I knot this garland
That love may bloom,
Love from the Earth!
Love from the Air!
Love from the Fire!
Love from the Water!
Garland of flowers,
Make love bloom.
 
- Scott Cunningham, Spell  Crafts
 
Beltane
Springtime Rituals, Lore &  Celebration
by Raven Grimassi
 
The Beltane season is one of the most  festive of the year.  You can create
both new and time-honored arts and  crafts to celebrate Beltane.  Perhaps you
might even want to bring back  some of the old May Day traditions such as
leaving a small May basket of flowers  on a neighbor's door or porch.  The flowers
can be selected according to  their meanings in folklore, as noted in chapter
4.
 
The craft projects described in this  chapter include a May Day wreath, a May
garland, a Maypole table centerpiece, a  May basket, and pentacle braids to
enhance one's appearance at a May  festival.  Read over the instructions and
note the supplies needed before  trying to make any of the items.
 
May Wreath
 
Grapevine wreath
Variety of flowers
Greenery (ivy, rosemary, myrtle,  etc.)
Decorative items (ribbons, figurine  to set in wreath opening, raffi, etc.)
Scissors
Glue or hot glue gun
 
1.  Assemble supplies:   grapevine wreath, greenery, various flowers, moss,
glue gun and glue sticks,  scissors, and raffi.
 
2.  The greenery goes on  first.  Weave, wrap, or tuck it into the grapevine.
  Glue it in  strategic places if necessary.  Ivy, myrtle, rosemary, and moss
are just a  few of the choices.  Use fresh or dried.  The moss tucks nicely
into  the grapevine weave.
 
3.  Place a variety of flowers  loosely around the greenery on the wreath
before gluing them in place.  If  the flower has a stem, again it can be tucked
into the grapevine and then glued  at the base of the flower head.  If the
stems are brittle and break easily,  just glue the flower head directly in place.
 
4.  After all the flowers are in  place you can add the little extra items
that will make it unique.  Use  your imagination - ribbons, a fairy figure,
beads, crystals, etc.
 
May Garland
 
Sprigs of greenery (myrtle, rosemary,  bay leaves, etc.)
Variety of fresh or dried  flowers
Ribbons
Floral wire
Wire cutters
Scissors
Glue or hot glue gun and  sticks
 
A single "backbone" that runs the  full length of the garland is the secret
to its structure.  heavy gauge  wire for heavier materials such as evergreens
is wise.  Evergreens, herbs,  fresh or dried flowers are just a few of the
choices.  Myrtle for May would  be very appropriate as it is sacred to the fairies
and is lightweight.   Fresh flowers can be kept alive with floral water tubes.
 
The basic rule of construction is to  start at one end and move toward the
other, allowing each bundle of greenery to  cover the means of attachment over
the next one.  Deciding how long you  want the garland to be will determine how
much material will be  needed.
 
1.  Assemble clumps of flowers,  wrapping the stems together tightly with
floral wire.  Make as many as  desired for every sprig or to be scattered
throughout.
 
2.  Wire flower clumps to sprigs  of greenery, either on main stem area or to
other stem parts.
 
4.  Now use a continuous wire,  unwinding the spool as you work (this is the
spine).  Start by overlapping  one sprig onto another and wire together on the
thickest stem parts.  Try  to obscure the wire wrap with greenery.  Continue
to wire together until  the desired length is accomplished.
 
5.  Here is the fun and  finishing part - add ribbons (with bells or beads).
Glue on buttons,  beads, crystals, and seasonal decor.  String the garland
over the doorway,  along the door jam, on the mantle, or wherever you desire.
Enjoy the  vision.
 
Maypole Centerpiece
 
18" wood dowel or thin  branch
6-9" diameter flat round wooden  plaque
Small grapevine wreath, approximately  6=8" diameter, decorated on both sides
1 year each of red and white  ribbon
Scissors
Drill and a 1/4" drill  bit
1- 1 1/4" flathead wood screw (adjust  length to thickness of wood plaque as
screw will need to extend through the  plaque to secure the dowel on the other
side)
Hot glue gun and glue stick (or  carpenter's glue)
 
1.  Assemble your  supplies:  the dowel, round plaque, ribbons, glue gun and
sticks, and the  small grapevine wreath.
 
2.  Drill pilot holes completely  through the center of plaque and 1/2" deep
into the bottom end of the  dowel.
 
3.  Cross the ribbons and glue  on top end of the dowel.
 
4.  Attach the dowel to the  stand by screwing the screw through the plaque,
and then into the bottom end of  the dowel.
 
5.  Glue wreath on top of the  dowel by melting a medium dab of glue on top
of the crossed ribbons and on the  bottom of the wreath, then join the wreath
to the top of the dowel.  To  make it more secure wait a few minutes and then
glue around the edge of the  wreath where it meets the dowel, filling in gaps.
 
6.  Braid the ribbons - one  color going left and under the other color,
which is moving right.  Braid  about 2 inches down the dowel and tack to the dowel
with hot glue to keep in  place.  When set, tack the ends of the ribbons to
the edge of the wood  plaque with hot glue.
 
7.  You can also add a small  figurine, a bird figure, or other symbolic
items in the opening of the  wreath.
 
May Day Cone Basket
 
Construction paper
Glue or tape
 
1.  Out of bright colored  construction paper cut a circle that is about 12
inches in diameter, then cut a  triangle or wedge out of the circle, allowing
for 1/2-inch overlap.  Roll  the paper into a cone and glue or tape the two
sides together.
 
2.  Cut a strip of construction  paper that is approximately 12 inches by 2
inches.  Glue or tape it onto  the top of your cone to make a handle.  Fill
your cone basket with real or  homemade flowers and hang it on a neighbor's or
friend's doorknob in the early  morning while everyone is asleep.
 
If you enjoy these book excerpts, we  encourage you to support the author by
purchasing this or other books by him. If  possible, support your local Pagan
community by purchasing at a local Pagan  shop. You can also find the books at
neighborhood or online booksellers, or  online Pagan shops. Below are listed
other books by Raven  Grimassi.
 
Wiccan Magick
Wicca Mysteries
Italian Witchcraft
Heriditary Witchcraft
and many  more!