Liliana Schaber

I am very happy to introduce you to my newest witchy incarnation, just in time for Beltane.
If you are new here, I would recommend going back to the first post of the project, which I started in October 2021. My goal is to create a new version of my ideal witch for each one of the big 4 pagan holidays: So far, I have covered Samhain and Imbolc, and today I can reveal what I came up with for Beltane.

Beltane marks the midpoint between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice. It is the beginning of the warm season and celebrates light, fire and lust. Bonfires are kindled, maypoles erected (the symbolism is obvious) and flower wreaths are wound. It is the time to please the spirits, as, once again, the veil between our and their world is thin this night. It is also the night of the witches in Austrian and German folklore (Walpurgisnacht): They gather at the Blocksberg to celebrate their sabbat with a big fire and feast.

With all this in mind, I decided to bring my own vision of the May Queen to life: She is clad in green, decorated with flowers from top to toe. It’s all about lushness and luxuriant greenery and bursting blossoms. She should look young and youthful, but not as innocent as my version for Imbolc - she has to be wild and free.

The big focal point of this season’s project is without doubt the embroidered vest. I have been hugely inspired by tiny, folkloric vests for quite some time now and wanted to make one myself.

I decided to go for seasonal florals with the embroidery. Lilacs, daisies, lilies of the valley, violets, as well as made-up, filler blooms. For the back, I went with classic Beltane imagery: The sun with the moon incorporated (like the alchemical marriage) and the antlers, symbolizing the Horned God. Again, with a flowery bouquet in the middle. I was only really careful about mirroring the antlers, as I wanted them to look as symmetrical as possible - the rest of the embroidery is purposefully irregular.

The dress has a loose babydoll silhouette, with a shortened bodice and a huge, gathered skirt. I wanted to connect it back to the first dress of the series, which also featured a ruffled hem, though differently constructed. The fabrics are all classic Dirndl prints in 100% cotton and are overstock from local companies.

To finish the ensemble, I made a flower crown out of vintage fabric flowers and buds, with dark green velvet ribbons and a lighter coloured rickrack dangling down. I also made a multi-strand necklace using a variety of glass beads (all from stash) as well as semi-precious, facetted malachite beads.

all images © Lukas Jahn
location: Schönbrunn Gardens, Vienna
jewelry: We Are Flowergirls, gifted items
shoes: 2ndhand Superga sneakers

The last witch will be coming on July 31/August 1.