Happy Beltane!

I normally post on Sundays or Mondays, but got a bit behind this weekend, so I'm posting today instead. :)

 

Beltane is coming up next weekend (Sunday 1st May or Sat 30th April if you celebrate from sundown to sundown). I've written a few posts with celebration ideas and inspiration over the past few years and last year I rounded them up, so for Beltane 2022 I'm just going to share some links and ideas, rather than a more in-depth post. :)

Note: If you're in the Southern Hemisphere Samhain is coming! Check out my Samhain/Hallowe'en Round-up post here (2021): https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2021/10/samhainhalloween-round-up.html

 

Beltane (also spelt Beltaine) is the 3rd and final spring festival on the Wheel of the Year, coming after Imbolg/Imbolc on 2nd February and Oestara/Ostara aka the Spring Equinox around 21st March. It is a fire festival linked to the Fire God Bel. It is also a cross quarter festival and its other themes include mid-spring, the union of the God and Goddess and fertility and the start of the shift from spring to summer (although summer is considered to "officially" start on Litha/the Summer Solstice in June). 

Winter-Spring Update (2022)

Last year I wrote quarterly/seasonal updates (from "season to season"). Although I enjoyed doing monthly updates in 2019 and "two monthly" (two months at a time) ones in 2020, I found that quarterly updates suited me better. So, I've decided to do the same during 2022. :)

You can see my 2021 autumn-winter update here if you like: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2022/01/christmas-brown-butter-pecan-cake.html

 

We started the year with some coronavirus restrictions still in place, mainly face masks in indoor public places, isolation rules if testing positive and social distancing. 

I went to Starbucks in Worthing and got my favourite mocha Frappuccino. I didn't do much else out of the house, apart from going to the library. And I kept up my regular weekly park walks.

I baked a Coca Cola chocolate cake (where you put Coke in the sponge and icing). It's one of my favourite cakes but I don't make it that often. You can see a picture here: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2014/02/coca-cola-chocolate-cake.html

I also had a go at making this "Change Your Life Chicken" (found the recipe through The Tex Mex Mom's email newsletter, where she shares her weekly meal plans): https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/change-your-life-chicken

It was quite nice.

At the beginning of February, I celebrated Imbolg/Imbolc. You can see a post about my celebrations here: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2022/02/imbolg-2022.html

Also in Feb, I went to my belly dance group's hafla (dance party). I last went to one in September, so it was good to go again.

March started with my birthday. I celebrated at home on the day and the went to Nando's later in the week. Last year they were only open for takeaway, since we were in lockdown. So, it was nice to be able to eat in there again. I had my favourite chicken butterfly (plain-ish) and chips. Here's a picture: