On this, the first of the two Beltane days we also have the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. And naturally the American media is full of stuff about the 58 000 American soldiers who died.
But what about the nearly 6 000 000 Vietnameese who died, of whom more than 4 000 000 (the size of the Norwegian population) were civillians?
And indeed, how could the worlds strongest super power get their arses kicked by an army of pesants?
To me this is evidence that God dissaproved of the American intervention. The Americans were backing a dictator against a lawfully elected president. How could they? One of the most shameful events in the American history.
Well, now about Beltane seen from the viewpoint of a Christian mystic:
April 30th -- Beltane
Also known as Roodmas or May Day
First of all, to avoid any confusion: Beltane lasts from sundown April 30th to sundown May 1st.
Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. Beltane means fire of Bel; Belinos being one name for the Sun God, who is replaced in Christianity by Christ, whose coronation feast we now celebrate.
As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken, but it is rarely observed in that manner by modern pagans, and not at all by us Christians.
In the old Celtic times, young people would spend the entire night in the woods "A-Maying," and then dance around the phallic Maypole the next morning. Older married couples were allowed to remove their wedding rings (and the restrictions they imply) for this one night. May morning is a magickal time for wild water (dew, flowing streams, and springs) which is collected and used to bathe in for beauty, or to drink for health.
The old phallic Maypole is by us Christians combined with the naked cross, clad in greenery and flowers. These are all symbols of life. Note to non Christians: The crusefix is the symbol of the death of Christ, while the naked cross is a symbol of ressurection and new life, and thus a perfect symbol of Beltane.
Think of the Maypole as 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, 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. In Christianity we find much of the same image in the motif of Christ as the groom and the Church (and the individual Christian) as the bride:
They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan - the one you testified about - well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, `I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.` The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less. (Joh 3, 26 - 30)
To celebrate, a wedding feast must be prepared. Breads and cereals are popular. Try oatmeal cakes or cookies sweetened with a dab of honey. Dairy foods are appropriate...just make a lovely wedding feast and you are sure to enjoy yourself! A reading of The Song of Songs is in its place, preferably as a cannon between a young man and a young woman.
(The text of The Song of Songs, Song of Songs as MP3, About the Song of Songs,
An essay about the Song of Songs )
Remember: God created both man and woman in his image! He also created sexuallity and erotics for us to enjoy! True Christianity embraces these things, as is truely shown in the Song of Songs.
An early morning walk through a local park or forest could be fun for everyone. Gather up some plants or flowers to display in your home. Mother and daughter could braid their hair, and weave in a few tender blossoms.
Beltane food:
Things to eat at Beltane would be ice cream, yogurt, cheese, custards, quiche, any dairy products.
Also Oatmeal, cookies, bread and Bannock
Oatmeal Bread
1 cup evaporated milk
2 TBSP vegetable oil
1TBSP vinegar
1cup all purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup raisins or chopped nuts
Beat milk, oil and vinegar in mixing bowl until smooth
Add oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and mix well
Add nuts or raisins turn into loaf pan bake at 350 for 50 - 60 minutes or until done depending on the oven
Quiche
1 unbaked pie shell
2 eggs
1 cup half and half
1/2 tsp salt
dash of red pepper
3/4 cup gruyere cheese
1 TBSP flour
7 1/2 oz crab or mushrooms or peppers or whatever you would like
Bake pie shell at 450 for 10 minutes or until slightly brown
Beat eggs, half and half, salt and red pepper. Set aside
Combine cheese, flour, crab or mushrooms etc and sprinkle into the bottom of the pie shell.
Pour the egg mixture over it
Bake at 450 degrees uncovered for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean
Yogurt
2-3 TBSP prepared yogurt
1 quart skim milk
1/2 cup instant non fat milk powder
Allow yogurt to reach room temp
Bring milk to scalding then cool to 110-115 degrees. Add dry milk and pour into bowl
Cover then wrap in large towel
Set in warm place for 6 to 8 hours. When semi solid store in fridge
Add fruit when you just before serving
May Wine
White wine with a pinch of woodruff and fresh strawberries
End note:
It is customary to light two huge bonfires (or one small one) on the 30th, and lead the livestock and newlyweds between (or through) it. I do not recomend this in urban ereas since the fire department usually has little or none understanding for folklore and tradition. Scandi suggests using candles instead. Or why not have a barbacue after dark?
But what about the nearly 6 000 000 Vietnameese who died, of whom more than 4 000 000 (the size of the Norwegian population) were civillians?
And indeed, how could the worlds strongest super power get their arses kicked by an army of pesants?
To me this is evidence that God dissaproved of the American intervention. The Americans were backing a dictator against a lawfully elected president. How could they? One of the most shameful events in the American history.
Well, now about Beltane seen from the viewpoint of a Christian mystic:
April 30th -- Beltane
Also known as Roodmas or May Day
First of all, to avoid any confusion: Beltane lasts from sundown April 30th to sundown May 1st.
Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. Beltane means fire of Bel; Belinos being one name for the Sun God, who is replaced in Christianity by Christ, whose coronation feast we now celebrate.
As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken, but it is rarely observed in that manner by modern pagans, and not at all by us Christians.
In the old Celtic times, young people would spend the entire night in the woods "A-Maying," and then dance around the phallic Maypole the next morning. Older married couples were allowed to remove their wedding rings (and the restrictions they imply) for this one night. May morning is a magickal time for wild water (dew, flowing streams, and springs) which is collected and used to bathe in for beauty, or to drink for health.
The old phallic Maypole is by us Christians combined with the naked cross, clad in greenery and flowers. These are all symbols of life. Note to non Christians: The crusefix is the symbol of the death of Christ, while the naked cross is a symbol of ressurection and new life, and thus a perfect symbol of Beltane.
Think of the Maypole as 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, 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. In Christianity we find much of the same image in the motif of Christ as the groom and the Church (and the individual Christian) as the bride:
They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan - the one you testified about - well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, `I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.` The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less. (Joh 3, 26 - 30)
To celebrate, a wedding feast must be prepared. Breads and cereals are popular. Try oatmeal cakes or cookies sweetened with a dab of honey. Dairy foods are appropriate...just make a lovely wedding feast and you are sure to enjoy yourself! A reading of The Song of Songs is in its place, preferably as a cannon between a young man and a young woman.
(The text of The Song of Songs, Song of Songs as MP3, About the Song of Songs,
An essay about the Song of Songs )
Remember: God created both man and woman in his image! He also created sexuallity and erotics for us to enjoy! True Christianity embraces these things, as is truely shown in the Song of Songs.
An early morning walk through a local park or forest could be fun for everyone. Gather up some plants or flowers to display in your home. Mother and daughter could braid their hair, and weave in a few tender blossoms.
Beltane food:
Things to eat at Beltane would be ice cream, yogurt, cheese, custards, quiche, any dairy products.
Also Oatmeal, cookies, bread and Bannock
Oatmeal Bread
1 cup evaporated milk
2 TBSP vegetable oil
1TBSP vinegar
1cup all purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup raisins or chopped nuts
Beat milk, oil and vinegar in mixing bowl until smooth
Add oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and mix well
Add nuts or raisins turn into loaf pan bake at 350 for 50 - 60 minutes or until done depending on the oven
Quiche
1 unbaked pie shell
2 eggs
1 cup half and half
1/2 tsp salt
dash of red pepper
3/4 cup gruyere cheese
1 TBSP flour
7 1/2 oz crab or mushrooms or peppers or whatever you would like
Bake pie shell at 450 for 10 minutes or until slightly brown
Beat eggs, half and half, salt and red pepper. Set aside
Combine cheese, flour, crab or mushrooms etc and sprinkle into the bottom of the pie shell.
Pour the egg mixture over it
Bake at 450 degrees uncovered for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean
Yogurt
2-3 TBSP prepared yogurt
1 quart skim milk
1/2 cup instant non fat milk powder
Allow yogurt to reach room temp
Bring milk to scalding then cool to 110-115 degrees. Add dry milk and pour into bowl
Cover then wrap in large towel
Set in warm place for 6 to 8 hours. When semi solid store in fridge
Add fruit when you just before serving
May Wine
White wine with a pinch of woodruff and fresh strawberries
End note:
It is customary to light two huge bonfires (or one small one) on the 30th, and lead the livestock and newlyweds between (or through) it. I do not recomend this in urban ereas since the fire department usually has little or none understanding for folklore and tradition. Scandi suggests using candles instead. Or why not have a barbacue after dark?
scandi_rose:
I choose you for a maying my love. 
and pictures will be forth coming.
and pictures will be forth coming. 
madison:
very interesting. my one friend went to a bonfire. and i had some yougurt and oatmeal yesterday.