We held our first Beltane Ceilidh at the end of April 2024, to help dance-in-the-sun, and get local people together to celebrate the change of the seasons and move into summer. Our ceilidh continues historical traditions of dancing and merry-making at this time of the year. We invited the excellent Freedom Fields Ceilidh Band to play music and guide us through the dances.
Local residents take part in the 2024 Beltane Ceilidh.
Image credits: Rachel Dobbs / The Village Hub
Mayday, Beltane & Bealtaine
May Day is a festival of ancient origins which is celebrated across Central and Northern Europe (including the UK) on, or around, 1st May each year (which is around half-way between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice).
There are many different traditions associated with May Day, including weaving floral garlands, dancing around a May Pole / May Bush / May Tree, crowning a May Queen, visiting holy wells with gifts, or lighting bonfires.
The gaelic word Bealtaine (from which the english translation Beltane comes) mean “bright fire”, and refers to ancient traditions of lighting sacred fires to help protect crops and livestock. Druids would light two large fires, and cattle would be driven between them – people often follow too for good luck!
May Trees
Today, we’re reviving the ancient practices of adorning a May Tree (the Hawthorn – which blooms in May) and dancing together – celebrating the start of Summer, and bringing good health and good fortune to all of the trees in Blockhouse Park.
Traditionally, people in towns and villages across England would go out to collect wildflowers and green branches to make decorations for the celebration – this was called “bringing in the May”. It was often a merry and rowdy celebration – a chance to get together and let loose, and often to get up to some mischief!
These traditions morphed over time into the decoration of cut tree branches, and the construction of large May Poles around which many different synchronised group dances were made. As we don’t have a May Pole, we’re dancing Cèilidh (from ‘le cèle’ the gaelic phrase for together or with a companion) which is a Scottish & Irish tradition of social dancing. Don’t worry if you don’t know the steps, the caller will let you know what to do!
More local May Day celebrations around Plymouth
Because our Beltane Ceilidh celebrations at Blockhouse Park happen “early” (at the end of April, rather than on May Day itself), this give everyone a chance to find out about other local celebrations they can join in with!
Here are some groups who regularly celebrate May Day in Plymouth and nearby areas:
- Plymouth Morris – Look out for Plymouth Morris at the lighthouse on Plymouth Hoe as they dance the sun up on May Day morning (dawn – around 5:30am). If you are not an early riser, you’ll often find the celebrating May Day on the bank holiday weekend too – check http://plymouthmorris.uk for details & updates
- Dartmoor Border Morris – If you’d like an early morning Dartmoor adventure, join Dartmoor Border Morris (and their beast Chatterly) to dance up the sun. Onlookers are encouraged to have a go. Bring torches and dress for the cold! You’ll often find them on May Day morning (dawn – around 5:15am) dancing at Leeden Tor carpark, Dartmoor (on the B3212, halfway between Princetown and Yelverton) – check https://www.dartmoorbordermorris.com for details & updates
- Wreckers Border Morris – Clamber up Kit Hill just before day breaks for amazing views out across Devon & Cornwall, and give Blockhouse Park a wave! Wreckers Border Morris usually dance here on May Day morning (at dawn) – check https://stevetetlow2.wixsite.com/wreckersmorris for details & updates
- Black Prince Flower Boat Festival– Kingsand, Cawsand and Millbrook celebrate their May Day festival on the May Bank Holiday Monday, where a model of the ship The Black Prince is covered in flowers and is taken in a procession from the Quay at Millbrook to the beach at Cawsand where it is cast adrift. Houses are decorated, there’s a May Pole, and lots of Morris Dancing to enjoy! – Check facebook for timings & more details (as the festivities move around through the day!) – Black Prince Flower Boat Festival
Contributors:
- Rachel Dobbs
- Haidee Dampney
- Jess Duffy
- Kirsty Marris