Hold an Ostara Ritual for Solitaries. Wiccan Sabbats and Pagan Holidays Index. N Traditions and Lore, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Sabbats Mabon. Mabon Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting.
Symbolism of Mabon: Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance. Symbols of Mabon: wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty. Holidays Index. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Imbolc Ritual. Imbolc Ritual (Candlemas, February 2nd) Tools: In addition to your m'jyk-l tools, you will need: A White Altar Cloth Light Green Taper Goddess Candle Light Yellow Taper God Candle 13 White 4" Stick Candles Brideo'ga* Small Woven Basket with White Flowers Pentacle Candle Wheel Handful of Acorns Cauldron Snow/Crushed Ice Small White Pillar Candle Potpourri Holder Tea Lite Basil, Bay, Heather Flowers, Cinnamon and Vanilla Potpourri Blend Long Wooden Stick Matches Preparation: Sweep area, moving in deosil direction.
Outline your circle with white cord Angelica leaves. Place Pentacle Candle Wheel in the center of altar. Place the lt. green taper Goddess candle to the top left of altar and the lt. yellow taper God candle to the top right of altar. Put the white flowers in the basket as bedding for the Bride's Bed, then place the Brideo'ga atop the flowers. Place the basket in front of the Goddess candle, to the left of the Pentacle Candle Wheel. Call Quarters. Release the circle. Main Index. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holiday Ritual for Litha. Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Yule Ritual. Winter Solstice Ritual Tools: In addition to your usual m'jyk-l tools, you will need: A Green Altar Cloth A Cauldron w/Lid or Cover Plate Holly Sprig Wreath Mistletoe Sprig Wreath 12 Low Vibration Stones (flat oval river rock work well) 1 Black Votive Candle, 1 Green 12" Taper Candle, 1 White 12" Taper Candle, 1 Gold (12hr) Pillar Candle Pine Incense Bowl of Water w/ Pine Sprig in it Plate of Sand Athame Other Personal Items of choice Preparation: This ritual showed be performed right after sunset.
About an hour before, sweep area moving in a deosil manner. Yule symbols such as Poinsettias, Pine Cones, and even a decorated Yule Log nearby (if too big for altar) adds to the ambiance. Place the proper candles and symbols at the four cardinal directions. Cast circle by envisioning flames of Yule colors red, green, and gold coming up between the stones. "From the darkness is born the light, From void, fulfillment emerges... Light the pine incense and place on Pentacle/Center Plate. "Hark! N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., July 31st. "Lughnasadh" or "Lammas" At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it's time to celebrate the first harvest of the year, and recognize that the hot summer days will soon come to an end.
The plants of spring wither and drop seeds to ensure future crops. Grains are ready to be harvested and the fruits are ripe for picking. We can give thanks for the food on our tables. Lughnasadh means the funeral games of Lugh (pronounced Loo), referring to Lugh, the sun god. However, the funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts in honor of his foster-mother Tailte. For that reason, the traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are also celebrated at this time. As autumn begins, the Celtic Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead.
The Christian religion adopted this theme and called it 'Lammas ', meaning 'loaf-mass ', a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar. Traditional Foods: Apples, Grains, Breads and Berries. Sacred Gemstone: Carnelian. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., February 2nd, Imbolc. As with all Old Tradition observances, this holiday is usually celebrated beginning at sundown on February 1 and continuing through the day of February 2. Imbolc means in the belly of the Mother because that is where seeds are beginning to stir as it is Spring. Another name for this holiday is Oimelc, meaning milk of ewes since it is also the traditional lambing season in the old world.
Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. This holiday is especially sacred to the Celtic Fire Goddess, Brigit, patron of smithcraft, healing, midwifery, and poetry. A Covens High Priestess may wear a crown of lights (candles) to symbolize the return of the Goddess to her Maiden aspect, just as the Sun God has reached puberty. Holidays Index Main Index. Pagan Holiday, Wicca Sabbat Litha. Although the name Litha is not well attested, it may come from Saxon tradition -- the opposite of Yule.
On this longest day of the year, light and life are abundant. At mid-summer, the Sun God has reached the moment of his greatest strength. Seated on his greenwood throne, he is also lord of the forests, and his face is seen in church architecture peering from countless foliate masks. The Christian religion converted this day of Jack-in-the-Green to the Feast of St. John the Baptist, often portraying him in rustic attire, sometimes with horns and cloven feet (like the Greek Demi-God Pan) Midsummer Night's Eve is also special for adherents of the Faerie faith.
The alternative fixed calendar date of June 25 (Old Litha) is sometimes employed by Covens. Traditional Foods: Garden fresh fruits and vegetables are made into a variety of dishes and eaten by Pagan's who choose to celebrate this day. Incense: Lemon, Myrrh, Pine, Rose, Wisteria. Woods Burned: Oak Sacred Gemstone: Emerald. N Sabbats, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Mabon Ritual. It is now time for meditation and spellworking. Associated spellworkings would include those for protection, wealth, security, and self-confidence. If there is no spellworking, celebrate with Cakes and Ale, then release the Circle. Clean up. You are done. Find an appropriate place in your home to display the decorated tree branch. *Find a fallen tree branch. It need not be a large one, for it will adorn your alter, then go on display in your home. ***This ritual and the accompanying activity planner are dedicated to MadaRua, as she gracefully transcends from one season of Life to the next.
--Adapted by Akasha Ap Emrys to share with all her friends and those of like mind-- Copyright © 1997-99 Akasha, Herne and The Celtic Connection wicca.com. Holidays Index Main Index. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Samhain Lore. Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat. It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.
Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Symbolism of Samhain: Third Harvest, the Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death. Holidays Index Main Index. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., April 30th, Beltane. Many Wiccans and Pagans celebrate Beltane. It is one of eight solar Sabbats. This holiday incorporates traditions from the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, but it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as May pole dancing). Some traditions celebrate this holiday on May 1 or May day, whiles others begin their celebration the eve before or April 30th. Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. In the old Celtic times, young people would spend the entire night in the woods "A-Maying," and then dance around the phallic Maypole the next morning.
The Christian religion had only a poor substitute for the life-affirming Maypole -- namely, the death-affirming cross. The May pole was a focal point of the old English village rituals. Blessed Be! N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Lughnasadh/Lammas Ritual. Lammas Ritual Lughnassadh, First Harvest, August 1st Tools: In addition to your m'jyk-l tools, you will need: Golden Yellow Center Cloth 1 Gold Candle 1 Silver Candle Summer Blend Incense (recipe from Litha Ritual) Harvest Vegetables Golden Stones or other Sun Symbols Cornbread Cupcakes Cauldron Apple Cider Any other personal items of choice Preparation: Sweep area moving in a deosil manner. Outline the perimeter of your Circle cornmeal or yellow sand. Place Gold Center cloth on the alter and garnish with Harvest Vegetables, (Corn, Squash, etc), Grains, (Oats, Rice, Wheat, Rye, etc), and Fruits ( Apples, Berries, Cherries, Plums, etc), on the alter. Set the Gold God Candle to the top right of center, and surround with Gold Stones or Sun Symbols.
Place the Silver Goddess Candle to the top left of center. Cast the circle and call Quarters... "What will be is. Now upon our humble hearth, gifts we offer the Two that are One. Now name all the things that you are currently grateful for. Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Yule Ritual. Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays | Winter Solstice | Yule Lore. The date varies from December 20 to December 23 depending on the year in the Gregorian calendar. Yule is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere due to the seasonal differences.
Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, the sun's "rebirth" was celebrated with much joy. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider. The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the Solstice festival. A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles.
Many customs created around Yule are identified with Christmas today. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Samhain Ritual. Snuff the black votive candle and replace it. Remove the white pillar candle from the cauldron and place it in the center of your altar. Stare in to the flame and think about the goals that you are setting for the upcoming year. When done, say: As you say "Blessed Be! " It is now time for meditation and spellworking.
***This Samhain Ritual and Planner are dedicated to MyztkM'jyk as she begins her Year and a Day study. --Adapted by: Akasha Ap Emrys for all of her friends and those of like mind.-- Copyright © 1997-99 Akasha, Herne and The Celtic Connection wicca.com. Rituals Index Holidays Index Main Index. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., March 21st, Ostara. As Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals. The next full moon (a time of increased births) is called the Ostara and is sacred to Eostre the Saxon Lunar Goddess of fertility (from whence we get the word estrogen, whose two symbols were the egg and the rabbit.
The Christian religion adopted these emblems for Easter which is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Traditional Foods: Leafy green vegetables, Dairy foods, Nuts such as Pumpkin, Sunflower and Pine. Herbs and Flowers: Daffodil, Jonquils, Woodruff, Violet, Gorse, Olive, Peony, Iris, Narcissus and all spring flowers. Incense: Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Floral of any type. Sacred Gemstone: Jasper Main Index. Moonchild Wheel of the Year Calendar. There is a simple story that humans have been telling one another since before time. This story is about the cycle of birth, growth, death, and renewal. This story is reflected in the changing of the seasons and the rolling of the days from one dawn until the next. This story knows no social or cultural boundaries and it crosses religious and political lines without exception. The Wheel of the Year celebrates the duality at the heart of many pagan beliefs.
This cycle of renewal is reflected in the legends of the Wheel of the Year which is first divided into four segments defined by the midpoints of each of the four seasons, known as the Winter Solstice, the Vernal Equinox, the Summer Solstice, and the Autumnal Equinox. These seasonal or solar midpoints are further divided by four agricultural celebrations which may vary according to where you are on the earth. Please remember, this Wheel of the Year and the mythological symbolism associated with it is only ONE of MANY. Mythology Guide - A dictionary of Greek and Roman Myths. Family tree of the Greek gods.
Key: The essential Olympians' names are given in bold font. See also List of Greek mythological figures Notes External links Media related to Family trees of Greek mythology at Wikimedia Commons. Mythology, folklore, and religion. List of legendary creatures (B) Mythical Creatures and Beasts. Beth's Pagan Stuff. Pagan Roots. Angel of the Month, Birthday Angels. How to suck at your religion. - RichardDawkins.net. Evil Bible Home Page. Retard of the Month. Top Ten List. Delightful Quotes. Atheism. Jesus: The Cosmic Jewish Zombie. An Atheist Manifesto.
Skeptic's Annotated Bible / Quran / Book of Mormon. Basic Herbs for a Witch's Pantry. Candle Magick Color Correspondences. Ritual « witchery. Fairy Tales Collection.com. Confessions of a Kitchen Witch: Witches Brew and Other Samhain Potions, Elixirs and Beverages. The 7 Keys to Living a Goddess Life | The 7 Goddess Archetypes |