{"id":3636,"date":"2010-05-01T01:10:28","date_gmt":"2010-05-01T06:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=3695"},"modified":"2010-05-01T12:20:36","modified_gmt":"2010-05-01T17:20:36","slug":"faeries-elves-and-other-kin-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2010\/05\/01\/faeries-elves-and-other-kin-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Faeries, Elves, and Other Kin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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May Eve:\u00a0 First Faerie Festival of the Year<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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To ancient Celts, the first day of May was the first day of summer.\u00a0 In Irish Gaelic, \u201cM\u00ed Bhealtaine\u201d means \u201cmonth of May.\u201d\u00a0 Thus it is that many neo-pagans celebrate Beltane, also known as May Day (among many other names), on May 1st.\u00a0 However, Beltane may be celebrated on May 11th<\/sup> (\u201cOld May\u201d in Ireland), May 15th<\/sup> (Scotland after the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar) or on the full moon nearest the midpoint between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice (which is April 28th<\/sup> in 2010). <\/span><\/p>\n

May Eve (Beltane) is the first of the three yearly Faerie Realm festivals.\u00a0 The other two festivals occur on Midsummer\u2019s Eve and November Eve (Samhain).\u00a0 In ancient Celtics countries, a new day began at sunset, so the \u201ceve\u201d of a day was not \u201cthe day before\u201d as we calculate time today.\u00a0 Thus, \u201cMay Eve\u201d and \u201cMay Day\u201d occurred on the same \u201cday.\u201d\u00a0 Ancient Celts also recognized only two seasons of the year:\u00a0 summer and winter.\u00a0 As such, Beltane and Samhain are pivotal dates of the calendar year for human folk. <\/span><\/p>\n

These luminal dates also signal a great change in the Faerie Realm.\u00a0 From May Eve to November Eve, the Seelie Court reigns supreme.\u00a0 From November Eve to May Eve, the Unseelie Court holds sway. <\/span><\/p>\n

The most significant difference between the two Courts is compassion, and the lack thereof.\u00a0 The Seelie Court exhibits profound compassion for humans, whereas the Unseelie Court is pitiless.\u00a0 Like the Unseelie Court, however, the Seelie are swift to retaliate for an injury or insult.\u00a0 They also are not beneath stealing cattle or borrowing whatever they want from humans, which includes using humans for their own purposes (as obscure as those purposes may be).\u00a0 Even Seelie faeries hold to the saying, \u201cAll that\u2019s yours is mine; all that\u2019s mine is my own,\u201d though among themselves stealing is verboten. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a rule, however, we can rely on Seelie faeries to be helpful and fair in their dealings with us.\u00a0 Unlike the Unseelie fae, they return the things they borrow, show gratitude for kindnesses we bestow upon them, provide patronage to those who find true love, show delight in music and dancing, and display an appreciation for neatness, order, beauty and fertility.\u00a0 Since Beltane is a festival of fertility to promote the bountiful crops planted at the beginning of spring, it is entirely appropriate that the Seelie Court emerges on this day to help us celebrate love, lust and life. <\/span><\/p>\n

As May Eve heralds the reawakening of the Faerie Realm and Seelie Court from winter\u2019s grasp, Midsummer\u2019s Eve celebrates the recovery of their full strength from winter\u2019s travails.\u00a0 Then on November Eve, the Unseelie Court makes its pass through mortal lands on the Wild Hunt before the hand of winter closes its fist.\u00a0 As so the wheel of the year turns, even for the fae.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is on these dates that the veils between the two worlds are at their thinnest, when the two worlds intermingle and unite, and wild magic abounds.\u00a0 These are the times when the fae are most accessible and visible–look through a sprig of rowan twisted into a ring and seek the fae at dusk to better your chances of getting a peek.\u00a0 However, be forewarned that neither Seelie nor Unseelie fae like to be watched and may consider this an infringement on their privacy for which you might be rebuked. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is also a favored time for the Queen of Faerie to ride out on her favorite white horse, seeking one of us to venture away with her to the Summerland.\u00a0 Sit beneath a tree on May Eve and you may see her or hear the sound of her horse’s bells as she rides through the night.\u00a0 Should you actually meet with her, hide your face and she will pass you by; look at her, however, and her unearthly beauty will ensnare you.\u00a0 She may then choose you to journey with her to the Summerland where you must not eat, nor drink nor speak for seven years.\u00a0 At the end of seven years, you may become a tithe to Hell and lose your life, or perhaps be rescued like <\/span>Tam Lin<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 If you\u2019re very fortunate and the Queen grants you a special dispensation, you may gain your freedom, along with the gift of prophecy, like <\/span>Thomas the Rhymer<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 However, eat, drink or speak, and you will never be allowed to leave.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the Seelie fae awaken from their winter repose, like any creature released from a dull existence they are carefree and full of mischief.\u00a0 The two things they\u2019ll be after the most is a piece of your ritual Beltane fire and all your fresh butter.\u00a0 To protect yourself from faerie pranks, place rowan branches around your windows and doors, and have the youngest member of the family gather primroses on May Eve and throw them at the door of your home.<\/span><\/p>\n

To receive a Seelie faerie blessing, leave offerings of festival bread and drink on your doorsteps and at crossroads.\u00a0 Some traditional festival breads include:<\/p>\n