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| THE SOLAR YEAR Whether we choose to celebrate the passing of the Solar Year in a coven or on our own, whether we do a fully ritualised performance or simply light a few candles, as pagans we celebrate these dates in reverence for nature. The following is a compilation of the eight festivals of the year with the specifics listed. Ritual scripts themselves, in my belief, should be highly individualised, and thus, writ from scratch, so I haven't included one here if that's what you're looking for. |
| LAMMAS (LUGNASADH) Southern Hemisphere - 1 February (northern - 1 August) This is a blessing of the last harvest and is a feasting ritual (known as the Grain Festival in Druidry). It was traditionally celebrated as a day of feasting, games, competitions and olympic-like events. It is also a time for temporary marriages (lasting a year and a day) to be performed as this is a time when god and goddess energies are at an equilibrium. It is also a farewell to the sun, and to celebrate this a fire-building competition is sometimes done (known as Lammas Towers). Lammas is best emphasised at midday. God aspect: God of Grain Goddess aspect: Earth Mother; Grain Goddess |
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| MABON Southern Hemisphere - 21 March (northern - 21 September) This is a time of growing darkness on the pagan calendar. Known as Alban Elved (the Festival of the Vine) in Druidic practice, it was traditionally celebrated as a time for picking grapes and wine making. Again, the focus is feasting, although instead of bread, we have fish at this time, washed down with good and wholesome wine (or grape juice if you don't partake of alcohol). This feasting is traditionally done at sunset. God aspect: God of the Dying Sun (God of Death and Rebirth) Goddess aspect: the Mother of Summer is bid farewell, and the Crone is welcomed SAMHAIN Southern Hemisphere - 1 May (northern - 31 October) Arguably one of the most well-known dates (celebrated as a week in Norse Paganism). This is a time when the veil between worlds at its thinnest, and so it is that this is a traditional time for communication with the dead, and also fortune telling and scrying. Also one of the most commercialised events on the pagan calendar; this was traditionally a time for carving pumpkins, fire calling and bonfires, frightening costumes and tricks (surprise!), and, more to the point, dark rites of great power are traditionally performed now, along with fortune telling. The strongest focus is on the spirits of the dead, and this is celebrated at midnight. God aspect: Horned God of the Dead Goddess aspect: the Crone - Goddess of Dark Mysteries YULE Southern Hemisphere - 21 June (northern - 21 December) Commercially known as Christmas, this is in pagan terms the birth of the new Solar Year. Known as Mothernight in Norse Paganism, and Alban Arthan (the Rebirth of the Sun) in Druidry. Need fires are traditionally built during a sunrise vigil, the area is decorated with holly and ivy, Yule logs are burned and for those who want to fall preggers in the coming year, kissing under the mistletoe shouldn't be overlooked. God aspect: Divine Child being born Goddess aspect: Divine Mother |
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| IMBOLC Southern Hemisphere - 1 August (northern - 1 February) This is the time of nature's unseen re-awakening, known as the Candle Festival in Druidry and Maiden's Day (Vala's Vision) in Norse practice. This is a time for candle burning and hearth re-lighting - mirrors may be strategically positioned around the area to reflect the light of the flames. The rite of the Bride's Bed may be performed (a corn doll is placed in a box or basket beside a wand to signify the promise of the goddess to the god). Focus is on returning light to its strongest and is celebrated at midnight. God aspect: Spirit Father Goddess aspect: Corn Maiden |
| OSTARA Southern Hemisphere - 21 September (northern 21 March) Commercially known as Easter, this is the time of year where fertility is at its highest (hence the significance of rabbits, eggs and chickens). Known as Alban Eiler (the Bird Festival) in Druidry and Spring Evenight in Norse practice, traditional practices at this time are bird watching, and painting and collecting birds' eggs (after the eggs were hunted out). These eggs were then offered to the deities along with (get this) cakes decorated with the Solar Cross (Easter buns). The focus is the return of spring, and it is traditionally celebrated at sunrise. God aspect: brother or consort to the goddess - the Sun God Goddess aspect: Maiden BELTAINE Southern Hemisphere - 31 October (northern - 1 May) This is a celebration of the marriage of the goddess and god. Traditionally, a Maypole is erected and danced (woven with ribbons), a May King and Queen are crowned, and the contraversial performance of the Great Rite is done (NB:- by willing participants). This is known as the Flower Festical in Druidry, and Walpurgia in Norse practice. A time for picking flowers and weaving them into crowns or necklaces, wearing green, fire calling, and general making of merry. Though no longer appropriate, sexual license was granted to peasants at this time. Needless to say, the focus of the festival is the return of full-blown fertility, and it is traditionally celebrated at sunrise. God aspect: Lord of Greenwood Goddess aspect: White Goddess of Fertility LITHA Southern Hemisphere - 21 December (northern - 21 June) Traditionally celebrated as the peak of the sun's power (and consequently, the height of magickal strength also). This is known as Alban Heffyn (the Oak Festival) in Druidry and Summer Sunstead in Norse practice (still referred to as Summer Solstice on the calendar). A time to pick the sacred sun-flora, for circle readings, leaping between twin fires of Oak wood (don't wear anything flammable if you intend to do this however), for Fairy Hunting (on the eve) and the Rites of Inspiration. Traditionally celebrated at moonrise or sunset. God aspect: Sun God Goddess aspect: Earth Goddess and then the cycle begins again... |