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I live in Australia (southern hemisphere) and at this time of the year it is spring, the spring celebration is beltaine, but in the northern hemisphere it is Samhain at this time of year.

So what should be celebrated? Should one go against the season and celebrate samhain or follow the season and celebrate Beltaine?

I'd say since the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, go with Beltane. With the traditional calendar based on the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, it makes sense to reverse things for the Southern Hemisphere.

Just my coupla coins

Since you live in the southern hemisphere its Beltaine for you.



Its the time when the great bear hangs in the sky which the gates can be opened. So for your holiday reference it would be that the southern part of the sphere can open the gates when they choose by their rites and the time. But in the northern sphere the gate opens on its own.

Same goes with us and April 31 the gate opens by our will here, when it opens without accord for want or will down there. Its kinda funny to pay attention to the goings on and currents of both spheres, but its an obersvable piece of metaphysical phenomina...Sorry for the misspellings.

This is where the mind interferes with universal progression. No matter what season it is on one side of the world, it is differant on the other side. Most do not realize that during these times of conjunctions, the energies of the universe do not tarry on the words of the mind. Rather it gives transferable energies to the soul enabling it to link with the universe...Which is why these words are so apparent. Days of Energy. Days of the celebration of such Energy. Which again is why one celebrates these times. As they are times of Energy. As the Universe provides it for the nurturing souls.

follow the seasons as thats whats being celebrated.. Its funny it never dawned on me thats what happened

It's sort of interesting to think about. Where these celebrations and rituals originated was in the Northern Hemisphere and all reference materials are based on the dates they would fall on for only the Northern Hemisphere.

Go with the seasons as that is what you're really celebrating anyway. For us, it's the end of the harvest season, shorter days, longer nights and preparation for a period of rest and renewal. For you, its the beginning..

It's the same cycle.. just a different part of the wheel ;) Blessed Beltaine :)

ask an aborigine. Beltane makes sense though. question is, when do you celebrate winter solstice? my great uncle (who lived in Australia) told my mum that you all celebrate Xmas in the summer, so she sent him Xmas cards every July 24th!

You would celebrate the season not the holiday.
That could be why certain books I have researched list Samhain and May's Eve as the two most powerful nights of the year

I would say the seasons as well but ultimately......do what your soul feels.
It has the answer.

this is one of the problems you get when you take a religion from one land to another land where it doesn't really fit in. i've often wondered about it myself. the tradition once had a practical purpose, but that purpose became forgotten, and then it is carried to a land where it has no meaning. should one carry on with the tradition, or should one adapt to the new environment?

i would celebrate the season and if it is beltaine then that is the one i would :)

You should do what YOU feel is proper or what YOU feel like celebrating.

I agree with everyone who has said follow your feelings as to which to celebrate but I doubt the folks that began these celebrations called them by the names we do now. They simply followed the seasons as they happened where they lived. May your celebration be blessed.

Traditionally, the Southern hemisphere reverses the order of Sabbats from the North as their seasons are reversed. Samhain would be celebrated in May there and Beltaine in October. I seen people in the Southern Hemisphere reverse the direction that a circle is cast and broken. It is what feels right to you that is important as intuition is a wonderful guide.

This question only tells me that someone doesn't understand or follow the Holidays in the first place. One is a rebirthing and a time of renewing, while the other is a harvest holiday, third and last one of the year. A time to ready and reflect for the coming winter. Why on Earth would you want to reverse them? Or want to? Yes, they are both fire ceremonies and or at the opposite side of the wheel but I mean really. Why not also follow the some time we have? It would make about the same sense!

And what is this "do what you feel right" thingy? The next time you go to work late, tell the boss that "it felt right" and see what happens. Don't treat Earth with any less thought or consideration.

I also don't see any other farther need for this thread. This is enough posts to answer the original question.