What is Beltane?

May 1 is Beltane in the Northern Hemisphere and on that day we honor nature’s oldest love story; Beltane means bright fire, and in earth-based traditions, it represents the handfasting or marriage of the god and goddess and their eternal embrace. The two are separated all winter long in ancient lore and their reunion on Beltane is celebrated with food, drink, and multi-colored maypoles that symbolize female energies wrapping themselves around the male form.