Preparing a Beltane Picnic

Beltane is a time for celebration, traditionally celebrated with a large bonfire, dancing, and a big feast. Living in urban areas makes hosting a big bonfire hard, but you don't have to miss out on the feasting and connection to nature. Planning a Beltane picnic allows you to still celebrate outdoors and incorporate traditional Beltane foods in your celebration.

Picnic Location

Depending on the size of your group (or the forecasted weather) you might want to choose a park where you can reserve a picnic pavilion for cover. Make sure you bring seating (camp chairs or a large blanket) and sun protection (sunscreen, a canopy, tent or umbrella) if you aren’t getting a covered pavilion. If you have a park nearby with some form of water (a lake or a river), a community garden, or other spaces where you can interact with multiple forms of nature, try to hold your picnic there.

You don’t have to go to a park if you’d prefer a little more privacy for your practice. You can have your picnic in your own backyard if you like.

Activities

Whether you are picnicking solo or bringing the whole crew, there are many activities you can do on your picnic to celebrate Beltane. Whether you choose to practice spellwork and rituals, do active celebration, simply commune with nature or a combination, there are plenty of ways to bring the festivities with you on your picnic outing.

Spellwork and Rituals

Set up an altar at your picnic and do your Beltane spells and rituals at the park. Whether you do one or several, starting your picnic with Beltane spellwork really sets the tone for your celebration and is a way to bring magick into your entire outing. This doesn't need to be as intricate as the altar set up you have at home. You can set a simple altar to perform your spellwork.

Maypole & Fire

Two traditional Beltane activities are the Maypole and the bonfire. Set up a Maypole to dance and weave. Place a pole in the ground and top it with flowers. Hang ribbons from it to weave as you dance in circles around the pole. If there are firepits, build a small fire. Dance around it or use it in your spellwork and rituals.

Meditate

Find a quiet place, by a lake or in a garden area, to meditate and open yourself to the God and Goddess. Meditation opens you up to energies and magick, lets you better connect to nature and your surroundings.

Connect to Nature

Walk around barefoot, lay in the grass, put your feet in a stream, swim if possible. Even just walking a path, taking in the wonders of nature that surround you, lightly touching the plants you pass, is a great way to connect with nature.

Play Games

Beltane is a festival for fun, so have some! Throw a football around, play tag, set up yard games. Bring a board game or some cards and play at the table or on the blanket. Relationships are strengthened through shared joy.

Food

You can’t have a picnic without the food! Now is the time summer fruits and veggies are ready to be enjoyed, so they should be incorporated into your foods. Here are some picnic-friendly foods that incorporate traditional Beltane fare. These options don’t need to be heated to be enjoyed, so they make great picnic fare. They can come right out of the cooler and on to the plate! If you’re going to a park with grills, enjoy some cook-out foods like chicken, hot dogs, and burgers as well!

Veggie Tray

Fresh, raw veggies are a great symbol of the earth’s fertility and a healthy snack to boot! Easy to pack, easy to share, and great for munching while doing other activities like playing games. Dairy is another traditional Beltane staple, so including some ranch to dip the veggies in is an excellent addition.

Berry & Chicken Spinach Salad

An explosion of summer flavors, nothing beats a fresh summer salad. Use baby spinach and mix in strawberries and blueberries, grilled chicken, and goat cheese. Drizzle on some raspberry walnut dressing and enjoy! Fresh summer fruits are found on most Beltane tables, as are salad greens, and this is an easy way to combine them for a portable lunch.

Fresh Bread

The day before your picnic, make some bread from scratch. Shape it into a wreath or flower shape if you are so inclined. If you are able, make it with your hands instead of a machine. Focus your intention on the coming sabbat and celebration as you knead and work the dough in your hands.

Sun-Steeped Iced Tea

You’ll need a clear gallon container, 8 tea bags, and the sun. Place the tea bags in the container, fill with water and close tight. Place in the sun for 5 hours (you might need to move it to keep it in direct sunlight). When it is finished steeping, refrigerate it overnight to bring to the picnic the next day. There’s a certain kind of energy and magick that comes from using the sun to make something you’ll drink.

Strawberry Mint Lemonade

Make your own cool, refreshing drink with some favorite tastes of summer. Mint is a Beltane herbal correspondence, so working that in adds some additional magick as well. Freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar, water, pureed strawberries and fresh mint combine over ice for the perfect companion to lounging in the sun at the park.

Desserts

What feast is complete without a sweet treat? Cakes, pies, fruity parfaits - the sky's the limit when it comes to Beltane-worthy desserts. Though you can opt for something chocolatey, if that's your preference, Beltane desserts should incorporate summer fruits, dairy, or both. Raspberry cheesecake, strawberry rhubarb pie, custard and fruit tart, or even yogurt topped with mint and berries are all travel well and are easy to serve at a picnic.

Whatever your favorite way to picnic is, you can plan the perfect one to celebrate Beltane and still include traditional elements of the Sabbat.