About Bealtaine

Bealtaine - a time of bonfires around May 1. How far removed from the Czech Čarodejnice of April 30 can it be?

In the Irish language (Gaeilge) – Bealtaine is the name for the month of May. Bealtaine is one of the eight ancient Fire Festivals which have been celebrated on the island of Ireland for over five thousand years! We know this because of the mysterious astronomically aligned passage mounds reputedly built by the Tuatha De Danainn which date from those times. The hilltop bonfires celebrating each event carried the message not only throughout the island, but also to our neighbours and compatriots in Alba, Breizh, Cymru, Kernow and Manann, who in turn spread the signal.

In those far off days, Bealtaine, celebrated on the eve of 1st May, represented the start of the second half of the year (the first half of course starting on Samhain - Halloween). Several passage mounds calculated the exact date of both, the most notable one being on the royal hill of Tara. Both festivals are celebrated throughout central Europe also, but whereas the Irish celebrated with gaiety, singing , dancing and fertility rites, the Europeans terrified their children with witches, celebrating Walpurgis and Halloween. The Wild Geese are happy to stay with the Irish traditions!

May also sees the commemoration of the Battle of Prague, 5th May, 1757, when the fierce Prussian king, Frederik the Great met his match in the Irish General defending Prague, Maximilian Ulysses Browne. Maximilian was one of the many fallen Wild Geese who were buried in the Irish Franciscan church on Hybernské náměstí (now Náměstí Republiky). The Wild Geese Historical Society is pursuing the present location of the bodies. You will find information on the battle on our website, www.wildgeese.cz.

by The Wild Geese