On the first of May in the central highlands of Scotland, and on the second of May in the northeast, according to John Ramsay, laird of Ochtertyre, the Beltane feast of the Druids persisted in some form far into the eighteenth century. In some places the Beltane fires were called "bone-fires" (our "bonfires") presumably reminiscent of ancient human and animal sacrifice.
It is thought that two fires, kindled near each other, were customary, and since all existing fires were extinguished the night before the celebration, Beltane fires always had to be kindled using friction. The sacred ritual of kindling was performed by three-times-three persons, or in some groups three-times-nine. After singing and dancing around the sacred fire, the Beltane cake, "am bonnach beal-tine", was distributed, and the unlucky person who received a particular piece was nearly thrown into the fire, rescued, but treated as if dead by the community for a time after the celebration.
While records are lacking, it appears that before written history the ones sacrificed were not chosen at random, nor selected to be dubiously honored, as in some cultures, but were persons who had threatened the well being of the group by committing some evil deed or violating some taboo. Later, as in other ancient traditions, birds and other animals served as stand-ins for humans.
May Day in Ireland was called "belltaine," from the "lucky fires" or "two fires" of the Druids of Erin. The custom of lighting Beltane fires in Wales was observed between the Eve of May Day and the third, this being the greatest fire festival of the year. And well into the nineteenth century the Druidical anniversary of Beil was still officially celebrated on the Isle of Man. While the solemnity of these occasions and the centrality of their protective magic have been lost to popular culture, the revelry has not; May Day and its eve still provide a good excuse for wild celebration here and there in the British Isles.
The original purpose of the Beltane fires and the great incantations with which they were kindled was protection of the group and their crops or livestock against evil and disease, usually conceived of as witches and other wicked or mischievous beings. Glenda's question ("Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?") is a thoroughly modern one.
But surely May is the best of months! And surely, Magic is alive! Let your fires burn brightly! Let them light the darkness! And let them not burn untended, or in a dry land where no water is.
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