10 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Beltane (aka the First Day of Summer or May Day)

Wheel of the Year

Apr 24

Discover rituals, spells, and ways to celebrate Beltane

[Updated September 2025]

When flowers bloom wildly and the air grows warm with possibility, I feel the joyful fire of Beltane. Celebrated on May 1st, this sabbat sits opposite Samhain on the Wheel of the Year and is often seen as its mirror. Where Samhain honors death and the ancestors, Beltane celebrates life, fertility, and passion.

The name Beltane comes from “Bel’s Fire,” referencing the Celtic god Belenus. Traditionally, great bonfires were lit to bless the land, the cattle, and the people, bringing health and fertility. Couples leapt over the flames, herds were driven between fires for protection, and maypoles decorated with ribbons symbolized the union of earth and sky.

For ancient communities, Beltane was a time of abundance and magic. The fields were planted, the animals were fertile, and the earth itself was bursting with energy. Rituals focused on passion, union, and blessings for crops, marriages, and community life.

Today, witches honor Beltane with fire rituals, dancing, floral crowns, and love spells. Many celebrate the union of divine feminine and masculine energies, or revel in the fertile, playful energy of the season.

Beltane reminds us to embrace joy, love, and creative fire. It’s a celebration of life in full bloom, a chance to kindle passion and honor the beauty of being alive.

✨ Looking for a ready-to-use ritual and correspondences? Join the Blog Reward Program to download the free Beltane Celebration Guidebook—part of my Wheel of the Year Series.

Here are ten meaningful ways you can celebrate the beginning of summer:

1. Dance the Maypole 🌸

One of the most iconic Beltane customs is the maypole dance, a joyful weaving of ribbons that celebrates fertility, abundance, and the interconnection of community. As dancers circle the pole, ribbons cross and twine, symbolizing the weaving of lives, desires, and dreams into a shared tapestry. This dance is not only festive but also deeply symbolic, representing the earth’s blossoming energy and the harmony of masculine and feminine forces.

If a full maypole isn’t possible, you can create a miniature version for your altar indoors. Use a sturdy stick or dowel and tie colorful ribbons to the top, then braid or weave them while focusing on your intentions. Whether done alone as a moving meditation or with others in celebration, the act of weaving calls in joy, love, and creative energy that will continue to grow throughout the season.

2. Bonfire or Candle 🕯️

Fire is at the heart of Beltane, representing passion, transformation, and the vital spark of life. In the past, villages would light great bonfires, circling and dancing around them to welcome fertility and ward off harmful spirits. Flames were considered protective, purifying, and energizing, uniting the entire community in a shared celebration of warmth and renewal.

If a large fire isn’t possible, you can bring this magic into your space with a candle. Place it safely, light it with intention, and focus on the flickering flame as you reflect on your passions and desires. Imagine the fire burning away fear while igniting courage, creativity, and joy. Whether you’re outdoors under the stars or indoors with a single candle, the fire’s energy reminds you of the eternal sun and your own inner flame.

3. Flower Crowns 🌺

Flower crowns and garlands celebrate the lush beauty of Beltane and honor the earth’s abundant gifts. Woven from blossoms and greenery, they symbolize fertility, joy, and the blossoming of new beginnings. Wearing a crown connects you directly to the vitality of spring, helping you embody nature’s energy during ritual or daily practice.

Choose flowers that resonate with you—roses for love, daisies for innocence, or violets for devotion. If fresh flowers are unavailable, use artificial blooms, herbs, or ribbons instead. As you weave each stem, focus on what you want to grow in your life. Wearing your crown allows you to carry that intention with you, celebrating beauty and joy while weaving your own spirit into the living tapestry of the season.

4. Love Charms 💕

Beltane is the season of love and desire, making it the perfect time to craft charms that embody passion, fertility, or creativity. These charms might be small sachets, jars, or talismans filled with herbs, crystals, and symbols aligned with love. The process of making them is as magical as their purpose, channeling your energy into a physical form.

Gather materials such as rose petals, apple blossoms, or hawthorn, combined with stones like rose quartz or garnet. Wrap them in fabric or tie with colorful ribbons, whispering blessings as you assemble. Carry your charm in your pocket, give it to a loved one, or place it on your altar to let its magic grow. Each time you see or touch it, you’ll reconnect with Beltane’s fertile energy.

5. Altar Décor 🌿

An altar serves as the heart of your spiritual practice, and at Beltane, it becomes a living symbol of growth, vitality, and connection. Decorating it with roses, greenery, and seasonal blossoms invites the lush energy of spring indoors. This sacred space helps you focus your intentions and feel aligned with the cycles of the natural world.

Use fresh flowers, branches, or potted plants to bring the outdoors in. Add candles in vibrant colors—green for growth, red for passion, or pink for love. You may also include symbols of fertility, such as eggs or seeds. As you arrange your altar, treat it as an act of devotion, creating a sanctuary that reflects both your inner world and the vibrant life unfolding around you.

6. Outdoor Feast 🥗

Feasting is a joyful way to celebrate Beltane, honoring the earth’s abundance and the bonds of community. Eating outdoors reconnects us with nature’s rhythms and reminds us of the fertile, life-giving energy all around us. Sharing food under the open sky brings warmth, laughter, and gratitude into the season’s celebrations.

Prepare dishes that highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients—such as salads, fruits, breads, and plant-based meals—rich in color and flavor. Invite friends, family, or neighbors to join, or enjoy a picnic on your own as a sacred act of communion with the earth. Every bite becomes an offering of gratitude, and every shared laugh strengthens the ties that support your spiritual and earthly life.

7. Fire Jumping 🔥

Jumping over flames is one of Beltane’s oldest customs, rooted in traditions of purification, courage, and good fortune. In the past, couples leapt together to bless their union, while others jumped alone to shed misfortune and welcome abundance. This act symbolizes moving boldly into a future filled with joy and vitality.

If a bonfire isn’t possible, a candle makes a safe and powerful substitute. Place it on the ground, step carefully over the flame, and visualize yourself crossing into a new chapter. Let the fire burn away old fears while sparking fresh inspiration. Each leap, no matter how small, becomes a ritual of courage and renewal, inviting luck and blessing into your path.

8. Pleasure Journaling ✨

Beltane celebrates joy and desire, reminding us that pleasure is sacred and life-affirming. Journaling about what brings you delight helps you uncover the passions that light you up and the ways you can welcome more of them into your daily life. Writing becomes an act of self-honoring and spiritual alignment.

Light a candle or sit outside in the spring air with your journal. Reflect on moments that make you feel alive—whether through creativity, relationships, nature, or self-care. Explore how these pleasures relate to your spiritual journey and consider the intentions you might set to embrace them fully. This ritual affirms that joy is not indulgence but nourishment for the soul.

9. Set Intentions 🌹

The fertile energy of Beltane makes it an ideal time for setting intentions related to love, creativity, and passion. Just as seeds grow in the warming earth, your desires can take root now and blossom in the months ahead. Intentions planted at this sabbat carry the power of renewal and growth.

Write your intentions on paper, whisper them into a flame, or bury them beneath flowers in a garden. Visualize them sprouting like vibrant blossoms, filled with energy and beauty. Seal your work with gratitude, trusting the universe to nurture what you’ve set in motion. This practice ties your dreams to the season’s abundant energy, helping them flourish with time and care.

10. Sacred Union 🌞

Beltane honors the union of masculine and feminine energies, the sacred balance that creates life and harmony. This union is not limited to gender but reflects the interplay of active and receptive forces—sky and earth, fire and water. Celebrating this balance helps us embrace wholeness and creative potential.

Create a ritual by pairing symbols such as a candle and a bowl of water, which represent fire and water. Meditate on how these energies dance within you, and how they manifest in your relationships and the world around you. Honoring this union connects you to the cycles of creation and balance, reminding you that harmony arises from integrating all aspects of yourself.

Bonus: Acts of Service 🌟

Beltane is about passion, joy, and connection. Here are a few ideas:

Celebrate love. Support LGBTQ+ organizations and advocacy.
Spread beauty. Deliver flowers or small gifts to brighten someone’s day.
Nurture creativity. Volunteer with arts, music, or theater groups.
Offer support. Provide childcare or errands so others can rest.
Welcome community. Host a gathering that includes those who may feel alone.

At Beltane, each act weaves threads of love and belonging through your community.

Along with rituals and traditions, you can also work with materials—crystals, herbs, and colors that align beautifully with this sabbat.

💎 Crystals for Beltane

Crystals can ignite passion and union in this season of fire. My favorites include:

Carnelian – vitality and sexuality
Rose Quartz – love and tenderness
Garnet – passion and devotion
Emerald – harmony and heart
Sunstone – joy and empowerment
Moonstone – fertility and intuition
Clear Quartz – amplification and energy
Ruby – strength and romance
Malachite – transformation and healing
Lapis Lazuli – wisdom and truth

🌿 Herbs for Beltane

Herbs kindle passion, fertility, and celebration. My favorites include:

Rose – love and devotion
Hawthorn – fertility and protection
Lilac – joy and romance
Meadowsweet – harmony and celebration
Heather – passion and luck
Thyme – courage and vitality
Yarrow – protection and union
Clover – prosperity and love
Lavender – peace and sensuality
Rowan – magic and protection

🌸 Beltane Themes

Spiritual Focus: passion, vitality, fertility, union, joy
Magical Focus: love, sensuality, creativity, protection
Suggested Workings: maypole dancing, handfastings, fertility rites, fire magic

Colors of the Season:

Red – passion, love, strength
Green – growth, abundance, life
White – purity, blessings, unity
Gold – success, vitality, celebration
Pink – romance, tenderness, affection

✍️ Journal Prompts for Beltane

Where is passion and creativity alive in my life right now?
How can I deepen my connections with love—romantic, platonic, or self-love?
What does sensuality mean to me, and how can I honor it?

✨ Beltane Knot of Passion Ritual

Take a red ribbon or cord and tie nine knots, whispering an intention with each one—love, passion, creativity, abundance, or whatever you wish to grow. Pass the cord through candle flame, smoke, or circle it around a small fire to seal your spell. Keep it on your altar until your desires manifest.

📚 Bringing It All Together

Beltane is fire and union—an invitation to revel in passion, abundance, and sacred connection. However you choose to honor it, let it embody what you’re desiring, what you’re creating, and the love you’re weaving into life.

✨ Want to keep the magic close? When you join the Blog Rewards Program, you’ll get instant access to my Beltane Celebration Guidebook—a printable mini grimoire brimming with correspondences, rituals, a tarot spread, recipes, and journal prompts.