Beltane is traditionally celebrated on May 1 each year. It is a Gaelic May Day festival marking the beginning of summer and falls roughly halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. The festival has ancient Celtic origins and has been historically observed with bonfires, dancing, fertility rituals, and other customs associated with the peak of spring and the coming summer. To clarify, the celebration often begins the evening before May 1 (April 30 at sunset) because the traditional Celtic day runs from sunset to sunset. Therefore, many start their observance on the evening of April 30 and continue through May 1. So if by "beltane 20" you mean Beltane in the year 2020 or on the 20th of a month, the actual Beltane festival is not on the 20th but always on May 1 (or the evening before, April 30). There are some modern events named after Beltane held on other dates, such as a Hudson Valley Beltane Festival on May 20, 2023, but the traditional date remains May 1. In summary:
- Traditional Beltane date: May 1 annually (evening of April 30 to sunset on May 1)
- Some modern Beltane-themed festivals can occur on other dates (e.g., May 20 event)
If you want the exact date for Beltane in a particular year (like 2020), it was May 1, 2020. Let me know if you want information about a specific year's date or a festival on the 20th of a month. Beltane itself is not traditionally celebrated on May 20 but on May 1.
