Question
Where does the term “Bel Fire” come from, and is it connected to Beltane, an old holiday celebrated in May?
Answer
The Bel Fire is an invocation to the Celtic sun god to bring blessings and protection for the coming year. It is considered a sacred fire with healing and purifying powers. Beltane is the old Celtic name for May 1. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic Bealtaine or the Scottish Gaelic Bealtuinn, each meaning “Bel Fire.” Bel Fire is the term for the fire of the Celtic god of light (called Bel, Beli, or Belinus). It also may be traced to the Middle Eastern god Baal, to whom many references are made in the Bible.
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