Though the nights continue to often drop below freezing here, we have not experienced fresh snow for at least three weeks. Little by glorious little, signs of spring have returned to the landscape.
Nature – though not immune to human wrath of course – seemingly unaware of the hardships and tragedies unfolding across the globe at the moment, follows a rhythm nearly as old as time itself.
The months and seasons will transpire no matter what we do. They were here long before you and I were born, and it is a virtual certainty they will be here long after.
For those who observe it, the Pagan Wheel of The Year is much the same.
While there is little historical proof that any ancient culture observed the exact same eight festivals/sabbats annually, contemporary Pagans and witches have combined elements of traditional seasonal celebrations to create a powerful eight-part sabbat system that aligns with the beliefs/practices of many (though certainly not all) who fall under these wide banners.
One of the neopagan sabbats that we do know a fair bit about and which has roots stretching back for many centuries is Beltane.
This is – in the Northern Hemisphere – the traditional Gaelic May Day festival. Along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh, these four comprised the main seasonal festivals observed by the early inhabitants of Gaelic settled lands.
Today these annual dates, which each fall between an equinox and a solstice, are often referred to as “Greater Sabbats” and “Cross-Quarter Days”.
Fascinatingly, back in the time of the ancients who inhabited various parts of Europe, Beltane heralded the start of the summer pastoral season.
It was not, we believe today, a mid-spring celebration, but rather the unofficial start of summer.
This view was held by various other cultures around the world, too, who saw May – not the latter days of June – as being the time when spring began to pass the torch to summer.
It is primarily for this reason that the sabbat of Litha (the Summer Solstice) which follows Beltane has traditionally been referred to as Midsummer in various cultures (including many in Central and Northern Europe).
Starting at Yule (if not Samhain) straight on to Imbolc and to a degree, even during Ostara, many witches/Wiccans/Pagans work diligently to honour the power of light and warmth. Candles, fires, warm colours, and everything from crystals to foods in sunny hues are employed to this end.
We know that our actions do not actually cause each season to return, but by working in tandem with them and celebrating both the present moment and the months ahead, we strengthen our ingrained bond to each chapter of the year all the more.
Though it is at Litha that the sun reaches its annual apex, with the Summer Solstice being the day of the year with the longest amount of sunlight, I cannot help but feel that so much of what we have worked towards and eagerly anticipated culminates in Beltane’s return.
In this post, we are carrying on with the periodically occurring series here in which a slew of crafts, DIY projects, and home décor ideas pertaining to one of the sabbats is rounded up in a handy-dandy spot for all those who may be seeking ideas and inspiration on this front.
Thus far, this series has covered the following sabbats:
–Yule
As you no doubt guessed, Beltane will be the focus this time around. 😃
Before we dive headfirst into the list of forty awesome Beltane craft ideas, however, let’s explore the celebration of May 1st a little more.
Part spring, part summer, entirely lovely
Beltane has one foot firmly planted in spring and the other – which I like to imagine as sporting a chic sandal – in summer.
Sitting precisely halfway on both the calendar and The Wheel of the Year from Samhain (+ Halloween), Beltane is an intensely liminal period unto itself.
South of the equator, many who observe the sabbats in reverse order to those in the Northern Hemisphere, are embracing Samhain just as we throw open our hearts once more to Beltane.
For those who count down the nanoseconds each year until Samhain’s return, the knowledge that from May 1st onward, we will be closer to the end of October than further away from it is enough to make us downright giddy.
I adore Beltane and find my connection to it grows stronger with each fresh year. In a lot of ways, I have come to see it as the Samhain of the spring/early summer and find that I do indeed get rather excited + happy as May 1st rounds the corner again. 🥰
On the day proceeding Beltane, April 30th, I observe Walpurgis Night. This event is not a sabbat, but it is a traditional Central European event that some – both inside and out of the contemporary Pagan/witchy world – continue to mark centuries after its roots first took hold.
A sizeable percentage of my ancestry hails from the lands comprising Central and Northern Europe, and my own eclectic witchy bases the majority of its practises and beliefs around the Paganistic traditions of these lands. Thus, Walpurgis Night jives with my path all the more.
I have come to look at it a bit like the Beltane equivalent of Christmas Eve. Though the two observances do, of course, differ significantly! 😄
Beltane is a joyous, gorgeous seasonal celebration that is open to one and all, regardless of their personal spiritual journey.
We each have a right to celebrate and delight in the return of May and the road it will guide us on as we venture forth towards full-fledged summertime.
Some of the most common and potent Beltane themes, correspondences, and symbols include the following:
-Fertility and new life
-Family
-Farm animals/livestock
-Herbs, herbal medicine, and herbal magick
-Grounding/earthing
-Seeds and sowing (both literal and metaphorical)
-Flowers and green plant life
-Baskets (including traditional May Day baskets)
-Birds
–Butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and other insects that are key garden helpers
-Sacred bodies of water (and water in general)
-Faeries and other wee folk
-Youth and remaining young at heart
-Passion, lust, and love
-Handfastings and weddings
-Floral crowns
-Ribbons
-Knots and knot/cord magick
-Growth (both in terms of the natural world and one’s own personal growth)
-Cleansing and purifying
-Bathing
-Sunshine and light
-Bonfires
-Wreaths
-Music and dancing
-Hobbies and passions
-Unity
-The Greenman
-The Maiden entering the Mother/Mature phase of her lifecycle
-Both the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine
-Strength
-Optimism
-Positivity
-Manifestation
-Giving, sharing, and helping others
-Seasonal foods and feasts
-Varieties of incense and essential oil [LINK] centered around seasonal plants, flowers, fruits, and herbs (i.e., lilac, honeysuckle, rose, thyme, rosemary, lemon balm, strawberry, etc)
-Honouring and tending to the earth
-Listing to and following your heart
-Divination and connecting with the spirit world/ancestors
-Trusting your intuition
-Burning away/parting with elements that are holding you back or no longer serving you well
-Adventure
-Growing further in one’s spirituality
-Uniting and permeating the mundane with a greater sense of the sacred
-Nurturing and compassion (very much including self-care and self-love)
-Balance
-Harmony
🌸🌸🌸
Other names and alternative spellings for Beltane include – but are not limited to – Beltaine, Belltaine, Bealtaine, Beltain, Beltine, Beltany, Bealteine, Bealtuinn, Bealltainn, Boaldyn, Lá Bealtaine, Latha Bealltainn, Cétamain (the Scotch Gaelic word for “May”), Céad Shamhain, Cétshamhainin, Mayfest, and May Day.
Colours associated with Beltane include (but, again, are not limited to) the following:
-Pink
-Coral
-Red
-Yellow
-Peach/apricot
-Orange
-Green
-Aquamarine/turquoise
-Sky blue
-Purple (particularly lavender, lilac, hydrangea, pansy, and violet shades)
-Gold
-Taupe/sand
-White
A case could be put forward that Beltane is the merriest of the sabbats. It is bathed in light, adorned with countless new blooms, and full of a positive, hope-sparking energy that is all but palpable.
And in some respects, it is for those whose hearts beat in unison with the shifting seasons.
If you would like to learn more about Beltane, please check out my previous posts focused specifically on the subject:
–12 Awesome Nature-Centered Activities for Beltane (Guest post that I wrote for the Witch of Lupine Hollow website.)
–15 Excellent Pantry Staple Foods for Beltane and Their Magickal Properties
–25 Books That Are Wonderfully Well-Suited to Beltane
Clearly, I enjoy list entries when it comes to Beltane! 😄
Whether you observe Beltane as a Pagan sabbat or not, we can all embrace and let our creativity shine as vibrantly as the newly returned spring sunshine during these early days of May.
Many of these projects are well suited to Ostara and Litha (and even Lammas, too, for that matter), so there is little to say you must automatically whisk them off into storage come the Summer Solstice.
While the bulk of these crafts are not ones that were designed specifically for Beltane, each contains elements/themes that are squarely at home in this cheerful chapter of the year and therefore easily landed themselves on this list.
I had a stellar time scouring the web for these Beltane-appropriate projects and hope that they bring you no shortage of enjoyment and inspiration as well. ☀️
40 Fantastic Beltane Crafts, DIY Projects, and Décor Ideas for May Day
1. Green Man Mask: Embodying elements of both nature and the sacred/divine masculine, the Green Man is an ancient archetypical figure who symbolizes rebirth, new life, nature, and harmony.
This exquisitely lovely mask looks complex, but objectively, is not that tricky to replicate yourself – especially if you have experience in working with polymer clay.
Whether you wear your completed Green Man mask, use it on your Beltane altar, incorporate it into springtime magickal workings, or set it out as a gorgeous display piece, this is one of those handmade treasures you are bound to reach for year after year.
2. Woodland Mason Jar Lights: What would a craft project roundup post be without at least one mason jar project? 😄
But seriously, there is a good reason why this most humble and hardworking of canning supplies has become a mainstay not only in that arena, but also in the realms of home décor and crafting.
Take this beautiful illuminated jar project for example. It is easy, budget-friendly, and a cinch to put together.
And once you have done just that, you have a breathtaking way to illuminate any dark or nighttime setting. And one that would also, I cannot help but think, make for a stellar addition to just about any woodland wedding setting.
3. Knit Flower Basket Tea Cosy: I have a thing for cozies – toaster, hot water bottle, tea kettle, you name it! If it can reside in its own darling little house, so to speak, I melt faster than butter on hot toast.
This whimsical flower basket knit tea cosy is equal parts adorable and elegant, and strikes me as an excellent gift to whip up and give for Mother’s Day (which, here in North America, is coming up next month).
Plus, for all those tea witches and herbologists out here, this would be an especially lovely way to keep your favourite magickal brew warm.
4. DIY Magic Paintbrush: Clever, resourceful, and very pretty, this creative project breathes new life in old paintbrushes and can be adapted to fit any colour palette your heart desires. Why not go for a rainbow now, fall colours in a few months, and icy cool or rich reds + greens for wintertime?
5. DIY Beltane Incense Recipe: Making (typically, loose) incense yourself can be a potent and highly enjoyable way to not only deepen your connection to this beloved product, but also potentially come up with some awesome and very unique blends in the process.
Take Moody Moon’s lead and put together your own festive incense mix this Beltane season. Ensuring, of course, that it is burned in a fire-safe receptacle (such as this terrific little cast iron cauldron), as loose incense does not work well or safely with most types of stick incense holders.
(Also on this same site, be sure to check out the author’s delightfully delicious recipe for Beltane Faerie Cakes with Candied Violets.)
6. DIY Paper Bird’s Nest: The simplest of supplies are all it takes to create these sweetly beautiful paper bag bird’s nests that look like they took ages to make, but which are actually a (springtime) breeze to put together.
They are every bit as at home for Beltane/May 1st as they are Ostara/Spring Equinox and Litha/Summer Solstice, and would also be such a fun and festive way to present small gifts to friends, relatives, neighbours, teachers, and so forth throughout the year.
7. Beautiful Beaded Wind Chimes: When I was a little girl, my paternal grandparents had several different sets of wind chimes hanging from the roofing over their deck. Each time the wind rustled through them, it sounded like pure magick to my young ears.
Decades on, I delight no less in seeing, hearing, and even making wind chimes. If you enjoy any of those things as well – or know someone who does – this versatile and very lovely beaded wind chime project may be right up your (breezy) alley.
Plus, it is a great way to use up some of that “bead soup” that so many of us crafters naturally amass over the years.
8. Garden Creatures Cross Stitch Pillow: Fun fact, cross stitch – along with papercrafting and beading/jewelry making – is one of my top three favourite crafts of all time. I have been making tiny “Xs” on aida cloth since I was five or six years old and while these days I rarely have anywhere near the time I wish I did to devote to this passion, I try to get in at least a wee bit of cross stitching annually.
If you likewise enjoy this classic form of needlework and are looking for a charming springtime pattern to stitch up, allow me to suggest this adorable garden themed one that can be turned into a pillow or left flat and framed, as you desire.
9. Lavender DIY Wands: By far one of the most popular sunny seasonal plants the world over, lavender and its telltale scent are just the thing to imbue a beautiful sense of nature into any Beltane or May Day celebration.
This lovely project utilizes lavender and ribbon to create elegant wands that you can put to work in a wide variety of ways. Use them to scent linens, group a few as a centrepiece, use them on your Beltane altar, give them as gifts, or if so inclined (they are technically wands after all) as part of your magickal springtime workings
10. Easy DIY Paper Flower May Day Wreath: While Kristy – the skilled designer of this project – uses a digital die cutting machine to create the flowers in her example here, you could easily replicate this darling May 1st wreath using manually/electronically die cut flowers or simply hand-cut and shape several blooms from scratch.
No matter what approach you take, you are bound to create a great little wreath that can easily be left out on display the whole sunny season through.
11. Peas in a Pod Crochet Pattern: There is cute, and then there is uber kawaii. This ridiculously adorable “peas in a pod” crochet project falls squarely into the latter camp and is an awesome way to celebrate one of the season’s most delicious garden offerings.
12. A Beautiful Grass Heart Craft: Nature provides the supplies at the heart of this enchanting craft project and highlights the depth of creative possibility that resides in even the most humble of materials.
13. May Day Flower Baskets Made from Tin Cans: Rare is the time I am not enthusiastically on board with recycling or upcycling everyday items into something creative, clever, and – frequently – very handy.
This sophisticated-looking, very inexpensive project hits all of those nails on the head and leaves you with one or more pint-sized flower baskets that can be filled with the real deal, artificial blooms, small gardening tools, writing implements, or just about anything else that fits inside of them.
14. DIY Leaf Pinwheels: An excellent craft to make with little ones, these lovely pinwheels utilize real leaves to make a classic toy that can easily double as a centrepiece, home décor item, or even – if multiples are grouped together – a wonderfully unique bouquet.
15. Easy DIY May Day Baskets: The tradition of May Day baskets, or posies, stretches back for centuries, and holds no less charm and appeal in the 21st century as it did for those of the past.
These festive hangings are a joy to make, place around your home, and give as gifts – be it for Beltane/May 1st, Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, or any other occasion you feel they would be a natural fit for.
16. Mini DIY Butterfly Pinatas: There is no need to wait for a birthday party to bust out – and open 😄 – the pinatas – especially if they are quick and simple to make versions like this adorable mini butterfly version.
Just think, for example, how sweet and special would it be to put one of these on (or alongside) each person’s place setting at an Ostara, Easter, Beltane, Mayfest, Mother’s Day, Wedding Shower, or birthday party.
And while we associated pinatas with candy, you can technically fill them with other small items instead, too (i.e., small craft supply items, costume jewelry, or beautiful little crystals – make sure, though, that if you include anything that could easily break if dropped that you instruct your guests to open their miniature pinatas over a table or soft surface such as a sofa).
17. Pressed Flower and Leaves Bookmarks: Preserve some of the season’s loveliest little blooms and leaves with this creative, low-cost bookmark project that is perfect to do with kids or (other) adults alike.
And don’t worry, a laminator is not essential here. Clear contact paper can be used instead to deliver the same kind of long-lasting results when creating your homemade pressed leaf and flower bookmarks.
18. Ribbon Streamers: No life-sized maypole to dance around this Beltane, but still in the mood to connect with the symbolization and enjoyment alike that colourful ribbons can present?
May I suggest these vibrant DIY ribbon streamers which you can flutter in the breeze, dance with, securely hang up to flutter in the wind (though, do keep in mind the materials used may not be weatherproof, so bring them inside after your festivities are over), use as a Beltane/May Day decoration, or leave out year around an upbeat piece of rainbow hued home décor.
19. Printable Strawberry Treat Boxes: A printer and the most basic of craft supplies (white cardstock, ribbon or twine, and adhesive) are all it takes to construct these precious little strawberry treat baskets.
Use them for gift giving, send them off in lunchboxes with a yummy bite to eat and a handwritten note tucked inside, or gather several in a basket or bowl and use them as a sweet-as-the-real deal springtime home décor item.
20. Coffee Filter Dancers: Don’t you just love it when the most basic of everyday items can easily be transformed into something enchanting?
I certainly do and as such, instantly fell head-over-heels for this cute, creative, and unexpectedly elegant use of coffee filters.
Compose a handful of these pipe cleaner beauties and place them around a tabletop mini maypole or anywhere else around the house that you wish. They are enchantingly sweet and perfectly suited to springtime.
Plus, with the addition of paper wings, they could easily become faeries or angels.
21. Quaint Flower Socks Free Knitting Pattern: In a season famous for the return of open-toed shoes, knit socks might not be the first thing we think of slipping onto our feet. And yet, not every pair of knitted socks needs to be blizzard-in-January thick/warm by any means.
This sweet, #cottagecore perfect floral themed thin knit pair is a wonderful way to keep on wearing woolen socks long after the last snowman has melted for the year.
22. Make Mosquito Repellant Candles: No word of a lie, many is the year when, in the span of two weeks or less, we have gone from multiple inches of snow on the ground to all but needing to take a bath in buy spray to keep the plagues of mosquitos as bay.
For my entire life, I have been one of those people that mosquitos instantly gravitate towards. So much so, in fact, that when I was growing up some of my relatives used to state (only vaguely jokingly) that they would not get a single bite themselves so long as I was nearby.
Suffice it to say, as someone who adores the outdoors but does not want to be an all-you-can eat buffet for the local ‘skitters, I am always on the prowl for natural ways to help combat this pesky element of the sunny season.
These easy, attractive looing DIY mosquito repellant candles are just the thing to utilize from the first telltale high-pitched buzzing sound until the last all spring, summer, and autumn long.
23. How to Make Pipe Cleaner Daisy Rings: One of the crafting world’s most classic and versatile products springs (seasonally related pun intended) to life in this super fun DIY jewelry project.
Pipe cleaners are all you need to create one, two, five, or a whole garden’s worth of vibrantly hued daisy rings – that, while certainly well-suited to youngsters, can also be a blast to wear as an adult as well.
Plus, how great would creating these be as a make-and-take craft project during a child’s birthday party?
24. DIY Woodland Butterfly Wreath: There is just something about both wreaths and butterflies that suits spring every bit as wonderfully as tall stacks of strawberry shortcake.
If, like, me you can never get enough of either, this sophisticated butterfly themed wreath – which is a snap to make – is a marvellous way to inject a hearty dose of the great outdoors into your interior décor all season long. (Honestly, this project is gorgeous enough to happily leave out the whole year through, if so desired.)
25. Mini Maypoles in 3 Easy Steps: From well-known (and ever-so-creative!) Pagan blogger Moody Moons, comes this easier-than-pie approach to making darling little mini maypoles that can be used Beltane after Beltane. They are upbeat, festive, and meaningful all in the same go.
26. How to Make Lavender Bath Sachets: Themes of cleansing, purification, bathing, and water in general are tightly interwoven with Beltane. Celebrate and connect with them all the more by setting aside some time to savour a gorgeously aromatic soak in the tub care of these lovely DIY lavender bath sachets that are just about as easy to make as turning on the faucet. 😊
27. Sweet Strawberry Painted Rocks: The immense interest in rock painting that swept through the craft world a few years ago is continuing to stay strong – and for good reason! Rock painting is fun, fairly budget-friendly, and endlessly versatile.
Case in point, these adorable little strawberry rocks. How fab would a handful of these be scattered across a table for a tea, garden, Mother’s Day, or birthday party? Or what about in a decorative bowl on the breakfast table to brighten the mornings of all who see them before heading off for their day?
(Note, while not specified in this lovely DIY tutorial post, if you want the painting on your rocks to really last over time, I suggest covering them with a layer or two of suitable clear varnish/sealant once the acrylic painting has thoroughly dried.)
28. DIY Mini Maypole Cakes: Unlike most of the other projects featured in this post, these mini bundt cakes themselves are not intended to be reused year after year.
However, so long as you do not include any perishable items on them, the cute little handmade maypoles that top them can certainly be utilized multiple times (just make sure they are cleaned of any food residue before storing them away until the following Beltane/May Day) – which is worth doing a happy dance around the nearest maypole over! 😊
29. Crochet Magnolia Applique: This detailed how-to post guides you through all of the steps (and supplies) needed to create as many elegantly prettyu crochet magnolia appliques as your heart desires.
Use them to embellish clothing, wreaths, centerpieces, napkin rings, papercrafting projects, gift wrap, or whatever creative idea your mind can dream up!
Note: Calling all crocheters, the very talented Olena, who created this wonderful project has also made and shared scores of other crochet flower patterns on her site, many of which she links to in this post.
30. Rainbow Pinecone Fairies: Precious, colourful, and sweeter than springtime honey, these adorable little pinecone fairies are a cinch to put together, make for a great project to do with kids, and are no less at home on a bookshelf or dining room table as they would be on your Beltane altar.
31. May Day Mason Jar Gift with Free Printable Tags: Spread some festive springtime cheer to friends, neighbours, relatives, colleagues, or anyone else you fancy by surprising them with one (or more) of these super easy to make jars full of sweet springtime blooms that are both plant and holder in one.
32. Ribbon and Flower Crowns: Utilizing two items that have long been associated with Beltane/May 1st, this enchanting craft project creates a beautiful floral crown that can be worn for years to come – and/or put to work as a really lovely piece of seasonal décor.
33. Handmade Beaded Butterfly Brooch: Various colours of seed beads, thread, felt, and a suitable clasp pin (or even a safety pin) are all you need to bring this beguilingly lovely butterfly brooch to life.
Copy it as it sits now, or switch up the colours and/or types/sizes of tiny beads and create a whole flutter’s worth of butterflies to wear yourself, give as gifts, or pin in suitable spots around your home as whimsical seasonal décor pieces.
(Related side note: There are multiples terms in English for groups/flocks of butterflies. Two of my favourites are “flutter” and “kaleidoscope”, as both make perfect sense to me. Additional names for groups of butterflies include bivouac, flight, swarm, army, roost, rabble, and wing. Which one/ones do you like best?)
34. Flower Cross Stitch Mini Baskets: While, understandably, we tend to associate springtime baskets with Ostara and Easter, they are no less apt, charming, or beautiful at other points in the spring and summer as well.
These sweet little cross stitch baskets are far easier to make than they may appear at first glance and can be used to hold a wide array of items from wrapped candies to spools of thread, small bouquets of blooms to servettes at a picnic, tea or garden party.
35. Decoupage Pansy Votive Holder Jars: In the past few weeks, I have suddenly felt pulled towards a craft that for all intents I have not dabbled in for many a long year at this point: decoupage.
Fittingly, I recently hit upon this delightful decoupage votive holder jar project that stars tissue paper pansies and creates a magical little light source for those delectably warm spring and summer evenings spent outdoors.
Naturally, these votive holders can be put to work inside the house as well – and you can certainly swap out the pansies for another type of flower or different type of image entirely. For example, how fabulous would these be with a swarm of fireflies depicted on them?
36. Painted Umbrella Wreath for Spring: Though the classic adage states that April showers bring May flowers, the fact of the matter is that in many corners of the world, May can be a pretty drizzly month unto itself! 🌧️
Tap into the eternal association between springtime and rain showers care of this clever + beautiful wreath that utilizes an umbrella to hold your favourite seasonal blooms. Colour me smitten! 😊
37. How to Make a Button Bouquet in a Salt & Pepper Shaker: This awesome wire craft employs a few easy-to-obtain items and creates a conversation-starting gem of a floral bouquet that will last long after the final rays of summer sunshine have gone into hibernation for another year.
(As well, you could always switch up the colour palette and create button bouquets for other holidays and special events, too. Naturally, I am envisioning a dark, gothy arrangement for Halloween and/or Valoween.)
38. DIY Homemade Rose Petal Bath Soak (4 Ways): Of all the blooms that grow across the globe, no other ranks higher for me personally than roses.
Naturally, I am far from alone in my passion for this stunning, richly aromatic flower. 🌹
This Beltane season, celebrate the purification and revitalization properties of water + cleansing by whipping up one of the four different versions of DIY rose petal bath soaks that are housed in this terrific, photo-filled how-to project post.
39. Soft Fabric Strawberries Tutorial: Easy enough to be hand sewn if you do not own (or wish to use) a sewing machine, these precious fabric strawberries add pep and colour to any setting and would be just the loveliest thing to give as a hostess, Mother’s Day, wedding shower, or other occasion gift all spring and summer long.
40. DIY Pentacle Wind Chime for Spring: Beltane and wind chimes are a perfect match in my books, as the latter utilizes melodic sounds created by the hand of nature to create an enchanting background to the sun-kissed months of spring and summer.
This awesome example can be made in whatever colours you desire, dressed up or down, and used both indoors or (in a suitable spot where the elements won’t wreck it) outdoors.
🌸🌸🌸
And should you be on the hunt for books about Beltane, you can find a number of them listed in my post, Your Ultimate Guide to Books on The Pagan Sabbats.
PS: If you are looking for ways to better organize your craft supplies + creative space to help make whipping up beautiful springtime projects like these all the more of an enjoyable process, pop on over to my recent post 50 Super Helpful Craft Supply and Craft Room Organizational Ideas.
Light, warmth, fertility, love, harmony, and optimism
These are common themes that run through Beltane each year. They are not the only ones though, and as with each of the sabbats, it is up to the individuals who observe them to work with the themes, concepts, and (if applicable) deities that you personally feel most connected to in your practice.
Interestingly, despite being one of the warmer sabbats in much of the Northern Hemisphere, fires – particularly bonfires – are an activity pertaining to Beltane that stretches back to the ancient inhabitants of what is today the UK, Ireland, and some of the Norse lands.
Traditionally, either on the evening prior to May 1st or the night of Beltane itself, household candles and hearth fires would be doused or snuffed out. Inhabitants of the community would then gather together as a sizable bonfire was lit (often on a hill or other steeper vantage point).
Various rituals were often carried out in conjunction with the Beltane/May Day bonfire. One of the best known of which was driving livestock (particularly cattle) between two separate, but very closely situated, fires as an act of purification, blessing, and strength.
This tradition was documented as continuing to take place in parts of the UK and Ireland well into the 19th century and it is thought that at least a few European farmers continue it to this very day.
Much as with livestock, humans would sometimes also walk between the fires or – assuming the flames weren’t too dangerously high – possibly even leap over fires at Beltane as well.
Torches alight with flames from these communal fires would be taken home to rekindle hearths, candles, rushlights, and oil lamps in the hopes of a bright future in the coming growing and harvesting months.
As these fire(s) burned down and it was safe to then do so, in some areas, people would anoint themselves and/or their animals with ashes. Others are believed to have also been scattered across fields and budding crops to help ensure a prosperous harvest in the coming summer and autumn months.
Acts such as these tap into the ancient practice known as sympathetic magic/magick (sometimes also referred to as imitative magic/magick).
In this case, the fires of Beltane represented the sun, while also acting as a form of ritual purification that helped to burn away negative energy, sources of harm, and lingering challenges from the previous year leading up until May 1st.
These are all benefits that each of our lives is bound to be bettered by. Therefore, it is of little surprise that some people continue to light fires – be they roaring bonfires or the flames flickering atop tiny chime candles – upon May’s return.
Another common element of early Beltane celebrations was that of food and feasting. 🍓
Given the wonderful array of fresh produce returning to farmer’s markets and grocery store shelves (not to mention home gardens) these days, honouring the start of May with a scrumptious feast can be an excellent way to connect further with this meaningful point in the calendar.
Naturally, so can letting your creativity soar far and wide as well.
Whether you opt to follow any of the projects shared above, take a general sense of inspiration from them, or go down your own artistic path entirely, allow these revitalizing days of mid-spring (or early summer, as you please 😊) to fuel the proverbial bonfires of your own creative undertakings this Beltane season.
Do you view Beltanet as being more aligned with spring or summer? Which of these festively lovely May 1st craft ideas jump out at you most of all? ✂️🌼🎨
Aw thank you so much for sharing my post. I made it so long ago I almost forgot about it lol! Lovely blog ✨
You are wholeheartedly welcome, Afura. Many deeply appreciative thanks in turn for your lovely comment. You could have knocked me over with a feather in the moment I saw it, as I was tremendously elated to receive one from you (one of my fave Pagan/witchy content creators).
I have been a die-hard fan of your stellar site + podcast + social media presence for a number of years now, connecting with each well before this site was launched at the start of January 2020.
How, come to think of it, I went more than two years of blogging here without discussing at least one of your posts (or podcasts) is beyond me. Better late than never, as they say – and I highly doubt this will be the last time I do so. 😃
Thank you very much again, coupled with the sunniest of wishes for a sweet, beautiful, happy, meaningful, and abundantly blessed Beltane season. 🌹
🖤 Autumn
Ok you will LOVE the new Year of the Witch Beltane oracle deck that just came out! They also have Samhain and Yule out so far and I love the messages in them. The Beltane has a vibe like this post.
The Wheel of the year is my favourite part of witchery- I love seasons! I love nature! I love that is embodied about every six weeks! I just love anything that encompasses the four distinct seasons!!! My entire home decor is based on the seasons!
I have a lot of people who walk into my home and say “ you have all four seasons in your home yet it somehow works!” When the wheel of the year came into my life a few years back it was a shock to me that something encompassed what I always knew and WAS. Spells don’t speak to me, but anything that pertains to the seasons is a resounding, in-depth yes!!!!
Anyway, check out that deck! If you struggle with nudity – there are about 4 cards but I have special rub on stickers for those cards that blend in with them (with kids in the house I try to keep it PG in anything that could be flipped through), but the deck still is lovely !!!
I loved this post! Wish I wasn’t travelling on May 1 as I’ve been sick the last three Sabbats and haven’t done one since Samhain – I am feeling it. ;(
Thank you very much for your wonderful, in-depth comment, dearest Kmarie. I know that I have said it before, but I really want to reiterate just how much I appreciate the time and thought that you put into the beautiful blog comments that you leave here for me.
Great minds! I madly adore that series of oracle card decks and the moment I caught wind of the Beltane one, it went straight onto my witchy wishlist. I own the Samhain and Yule versions already (both obtained over the years via online bookstore gift certificates that I received for special occasions) and work with them frequently – particularly (to the surprise of no one who knows me, I’m sure 😄) the Samhain one.
In fact, it is neck-in-neck with (gifted artist) Terri Ann Foss’s beguilingly gorgeous “Earthly Souls & Spirits Oracle” as my most frequently reached-for deck. Particularly when it comes to readings for myself.
I really appreciate you discussing the Beltane deck here (including the extremely considerate head’s up regarding the appearance of nudity on a small number of cards; while generally a very modest person myself, I have no qualms with and readily celebrate the wonders of the human form), in case I had was not familiar with this series or the latest release in it. You rock!!! 🙏🎴💗
I am so hoping that they produce a Litha or Lammas deck in time, too, so that there will be at least one set of oracle cards in this series for each of the seasons.
Speaking of which, I feel you big time regarding the abundant positives and joys (not to mention inspiration) that come from the Wheel of The Year.
When I was growing up, I felt right down to the marrow of my bones like we should be celebrating the seasons themselves more and, at the same time, that there was a general shortage of holidays in the (Canadian/American, at least) modern world.
You can just imagine my profound delight then when, as I got a bit older and starting reading books on Paganism and witchcraft, I discovered the eight contemporary/Neopagan sabbats. In doing so, I experienced what a true sense of “coming home” in them and instantly wove the sabbats into my life, even at that circa middle school age.
As time went on, I only grew deeper to each and that continues to this day. Much like with – if we are so fortunate – certain people and/or animals in our lives, it may seem like we could not possibly love the seasons/sabbats any more than we already do and yet, as time passes, we do indeed feel ever a greater/deeper adoration towards/for them.
While I fully acknowledge and respect that not everyone holds this view, I personally see the sabbats as being open to anyone who wants to celebrate and embrace them. Goodness knows that Paganism does not have a monopoly over the seasons (though, Pagans/witches/similar do tend to be amonst those who have the closest connections with the year’s annual chapters, no two ways about it) and it can be hugely beneficial, meaningful, and otherwise positive to live our lives in as much harmony as we realistically can with that incredible ever-turning wheel.
I am sorry, as it not your ideal, that you will be travelling and not home to celebrate Beltane under your own roof. I have been traveling over the years on just about every sabbat at least once (Samhain being the only *possible* exception that I can think of, but even there, I cannot say for sure at this point in my 37-going-on-38 years of life).
It can certainly be tough to celebrate when not at home, but in some instances at least, doing so is still possible.
In those cases, I often find a lovely, peaceful spot out in nature wherever I am (or we are) visiting and engage in activities such as (weather permitting!) some grounding, meditation and/or deep mindful thought, possibly card reading or another form of divination, and leave an environmentally safe offering for the genus loci/wee folk/etc of the area.
At times I have also engaged in spellwork in such settings, too, but not always. Those aforementioned acts alone can often be more than enough for me to feel as though I have connected deeply with a given sabbat.
Naturally, doing these things may not always be possible or desirable. I get that.
Another thing – which, again, I have done many a time – is to stay up and spend some time bathed in the moonlight on the night of (and sometimes that proceeding it as well) a sabbat. If I have any crystals, card decks, spiritually meaningful jewelry, etc with me then, I will sometimes charge it/them in the sabbat moonlight in the process.
Depending on where and with whom you are staying when you travel, taking a lovely, seasonally significant candle or incense with you to safely burn can be another way of honouring the sabbats.
Instead of, or in conjunction with such, employing essential oils can be a fantastic and easy to pack item (ensuring, of course, that any glass or otherwise easily breakable containers are very securely packed in your luggage) that can help one feel a strong(er) connection to the sabbats as well.
Just a few ideas of course – there are tons more out there, too, and as I pen this comment, I cannot help but think that perhaps I should write a post (even more of) them one day. 😃
Thank you again very much for everything. However and wherever this Beltane is spent, dear heart, I hope that is a truly lovely, meaningful, enjoyable, and richly blessed sabbat for you. 🌹
Scores of hugs,
🖤 Autumn
Thank you for yet another passionately written and knowledgeable post, Autumn. I loved reading about the origins and background of Beltane. Thank you also for those delightful craft projects! Those mosquito repellent candles look gorgeous and well worth a try, and how I wish I could knit myself a pair of those beautiful socks! xxx
It is my joyful pleasure, dearest Ann. There are, no word of a lie, few areas I love to discuss + engage with than the Pagan sabbats, so it’s a safe bet to say that numerous posts a year pertaining to them will continue to appear here as – quite aptly – The Wheel of the Year continues to roll ever onward.
I hear you big time regarding the socks. I have never learned to knit (or crochet, for that matter) and objectively, think it is doubtful that I ever will. I have an abundance of hobbies and passions already, and am not currently looking to add a whole new one into the fold. Never say never though. I have know a number of folks over the years who came to various arts and crafts later in life, so I might take up knitting, say, in my 50s. Time shall tell.
Anyhoo, all that to say that if I was a knitter, those beauties would be on my needles pronto – and that I would, likewise, very happily stitch up a pair for you as well. Alas, about the best I could offer would be a papercrafted or cross stitched version.
I plan to give those lovely, environmentally friendly mosquito repellant candles a go, too. I have made a few other versions over the years, some of which worked a lot better than others. Based on those experiences, I suspect that this recipe stands to veer much more on the effective side of things. We shall see!
Many thanks again, my lovely friend. Sunny hugs & the cheeriest of Beltane/May Day wishes coming your way!
🖤 Autumn
So much information and great craft ideas. That crocheted pea pod was so adorable! Take care !
Thank you sweetly, lovely lady. Isn’t it just the cutest thing imaginable? I think I audibly gasped aloud from the sheer adorableness of it the first time I laid eyes on that darling pea pod. If I ever take up crocheting, it is sooo getting made! 😃
Sunny hugs and the sweetest, happiest of April-into-May wishes coming your way.
🖤 Autumn
Another super post full of fun facts, projects and information Autumn.
I’m sorry I have not been around much recently, life has been getting in the way rather a lot!
Pauline – Crafting with Cotnob
x
Thank you very much, my sweet friend. You are such a kind, considerate soul. Please rest assured that you need never apologize. I completely understand and do not expect anyone who reads my blog to comment on it. Doing so is a beautiful gift, not a given.
Goodness knows so many of us have an incredible amount on our plates these days and even just making it online point blank can be a challenge sometimes. Even if one had all the time in the world though, the above statement does not change one iota in my books.
Hearing from you anytime, anywhere is a delight – as are the wonderful occasions when I am able to visit your own fantastic (and perpetually inspiring) site.
In short, it is all good and I am sincerely grateful for your visits and online friendship. ❤️
Huge hugs & scores of wishes for a serene and very happy springtime,
🖤 Autumn
Wow! Thank you for sharing all of these wonderful clever Spring fun craft ideas! I’m loving that butterfly wreath and thinking about something like this for my front door, so I’ll be needed to check that out more! I’m so intrigued with the salt shaker flower bouquet as well! These ideas certainly have me looking forward to that warmer weather!
That is awesome to hear, lovely lady. Thank you very much for your positive feedback on this festive springtime craft project roundup post, as well as for letting me know about some of the ideas housed within it that leapt out at you the most. I really, really like the S&P shaker flower bouquet idea as well. It has that sort of underlying sense of whimsy to it that I can never get enough of.
I hope that things are well on your end as we bop along through April and that this spring delivers ample time to craft for you (be it papercrafting or otherwise).
Sunny hugs across the miles,
🖤 Autumn
Fascinating to read about Beltane and to know more about its history. I also enjoyed browsing through Beltane inspired DIY projects. I especially like how so many of them are about upcycling or using things that can be found in nature.
What a terrific comment, dear Ivana. Thank you very much for your supportive feedback – and for taking note of those themes. Both were ones that I intentionally tried to focus on as I rounded up this selection of 40 creative Beltane perfect projects – especially since it just happens to be the sabbat that falls closest to Earth Day each year.
If you give any of these ideas a go or use them as springboards for other types of projects, I hope they turn out marvellously for you, my friend.
Sunny springtime hugs from my heart to yours,
🖤 Autumn
Thank you for your explanations of Beltane, I am gradually learning more and more and as for all those 40 amazing projects, I am in awe of how you find them and collate them all for your wonderful posts. I love to cross stitch too, so they are my favourite projects. I just wish I had more hours in the day to partake of all these things. Thank you for taking the time to gather these beauties and to share them with us with all the relevant links too. I am so impressed xx
What an awesomely kind and supportive comment, my dear friend. It warmed my heart every bit as the brightest of late springtime sunshine.
SO TRUE regarding the rather sizable lack of hours in the day to get to even a mere fraction of the things (be they crafting-related or otherwise) that one would ideally like. Let me assure you that I feel the very same way quite frequently as well.
I have been in the biggest cross stitching mood in recent days (literally, days) and am thinking that I may dig through the annual Halloween cross stitch magazines I like to purchase (if I can get to them before they sell out in person around these parts) and start a new project (or five! ;D) in the coming summer months.
It truly means a lot to me that you enjoy and learn from my posts. There are few things I could hope to have ring truer than that for any of my readers.
Next up, in less than a month, we will reach the Summer Solstice which corresponds to the sabbat of Litha (aka, Midsummer). I haven’t quite decided what I will post about for this year’s Litha, but with June very nearly here, that is something I will need to nail down pretty soon.
Though Samhain will forever be my most cherished sabbat, I adore each of them and have a particular affinity for Litha as it is the Pagan holiday that falls closest to my birthday in July (though, to be fair, my b-day is almost dead center between Litha in June and Lammas at the start of August).
Thank you again abundantly, sweet lady. I hope that this month has been sweeter than the season’s first strawberries to you and that you have a fantastic June.
🖤 Autumn
An amazing array of fabulous projects,many I’ve not seen before,reading your detailed history of their origin and of Beltane opened many new doors to consider
Thank you deeply, dear Meg. What a heartwarming, absolutely lovely (and encouraging) thing to hear. I am delighted to know that the projects housed in this post helped to spark some fun new ideas for you.
In due time, I have every intention of creating at least one (and possibly multiple) entries like this for each of the year’s eight Neopagan sabbats and have already started saving links for additional craft projects that are well suited to Beltane, should a second edition of this post come into being one day.
Many heartfelt thanks again,
🖤 Autumn
I always learn new things when I visit your blog and your photos are amazing and such a joy to view! I love all these recycled projects, especially the lavender wand! I may dig out some of my metallic ribbons and make something similar to those ribbon slides to discourage an annoying woodpecker who keeps trying to drill on my house! LOL Thanks for sharing so many great ideas to inspire us!
Thank you so very much, dear Carol. Your kindness and support sincerely bolster my mood and inspire me all the more as I set out to pen future posts.
It is terrific that the wand idea resonated with you – and that it would not only be lovely to look at, but serve a practical purpose on your end, too. I am sorry indeed that a woodpecker is trying to give your house the look of Swiss cheese. That must be very, very irksome indeed!
We have plenty of woodpeckers around these parts, too, but (to date at least) none of them have eyed up our house yet. The group of generously sized (and incredibly beautiful) ravens that call the evergreens in our backyard home for much of the year do, admittedly, likely help to keep smaller birds like that at bay.
Thank you again sweetly. I hope that your month is going great and that it will soon blossom into a splendid June.
🖤 Autumn
Oooh, these are such great ideas. As usual there are several that caught my eye. So during the month of May, I’d like to try my hand at the Woodland Mason Jar Lights (love the deer in them), the Beaded Wind Chime (since I have an abundance of beads on hand), and the Rose Petal Bath Salts (just the project to use my rose petals on).
Thank you so much for sharing all of these!
Debi
It is my heartfelt joy, dearest Debi. Thank you abundantly for your lovely words and for sharing what projects here leapt out at you in particular. I can all but smell the sublime aroma of your homemade rose-scented bath salts all the way up here in Canada. 🙂
This series is truly one of my favourites that I have created to date on this site and I have every intention of creating one (or more) similar entries for each of the year’s eight Neopagan sabbats. To that end, I have already started saving links to additional projects that would suit Beltane to a tee, should a second edition come along at some point.
I hope that you had/have a marvellous time creating those projects and that they help to brighten your spring all the more, my sweet friend.
🖤 Autumn
Hello, There is just so much interesting stuff here. I have been over a few times but not had time to write a decent comment before. Today I am not working – bliss!
Thanks so much for the sock knitting pattern in particular. I will try that one out. Lavendar wand I would also like to make but in my country it is not yet in flower – at least not the area I live in anyway. Maybe down south.
This is such a lovely blog.
Thanks also for popping over to visit me and for your kind comments.
I will be back!
Hi Bracken, thank you very much or your wonderfully kind words and for paying my blog a visit as well. The past few weeks have been full to the bursting point on this end, so I haven’t been online too much. I am gradually catching up on some of the blogs I like to visit and plan on stopping by yours again quite soon.
How lovely that those projects caught your eye in particular. Lavender is grown (commercially) in a small number of spots around our region of British Columbia. Much as on your end, it rarely appears here before summertime proper and I tend to think of mid-July to late August as being the primary lavender growing weeks around these parts.
I hope that any of these craft ideas that you try your hand at turn out splendidly for you.
Sunny hugs,
🖤 Autumn
Oh goodness! So many delightful craft ideas. Oh to have more time in the day! Being a camper (and also loved by all mosquitoes who come anywhere close to me), I’m curious about the natural repellent candles. Like you, I’m teased by friends and family that they don’t have to worry about mosquitoes when I’m near.
I just put aside a mason jar that came full of sauce. Thanks for sharing several ideas for it!
Thank you very much for your lovely words, my sweet friend. Good stars, do I hear you regarding longing for more hours in the day. The fact that time only seems to speed up all the more with each passing year does not help matters one iota!
I am sincerely sorry that you are a fellow “walking buffet” for mosquitos. It really is fascinating how they’re drawn considerably more to some people than others.
I have read before that those, such as pregnant women, who emit more carbon dioxide tend to attract higher volumes of ‘skitters to them. However, given that, for a lot of us, this tendency to attract mosquitos starts in early childhood, surely there have to be other factors at play as well.
Hopefully, these near omnipresent summertime creatures will not be too brutally abundant on either of our ends this year. Despite the somewhat cooler than usual May temps that we have experienced this month, I have already seen – and been bit by – some mosquitoes. It really is amazing how they often come out of the woodwork mere days after winter wraps up.
Many thanks again. May you have a relaxing, absolutely wonderful remainder of the spring.
🖤 Autumn