Beltain

Etymology

Two modern etymologies have been proposed. The first reconstructs Beltaine as *beltiniā, deriving it from a stem *beltu associated with 'death' (cf. Old Irish at·baill 'dies', epeltu< *eks-beltu 'dying'), from an earlier *gʷel-tiō(n), based on Proto-Indo-European *gʷel- 'suffering, death'. On this view, Beltaine would be cognate with the Lithuanian goddess of death Giltinė. The lack of expected syncope (Irish sound laws would predict **Beltne) has been explained as the result of a popular reinterpretation of Beltaine as a compound containing Old Irish tene ('fire'). However, Peter Schrijver says that this etymology is problematic, as it is unlikely the beginning of the fertile summer season would be associated with death, and it does not accord well with medieval accounts of kindling fires to guard against sickness. According to another etymology, Beltaine is a compound formed from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰel- ('shine') and Old Irish tene ('fire'). Schrijver suggests that the element bel derives from an Indo-European word for henbane, a psychoactive plant used in herbal medicine.