Beltane
/ˈbɛl.teɪn/noun
A traditional Gaelic May Day festival marking the beginning of summer.
Did you know?Beltane comes from a Gaelic phrase meaning “bright fire,” and medieval sources describe bonfires being lit to protect cattle and bless the coming season.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*belo-
“bright, white, shining”
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*teutā
“fire”
Old Irish
OIr
Beltene
“May Day festival; bright fire”
Middle Irish
MIr
Beltine
“the May festival beginning summer”
Modern English
English
Beltane
“the Gaelic May Day festival”