| The first of May is Beltane or May Day, a time to | | | | ribbons. Get a group of friends, and have each |
| celebrate the leaping fires of passion. It marks the | | | | choose a ribbon and make a wish upon it. (For |
| height of spring and the flowering of all life. Beltane is | | | | example, "I choose this red ribbon for more passion |
| a festival of sensuality, sexuality, flowers and delight. | | | | in my life.") Dance around the Maypole entwining your |
| It is a traditional time to make love, preferably | | | | ribbons together. Then take the entwined ribbons |
| outdoors. | | | | and make a hair wreath out of them. Take turns |
| There are many lovely old customs associated with | | | | wearing it. |
| this time. Here are seven simple ideas for celebrating | | | | 6. Embrace the ones you love. Hugs and kisses all |
| this wild red time of year: | | | | around. |
| 1. Make a May basket. Fill it with flowers or other | | | | 7. Write poetry about Beltane, and then recite your |
| outdoor objects. Leave it on a doorstep of someone | | | | poems aloud, preferably outside. Try haiku, an ancient |
| who cannot get outside, such as an invalid or elderly | | | | Japanese poetry-art form. Haiku consist of three |
| person. | | | | unrhymed lines of five, seven and five syllables. Here |
| 2. Make a wreath of freshly picked flowers and wear | | | | are three haiku about May to give you the idea: |
| it in your hair. | | | | Happy women weave colored ribbons round their |
| 3. Perfume your house with delicate scent of | | | | hearts dreams become prayersflap your black swan |
| woodruff, a tiny, star-like flower that blooms around | | | | wings hoot like a young chimpanzee dance a lively |
| this time in the Northern Hemisphere. | | | | dancepetals will open roses show their hot male |
| 4. Dress in bright colors, especially hot pink or | | | | hearts make love to yourself |
| crimson, the traditional colors of Beltane. | | | | Holidays are days made holy by the attention we |
| 5. Erect a Maypole in your yard. It doesn't have to be | | | | pay them. Simple practices such as the ones listed |
| tall. You can use a yardstick, broomstick, or even a | | | | above remind us that we too dance to the natural |
| twig. At the top of the pole affix different colored | | | | rhythms of the earth. |