Beltane at Callander

A correspondent sent Hone Jamieson’s account of Beltane, kept in Scotland on Old May Day. In the parish of Callander the company cut a circular trench round themselves, lit a fire and made a custard of eggs and milk and an oatmeal cake toasted at the embers. The cake was broken into as many pieces as there were people, one piece blackened with charcoal, and the pieces drawn blindfold from a bonnet. Whoever drew the black piece had to leap three times through the flames.