Beltane Celebrations in the U.S.

May 3, 2003

Source: The Southern

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/rednews/2003/05/04/build/local/LOC003.html

On May 3, 2003 The Southern reported that "the Southern Illinois Pagan Alliance will host an open Beltane Celebration at noon today at the Giant City State Park Shelter 2 near Makanda... Fire, light and fertility are the focus of Beltane as it celebrates longer days, the return of spring and summer warmth, and the creative splendor of nature as flowers bloom and everything turns green in contrast to the bleak landscape winter... Beltane is the old Celtic name for May Day derived from the Irish-Gaelic 'Bealtaine' or the Scottish-Gaelic 'Bealtuinn,' meaning 'Bel-fire,' the fire of the Celtic god of light -- Bel, Beli or Belinus."