The Beltane Hound

An extract from the book 40 Humourous British Traditions

Beltane or Beltaine is the anglicised spelling of the Old Irish Bel(l)taine or Beltine: the Gaelic name for either the month of May or the festival that takes place on the first day of May. Many fire festivals are held on this day to commemorate the days when people would traditionally burn their winter bedding and floor coverings. Other people celebrate Beltane because it’s one of the two crossover days each year between equinox and solstice, the other being All Hallow’s Eve.

The most interesting festival takes place on the Isle of Man when, in a strange twist to the crossover idea, men dress up as foxes and chase a foxhound across the island. The dog, known as the Beltane Hound, is usually the finest hound from Lord Laxey’s kennels and the animal is given five minutes start ahead of the 50 or so foxes who chase it. Before the dog is allowed to leave, the foxes toast its health by consuming a small dram of whisky from the Glenkinnchie distillery. The dog is not allowed a drink.