
of the people.
In Inverness-shire, within living memory, children would meet on a small hill on
the first of May to prepare a fire. They each took an egg, a specially baked ba
nnock and a piece of cheese. One side of the bannock was marked with a cipher to
signify death or misfortune. The bannocks were rolled down the hill, and when t
hey came to rest the children's fates were revealed. However, this was all done
in a very light-hearted manner, but nevertheless it is a clear survival of the s
capegoat.
The Fairies
At Beltaine it was long believed by Highlanders that the fairies, or Good
People, were abroad. To combat their enchantments (fairies were prone to
stealing milk from cows, or even turning it sour) rowan crosses were hung in
byres, and domestic animals were sprinkled with water from holy wells. It was
particularly important that no fire (kindling) should be given away at this time
- a survival of the Celtic festival when all hearth fires were extinguished and
could only be re-lit from the sacred need-fire.
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Copyright: 1992 Dalriada Celtic Heritage Trust