BLODEWEDD: THE MABINOGIAN MAY QUEEN

by Juleigh Howard-Hobson

The May Queen. We celebrate her appearance and her blossoming forth at this time of the year through Walpurgis observances, May Day faires, and Beltaine festivities. We’ve always known her, whether she is called by her ancient names of Flora, Maia, or Freya or the relatively modern names of Godiva, Guinevere, or Marian.

The Welsh legend of Blodewedd (which is pronounced almost as it looks: bloody-weth) is not so well known, but Blodewedd—of all the incarnations of this Spring Earth Goddess—is the most splendidly interesting May Queen of them all.