took place at that time. It was
formerly in honor of the goddess Bhavania, who, under various names, was
once worshipped in every country of the globe. "She is identical with
the Dea Syria of Chaldea, and the Venus Urania of Persia."

At the present time there is direct and indisputable evidence that
sacred fires once flamed over the whole of Britain. A few days prior to
Bealtine season, every flame was ordered extinguished, to be relighted
on the first of May by holy fire drawn directly from the sun. Of
fire-worship Toland observes:

"On May-day the Druids made prodigious fires on these cairns, which
being every one in sight of some other could not but afford a glorious
show over a whole nation. These fires were in honor of Beal, or Bealan,
Latinized by the Roman writers into Belanus, by which name the Gauls
and their colonies understood the sun, and therefore, to this hour, the
first of May is, by the aboriginal Irish, called la Bealtine, or the
day of Belan's fires. May-day is likewise called la Bealtine by the
Highlanders of Scotland, who are no contemptible part of the Celtic
offspring. So it is with the Isle of Man: and in Armorica a priest is
called Belee, or the servant of Bel, and the priesthood Belegieth."(136)

136) Quoted by Godfrey Higgins, Celtic Druids, ch. v., p. 181.

Down to a comparatively recent time, in the British Isles, the youth of
both sexes used to arise long before daybreak on May-day, and in large
companies set out for the woods, there to gather flowers, boughs, and
branches, which, on returning at night, were used to decorate their
homes. This festival is said to be the most ancient of any known, and
during the earlier and purer ages of human faith was celebrated in honor
of returning spring. In later ages, however, after passion had become
the only recognized god, May-day was celebrated with "all manner of
obscenity and lewdness."

Although the uneducated masses among the Gauls worshipped Apollo,
Mercury, and Mars without understanding their true significance, the
Druids, who are thought to be Pythagorians, invoked one great power, the
animating force which pervades the universe, the essence of which they
believed resides in fire.

It is related that although after the introduction of Romish
Christianity, May fires still continued to be lighted on Bealtine day,
the more impressive ceremonies took place on the 23d of June, on the eve
of the nativity of St. John. The early prea