Beltane etymology

Etymology

• Irish: Bealtaine
• Scottish Gaelic: Bealltainn
• Welsh: Beltain

Meaning

• "Bright Fire" (from the Proto-Celtic root belo-tenos)

Origin

Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival that marks the beginning of summer and the transition from the dark half of the year to the light half. It is celebrated on May 1st (halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and on November 1st (halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.

Significance

• Celebration of fertility and growth: Beltane is a time to celebrate the coming of spring and the renewal of life. It was believed that the boundaries between the human and supernatural worlds were blurred during this time, allowing spirits to interact with mortals.
• Rituals involving fire: Fire played a central role in Beltane rituals, which included lighting bonfires, jumping over flames, and burning effigies representing winter and darkness.
• Maypoles and dancing: Maypoles, decorated with ribbons and flowers, were often erected and people danced around them, symbolizing the fertility of the coming season.
• Offerings to the gods: Offerings of food and drink were made to the gods to ensure a good harvest and prosperity.
• Divination and magic: Beltane was a time for divination and magic. It was believed that the veil between the worlds was thin, allowing people to see into the future and cast spells.

Beltane relate terms

• beluga

  Etymology The word beluga is derived from the Russian word белуха belukha

• Beltane

  Etymology Irish Bealtaine Scottish Gaelic Bealltainn Welsh Beltain Meaning Brigh

• black

  Etymology The word black is derived from the Old English word blac which is cognate

• blancmange

  Etymology French blancmange literally white eating From Old French blanc white and

• blanch

  Etymology The word blanch comes from the Old French word blanchir which means to w

• blank

  Etymology Middle English blanc from Old French blanc from Frankish blank from Prot

• blanket

  Etymology The word blanket derives from the Middle English term blankette which ult

• blaze

  Etymology The word blaze comes from the Middle English word blase meaning a flame

• bleach

  Etymology of Bleach The word bleach originates from the Old English term blēcan w

• bleak

  Etymology Old English blǣc pale dark black Meaning Unrelievedly depress

• blemish

  Etymology The word blemish derives from the Old French word blemisse which in turn

• blench

  Etymology The word blench has its origins in the Old English word blanch which also

• blende

  Etymology of Blende The word blende has roots in German and Swedish German blend

• blend

  Etymology Middle English blenden from Old English blendan to mix stir Proto Germ

• blind

  Etymology The word blind comes from the Old English word blind which ultimately der

• blindfold

  Etymology Blind Middle English From Old English blind meaning deprived of sight

• blitzkrieg

  Etymology and Meaning Blitzkrieg is a German compound word that consists of Blitz li

• blond

  Etymology The word blond is derived from the Old French word blond which in turn co

• blue

  Etymology The word blue originates from the Middle English blewe which in turn is de

• blush

  Etymology The word blush comes from the Old English word blyscan which means to fla

• conflagration

  Etymology The word conflagration originates from the Latin word conflagrare which me

• deflagration

  Etymology From French déflagration from Latin deflagrāre to burn down from de

• effulgence

  Etymology From Latin effulgentia from effulgens present participle of effulgere to s

• effulgent

  Etymology The word effulgent comes from the Latin word effulgeo which means to shi

• flagrant

  Etymology The word flagrant originates from the Latin adjective flagrans which mean

• flambe

  Etymology and Meaning The word flambé originates from the French verb flamber whic

• flambeau

  Etymology The word flambeau comes from the Old French word flambel which in turn com

• flamboyant

  Etymology The word flamboyant is derived from the Old French word flamboier meaning

• flame

  Etymology The word flame comes from the Old English word fleame which meant a smal

• flamingo

  Etymology The word flamingo comes from the Portuguese word flamengo which is derive

• flammable

  Etymology Flammable is derived from the Latin word flammare meaning to set on fire

• Flavian

  Etymology Flavian derives from the Latin family name Flavius which originated from the L

• Flavius

  Etymology The name Flavius is derived from the Latin word flavus meaning golden haire

• fulgent

  Etymology Latin fulgens from the present participle of fulgere to flash Meaning

• fulminate

  Etymology Latin fulminare meaning to lighten to thunder Fulmen meaning light

• inflame

  Etymology The word inflame originates from the Latin word inflammare which is a comb

• inflammable

  Etymology The word inflammable is derived from the Latin word inflammare meaning to

• phlegm

  Etymology The word phlegm comes from the Greek word phlegma meaning inflammation o

• phlegmatic

  1 Etymology Greek φλεγματικός phlegmatikos Root φλέγμα phlegma

• phlogiston

  Etymology The term phlogiston comes from the Greek word phlogistos which means inf

• phlox

  Etymology Phlox is derived from the Greek word phlox meaning flame Meaning Ph

• purblind

  Etymology Old English purblind short sighted near sighted Middle English purblind

• refulgent

  Etymology Refulgent comes from the Latin word refulgere meaning to shine back to

• riboflavin

  Etymology Riboflavin is a compound word derived from two Latin roots Ribo From ribo

• keep

  Etymology Derived from the Middle English word kepen meaning to hold or guard Me

• collateral

  Etymology The word collateral is derived from the Latin word collateralis which mean

• knockoff

  Etymology Knockoff is a blend of two words Knock to imitate or copy something Of

• profound

  Etymology The word profound comes from the Latin word profundus which means deep o

• medicine

  Etymology The word medicine originates from the Latin word medicina which in turn i

• inexorable

  Etymology The word inexorable comes from the Latin word inexorabilis which means u

• regeneration

  Etymology From Latin regenerare to be born again from re again generare to

• gallery

  Etymology Latin galeria covered walkway Greek γαλέρωμα galērōma hoo