Samhain, the old Celtic holiday that represents the end of the old calendar year and the time when the veil between the Human world and the Spirit world is the weakest. I love this holiday! Why? Because when it was Samhain, life was easy, the Old Gods were still alive in human hearts. Today's holiday is from a modern world that is full of commercialized "tricks or treats".
Well, as I said, Samhain is when the veil between the two worlds are the weakest. The souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld on this night. People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables for a bountiful harvest. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living. On that day all manner of beings were abroad: ghosts, fairies, and demons--all part of the dark and dread.
During this festival, you would offer trinkets and food to the deceased. To pay reverence to them, after all, they are your family and loved ones. If you treated a family member in an "ill and neglected" way while they were living, you were played tricks upon. If you were "good and loving" to your family members, they would bless your heart desires, a new loved one, a good harvest, a healthy baby.
The Druids of Old Gaul would use turnips for lanterns, to light their way, to the Festival. Only when the tradition of this holiday came to the United States, they used pumpkins for their Jack'o Lanterns, as pumpkins were a harvest gourd that was very readily available.
On this night, they would bring the cattle and the crops in for the winter and slaughter the animals for meat and fur for the up coming winter. When the world, itself, who has been living and nourishing all spring and summer, begins to die into the cold dark nights of Winter.
Today's Samhain has lost its name to the "All Hollows Eve" or "Hallo'ween" as it is called now. Christianity has swept into the World of the Old and bought us into the Life of the New. This is a shame in my opinion. I would prefer the old ways to the new ones. Today's society doesn't think about the deceased loved ones in the Ways of the Old. Both life and death were honored as a celebration. Over time, it is just lost in our memories but never far from our hearts.
Well, as I said, Samhain is when the veil between the two worlds are the weakest. The souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld on this night. People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables for a bountiful harvest. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living. On that day all manner of beings were abroad: ghosts, fairies, and demons--all part of the dark and dread.
During this festival, you would offer trinkets and food to the deceased. To pay reverence to them, after all, they are your family and loved ones. If you treated a family member in an "ill and neglected" way while they were living, you were played tricks upon. If you were "good and loving" to your family members, they would bless your heart desires, a new loved one, a good harvest, a healthy baby.
The Druids of Old Gaul would use turnips for lanterns, to light their way, to the Festival. Only when the tradition of this holiday came to the United States, they used pumpkins for their Jack'o Lanterns, as pumpkins were a harvest gourd that was very readily available.
On this night, they would bring the cattle and the crops in for the winter and slaughter the animals for meat and fur for the up coming winter. When the world, itself, who has been living and nourishing all spring and summer, begins to die into the cold dark nights of Winter.
Today's Samhain has lost its name to the "All Hollows Eve" or "Hallo'ween" as it is called now. Christianity has swept into the World of the Old and bought us into the Life of the New. This is a shame in my opinion. I would prefer the old ways to the new ones. Today's society doesn't think about the deceased loved ones in the Ways of the Old. Both life and death were honored as a celebration. Over time, it is just lost in our memories but never far from our hearts.
Yule, the Winter Solstice. This is the longest night of the Year. This is when Winter has began to turn to head toward the beginning of Spring, the rebirth of the Sun and the return of the child/consort of the Great Mother. The Light of the Day at this point begins to get longer. In Greek Mythology, this is when Demeter, the harvest Goddess, mourns her daughter Persephone, who lives in the Underworld for half the year.
Mistletoe and Holly hold a significant meaning for this day. The ancient Druids would cut mistletoe from the sacred Oak on the night of Yule. They believed that if mistletoe was hung above the door, it would ward off evil and protect against thunder and lightning. Also, they believed that mistletoe was the life force of the Gods. The berries represent the "sperm" of the Gods. The "Kissing under the Mistletoe" was more about love making than just kissing. Holly has a quite different story. It is told that the Holly King and the Oak King fight for the rule over the Year. Each Yule, the Holly King kills the Oak King and rules until Mid Summer. Then the Oak King returns, defeats the Yule King and rules until Yule. The Holly King looks similar to our modern day Santa Claus. He wears a red cloak, has a sprig of holly in his gray hair and drives a sleigh led by eight stags. Both the Holly King and Oak King are aspects of the Son/Consort.
Giving gifts is an old tradition of giving clove spiked apples and oranges in an evergreen bough basket with wheat stalks. The apples and oranges represent the return of the Sun, the boughs represent immortality and the wheat represent the return of the crops. Gift giving has a Norse tradition as well. It is said that children would place their boots near the chimney, filled with carrots or straw for Odin's horse, Sleipnir. Odin, King of the Nordic Gods, would place gifts in return for the offerings of food for his horse.
Today's Yule was changed by the early Christians to "Christmas". A time of the year when modern Christians commemorate the birth of Christ. It is unknown exactly which month Christ was born but to easily convert the Pagans of Old Gaul to Christianity. They associated the Great Mother with the Virgin Mother, Mary and he son, Jesus, to the Son/Consort of the Great Mother. The gift giving and other aspects of Yule were changed to part of the modern Christmas. In today's society, again, Yule/Christmas has become so commercialized that its lost its true origin.
Mistletoe and Holly hold a significant meaning for this day. The ancient Druids would cut mistletoe from the sacred Oak on the night of Yule. They believed that if mistletoe was hung above the door, it would ward off evil and protect against thunder and lightning. Also, they believed that mistletoe was the life force of the Gods. The berries represent the "sperm" of the Gods. The "Kissing under the Mistletoe" was more about love making than just kissing. Holly has a quite different story. It is told that the Holly King and the Oak King fight for the rule over the Year. Each Yule, the Holly King kills the Oak King and rules until Mid Summer. Then the Oak King returns, defeats the Yule King and rules until Yule. The Holly King looks similar to our modern day Santa Claus. He wears a red cloak, has a sprig of holly in his gray hair and drives a sleigh led by eight stags. Both the Holly King and Oak King are aspects of the Son/Consort.
Giving gifts is an old tradition of giving clove spiked apples and oranges in an evergreen bough basket with wheat stalks. The apples and oranges represent the return of the Sun, the boughs represent immortality and the wheat represent the return of the crops. Gift giving has a Norse tradition as well. It is said that children would place their boots near the chimney, filled with carrots or straw for Odin's horse, Sleipnir. Odin, King of the Nordic Gods, would place gifts in return for the offerings of food for his horse.
Today's Yule was changed by the early Christians to "Christmas". A time of the year when modern Christians commemorate the birth of Christ. It is unknown exactly which month Christ was born but to easily convert the Pagans of Old Gaul to Christianity. They associated the Great Mother with the Virgin Mother, Mary and he son, Jesus, to the Son/Consort of the Great Mother. The gift giving and other aspects of Yule were changed to part of the modern Christmas. In today's society, again, Yule/Christmas has become so commercialized that its lost its true origin.
Imbolc, the very edge of the return of Spring. It is the time of the Great Mother in her Maiden form to walk the earth. This is the half point of the dark year and a time to celebrate the return of the light year.
This is very important to the return of agriculture. The first signs of Spring's return, the buds on the trees beginning to sprout. The cattle are swollen with young or the first born of the year been birthed and birth and mothers are lactating. Plans for the year's crops are laid out and items are gathered to start the planting.
This is the time for Bride, Goddess of Light. Candles are lite in her honor to represent the return of the Sun. Dolls made of oak or wheat straw are made and laid in a basket of white flowers. Young maidens would go door to door with their baskets and distribute gifts to each household of besom. Houses are cleaned for the year to come and new wood is brought in to light the fires. It is a time for purification.
This celebration was changed by the Christians to "Candlemas". A time to make and bless candles for the liturgical year. The Goddess Bride was changed to Saint Brigid, who was said to be converted from paganism to Christianity by St Patrick of Ireland.
This is very important to the return of agriculture. The first signs of Spring's return, the buds on the trees beginning to sprout. The cattle are swollen with young or the first born of the year been birthed and birth and mothers are lactating. Plans for the year's crops are laid out and items are gathered to start the planting.
This is the time for Bride, Goddess of Light. Candles are lite in her honor to represent the return of the Sun. Dolls made of oak or wheat straw are made and laid in a basket of white flowers. Young maidens would go door to door with their baskets and distribute gifts to each household of besom. Houses are cleaned for the year to come and new wood is brought in to light the fires. It is a time for purification.
This celebration was changed by the Christians to "Candlemas". A time to make and bless candles for the liturgical year. The Goddess Bride was changed to Saint Brigid, who was said to be converted from paganism to Christianity by St Patrick of Ireland.
Ostara, the Spring Equinox. The time of the year in which day and night are in perfect balance. The Goddess returns in her Maiden form. It is a time when the Goddess as a young maiden is joined with the Sun God. A dynastic marriage.
Ostara is the time of reincarnation and rejuvenation. Many of the symbols of this holiday that represent fertilization are the hare and the egg. The Hare is a symbol of the Moon and sacred to the Goddess. It was once believed that the hare would die each day and be reborn the following day. The hare is known for its fertility, as hares are able to conceive while pregnant. The egg is a symbol of new life. It represents both male and female, the egg yolk and the egg white. In early civilizations, eggs were colored red which were symbols of immortality.
Ostara, the Goddess in her maiden form, is depicted with hair of gold and flowers adored. She carries with her flowers and hares as they are symbolic to her.
Modern Christians have turned this holiday into the death and resurrection of Christ. It is celebrated the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox. Rabbits and chicks are abundance in pet stores. Children play games of hunting for colorful painted eggs. Colorful flowers adorn tables at family gatherings, not knowing the true nature of this holiday.
Ostara is the time of reincarnation and rejuvenation. Many of the symbols of this holiday that represent fertilization are the hare and the egg. The Hare is a symbol of the Moon and sacred to the Goddess. It was once believed that the hare would die each day and be reborn the following day. The hare is known for its fertility, as hares are able to conceive while pregnant. The egg is a symbol of new life. It represents both male and female, the egg yolk and the egg white. In early civilizations, eggs were colored red which were symbols of immortality.
Ostara, the Goddess in her maiden form, is depicted with hair of gold and flowers adored. She carries with her flowers and hares as they are symbolic to her.
Modern Christians have turned this holiday into the death and resurrection of Christ. It is celebrated the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox. Rabbits and chicks are abundance in pet stores. Children play games of hunting for colorful painted eggs. Colorful flowers adorn tables at family gatherings, not knowing the true nature of this holiday.
Beltane, the end of Spring and beginning of Summer. The mid turn of the calendar wheel. A time for honoring life. This holiday was named after the Sun God, Belios. The time when the sacred fires are lit to give life to the summer days. The marriage of the Maiden and the Sun God has been consummated and she is early with a child. The crops in the field have began to sprout its fruits of the seed.
Beltane is a time to drive the cattle out to pasture. Rituals were performed to protect the cattle and the upcoming harvest. Special bonfires were built and cattle were herded thru the fires which was to believed to have protective powers. Household fires were extinguished and re-lit from the flames of the Betane bonfires. Young people would go into the forest and fields at Midnight, the night before the holiday, and gather flowers to place at their neighbor's door, in return for food and drink.
Beltane is a fertility holiday. Poles were constructed and colorful cloth ribbons were attached. This represented the fertility organs of the man and woman. Young people would dance around the pole, intertwining the ribbons as the male organ is encircled by the female organ during intercourse. Young couples were known to leave the celebration and go up into the surrounding hillside to declare their love for one another. Handfastings took place on this day, when a man and woman promise themselves to each other. They live, witout the bonds of marriage, for a day and a year and any child conceived at this time is considered legimiate.
Modern Christianity has looked down on this holiday due to its roots of fertility.
Beltane is a time to drive the cattle out to pasture. Rituals were performed to protect the cattle and the upcoming harvest. Special bonfires were built and cattle were herded thru the fires which was to believed to have protective powers. Household fires were extinguished and re-lit from the flames of the Betane bonfires. Young people would go into the forest and fields at Midnight, the night before the holiday, and gather flowers to place at their neighbor's door, in return for food and drink.
Beltane is a fertility holiday. Poles were constructed and colorful cloth ribbons were attached. This represented the fertility organs of the man and woman. Young people would dance around the pole, intertwining the ribbons as the male organ is encircled by the female organ during intercourse. Young couples were known to leave the celebration and go up into the surrounding hillside to declare their love for one another. Handfastings took place on this day, when a man and woman promise themselves to each other. They live, witout the bonds of marriage, for a day and a year and any child conceived at this time is considered legimiate.
Modern Christianity has looked down on this holiday due to its roots of fertility.
Mid Summer, the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. When the Sun has reached its peak and begins to descend into darkness. A day to celebrate the Sun God.
A time for the crops to grow strong and healthy with plenty of sunshine and water. Every plant is in full bloom. At this time of the year, we have planted our crops and watched them grow into full maturity. Soon they will be ready to be harvested and stored for the winter supplies.
This is a great time to take a walk in the forest, to celebrate the summer with a bonfire and even give the house a good cleaning before the hectic pace of winter begins to sit in. It is a time to decorate the house in with garlands or flower wreaths. It is a time for celebration of life at its fullest.
Again, this is the time for the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. It is time for the Oak King to rule until Yule, the Winter Solstice.
A time for the crops to grow strong and healthy with plenty of sunshine and water. Every plant is in full bloom. At this time of the year, we have planted our crops and watched them grow into full maturity. Soon they will be ready to be harvested and stored for the winter supplies.
This is a great time to take a walk in the forest, to celebrate the summer with a bonfire and even give the house a good cleaning before the hectic pace of winter begins to sit in. It is a time to decorate the house in with garlands or flower wreaths. It is a time for celebration of life at its fullest.
Again, this is the time for the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. It is time for the Oak King to rule until Yule, the Winter Solstice.
Lughnasadh, the Beginning of the Harvest. This is the time the days are starting to get shorter as winter is beginning to return. A celebration for the Sun God to return back into the darkness.
Crops and fruit are ripe and are ready to be harvested. The plants have begin to seed and wither. Time to bring in the harvest for the awaiting winter nights head. It was considered a bad omen to harvest your crops before the celebration of Lughnasadh. It meant that the harvest from the previous year did not produce an abundance as needed to survive. It is a tradition for the first grains of the harvest to be cut on this day and before nightfall, a loaf of breads was baked.
Lugh was the God of Craftsmanship and skills. This is the time when fairs where held. People would bring in their crops to be sold at market along with any craft item they had made. Currently, many Renaissance Festivals are held at this time. Smitheries were busy this time of year as well. Men were preparing to hunt for winter food such as deer, elk and rabbits. This was a time for families to prepare their winter storage of food to survive until the Spring.
This is the time for Persphone to prepare to return to the underworld. She has spent summer in the care of her mother and the crops have produced a bountiful harvest.
Crops and fruit are ripe and are ready to be harvested. The plants have begin to seed and wither. Time to bring in the harvest for the awaiting winter nights head. It was considered a bad omen to harvest your crops before the celebration of Lughnasadh. It meant that the harvest from the previous year did not produce an abundance as needed to survive. It is a tradition for the first grains of the harvest to be cut on this day and before nightfall, a loaf of breads was baked.
Lugh was the God of Craftsmanship and skills. This is the time when fairs where held. People would bring in their crops to be sold at market along with any craft item they had made. Currently, many Renaissance Festivals are held at this time. Smitheries were busy this time of year as well. Men were preparing to hunt for winter food such as deer, elk and rabbits. This was a time for families to prepare their winter storage of food to survive until the Spring.
This is the time for Persphone to prepare to return to the underworld. She has spent summer in the care of her mother and the crops have produced a bountiful harvest.
Mabon, the Autumn Equinox. When day and night are equally divided. The time for the dark coldness of Winter to be returning and the warmth of the Sun to disappear.
This is the time of year that the harvest has been reaped and the cattle are being prepared to come in for the long cold winter. Mid-season of harvest. A time of celebration for the crops. A time to prepare the fruit cellar with the crops to be stored during the winter. The meat to be cured and prepared to last until spring. A time for ensuring that there is enough provisions to last the long winter nights. Families get together to celebrate the fruitful harvest and the oncoming of Winter. Also, it is a time to clean out the house and take out the warmth clothing and blankets to be used during the Winter days and night.
This is the final retreat of Persephone into the Gates of Hades while her mother begins to mourn. Demeter will not see her daughter until the return of Spring.
This is the time of year that the harvest has been reaped and the cattle are being prepared to come in for the long cold winter. Mid-season of harvest. A time of celebration for the crops. A time to prepare the fruit cellar with the crops to be stored during the winter. The meat to be cured and prepared to last until spring. A time for ensuring that there is enough provisions to last the long winter nights. Families get together to celebrate the fruitful harvest and the oncoming of Winter. Also, it is a time to clean out the house and take out the warmth clothing and blankets to be used during the Winter days and night.
This is the final retreat of Persephone into the Gates of Hades while her mother begins to mourn. Demeter will not see her daughter until the return of Spring.