411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Beltane
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Alternative forms
en Bealtine Bealtaine Beltaine Beltene Beltein Beltin Bealtuinn
Etymology
From the en cel ga *belo-tanos bright fire.
Proper noun
The first day of May (since 1752); May Day, a Scottish quarter day, sometimes associated by Christians with the nearest Church Feast, the Invention of the Cross (3 May), and Whitsunday (15 May).
en 1424 1597 w:James I of Scotland The lawes and actes of parliament maid be King James the first and his successours kinges of Scotland http://books.google.com/books?id=OiNFAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP17 Edinburgh w:Robert Waldegrave A3 And quhair it be tainted that they big, and the Birdes be flowin, and the nest be funden in the Trees at Beltane the trees sal be foirfaulted to the King (bot gif they be redeemed fra him, throw them that they first perteined to) and hewin downe, and siue schillings to the King is unlaw.
An ancient Gaelic/Celtic May Day holiday celebration, at which large bonfires were built on the hilltops, revived by Celtic neopagans.
en 1902 John Buchan The Outgoing of the Tide For it was approaching that uncanny time of year, the festival of Beltane, when the auld pagans were wont to sacrifice to their god Baal. In this season warlocks and carlines have a special dispensation to do evil, and Alison waited on its coming with graceless joy.
Translations
holiday
Irish: ga Lá Bealtaine m
Manx: gv Laa Boaldyn
Polish: pl Bealtaine n
Russian: ru Белте́йн m
Scots: sco Beltane
Scottish Gaelic: gd Bealltainn f, gd Là Bealltainn m, gd Là Buidhe Bealltainn m
Spanish: es Belotenia f, es buenfuego m
See also
en Hallowmas
en Candlemas
en Lammas
en Whitsunday
See also
Anagrams
en abeelnt entable tenable
en Holidays Wicca