If you’re not in the mood to wave a red flag, May Day is celebrated in Celtic countries as Beltane:

It’s an ancient feast honoring the beginning of the summer season.

It occurs midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. For the ancient Gaelic speaking peoples, Beltane rituals were performed to protect their cattle, ensure fertility, and to ward off fairies known as theTuatha Dé Danann.

The name “Beltane” ( rhymes with airplane) is thought to have come from the ancient Irish: Bel from the ancient Celtic god Bel or Belenus, and the Old Irish word tene, meaning fire. In Irish, it is Bealtaine, in Scottish, Bealltainn and in Manx Gaelic,Boaltinn or Boaldyn.

I don’t know about you but I’m all about warding off fairies and faeries alike. Now that I think of it, one could ward them off by whapping them with a red flag. I have two seasonal songs to post: one is directly on point for Beltane and the other is a bit of Andy Partridge whimsy but whimsy and the May Pole go hand in hand.

Happy May Day, comrades.

Beltane link via Yat Pundit.