MAY DAY ROMANCES

Beltane

It will soon be May and the first of the month is Beltane (bell-tayn), in modern times we call it May Day. This festival of the ancient Celts celebrated Spring and the Fire God, Belenus.
The May Queen led the Beltane procession with her ritual courtship of the Green Man. These symbolic marriages of the god and goddess, in the form of King and Queen of the May, were mirrored in human courtship. 

One of the most popular May Day traditions was to set a basket full of spring flowers or other small gifts at a neighbor’s home.

One of the most important Beltane traditions was the Need Fire. Tribesmen built two huge bonfires next to each other and drove the tribe's cattle between them so the smoke would purify them and protect them from disease as well as grant them fertility from God Belenus. The tribesmen also ran or jumped between the fires for the fertility of the tribe. 

 I wrote a romance that takes place during Beltane:

The Dragon and The Druidess (Druidry and the Beast Book 2) 

To a passionate man…all women are goddesses.

Druidess Nona is seeking a lover for the Beltane rite. Without warning, a fierce red dragon swoops down before her. Not just any dragon…it’s God Dewey in wild, beastly form. Hot, in a rage, blowing smoke and flames… because Nona’s tribesmen snatched gold from the earth without the gods’ consent.

Captivated by Nona’s beauty and bravery, sparks fly and ablaze with desire for Nona, Dewi flies away… only to land nearby and shapeshifts to human form. In the guise of a visiting warrior needing the Druidess' hospitality, Dewi returns to the village. But, he discovers he has a rival for Nona’s affection, a chief who will stop at nothing to have her for his own. 

The moment Nona sees the warrior Dewi, her passion ignites, she envisions them coupling together in the Beltane mating rite… unleashing powerful magic. Little does she know, the handsome warrior is really the mighty Dragon god. What will happen when Dewi’s secret is revealed?

 And what evil might the jealous chief unleash on the druidess and the dragon god?

Happy Beltane or Merry May Day, everyone!