What Is Beltane?
Beltane falls on the 1st of May and stands at the opposite point of the wheel from Samhain. Where Samhain honours the dead and the dark, Beltane celebrates the living and the light — desire, abundance, and the full flowering of life. Fires are lit, the maypole is danced, and the sacred union of the god and goddess is honoured. It is the most passionate and life-affirming of the eight sabbats.
Beltane Mythology & Traditions
Freya, the Norse goddess of love, magic, beauty, and war, is one of the most powerful presences at Beltane — a goddess who embodies desire, sovereignty, and the fierce creative power of the sacred feminine. Astarte, the ancient Semitic goddess of love, fertility, and the evening star, is one of the oldest love goddesses in the world — her energy is pure Beltane: radiant, magnetic, and sovereign. Inanna, the Sumerian queen of heaven, whose descent into the underworld and triumphant return mirrors the seasonal cycle, brings the full arc of the sacred feminine to the Beltane altar. Together these three goddesses form a powerful gathering of love, beauty, and divine feminine power for the height of spring.
How to Set Up a Beltane Altar
A Beltane altar should feel warm, sensual, and alive with colour. Use a red or green cloth as your base. Place fresh flowers — hawthorn blossom, roses, or wildflowers — around your altar space. Red and white candles honour the union of fire and life. Place your goddess statue at the centre as the focal point of the altar. Add ribbons in red, white, and green to echo the maypole tradition. Offerings of honey, wine, or fresh fruit are traditional at Beltane. Light your fire candles at dusk on the eve of May 1st.
Featured Statues for Your Beltane Altar
Freya Statue – Hand-Carved Wood Norse Goddess Freyja
Freya — goddess of love, magic, and war — is the heart of the Beltane altar. This hand-carved ash wood statue captures her sovereign beauty and fierce feminine power. Individually carved in Ukraine and finished with varnish.
Freya Statue – Hand-Carved Ash Wood Norse Goddess of Love & War
A second interpretation of Freya — each hand-carved statue is unique, carrying the individual mark of the maker's hands. A beautiful centrepiece for a Beltane altar or a devotional piece for year-round work with Freya's energy.
Astarte Statue – Ancient Goddess of Love & Sacred Feminine
Astarte is one of the oldest love goddesses in the world — radiant, magnetic, and sovereign. This hand-carved ash wood statue brings her ancient Semitic energy to your Beltane altar as a powerful symbol of desire and the sacred feminine.
Inanna Statue – Mesopotamian Queen of Heaven
Inanna, queen of heaven and earth, whose descent and triumphant return mirrors the seasonal cycle of Beltane itself. A deeply meaningful statue for those who work with Mesopotamian mythology or honour the full arc of the sacred feminine.
Explore the Full Beltane Collection
Browse all Beltane goddess statues in our Beltane Collection — hand-carved ash wood sacred feminine deities, individually carved in Ukraine and finished with varnish.
Each ArtCarving Shop statue is hand-carved in Ukraine from sustainable ash wood — no two pieces are identical. Bring the fire and beauty of Beltane to your altar with a piece that carries the craft and intention of the maker's hands.