\Bel"tane\, n. [Gael. bealltainn, bealltuinn.]
1. The first day of May (Old Style).
         The quarter-days anciently in Scotland were
         Hallowmas, Candlemas, Beltane, and Lammas. --New
                                               English Dict.
2. A festival of the heathen Celts on the first day of May,
   in the observance of which great bonfires were kindled. It
   still exists in a modified form in some parts of Scotland
   and Ireland.