Beltane
 

It is May the 1st today, also known as Beltane.

Beltane (or Beltaine, in its variant spelling) was an ancient holy day on the Celtic calendar, in honor of Belenus, or Bel, a Celtic sun god.

It is thought that fairies used to celebrate this date as well!

Apart of the original festivities involved the traditional roundelay about a maypole (as depicted in one of my favorite films, “The Wicker Man,” 1975).

In this ritual, men and women would weave to and fro about a phallic symbol, an act symbolic of the regenerative process, signifying the sowing of seed and the fertility of the Spring season.

I’m unsure as to whether this date is still celebrated or this ritual still practiced, by neopagans today.

When I was younger my mother and I were apart of a group of pagans (wouldn't call it a coven) and we practiced the maypole and this very belief. If you go past some UUC's they will sometimes have a maypole out and ready for May 1st. Not sure if this answers your question, hope it helps.

Hello

There are celebrations of Beltane. You can check out Witchvox for Beltane events here: Beltane Events.

Lepus

Yes it's still very much alive, I went to a local may day festival last year where the green man paraded through the town centre to crown the may queen. It was really cool.

Oh and yes there was a may pole set up too in the town square with traditional dancers performing.