because my dreams
The wheel of the year turns constantly, slowly but consistently. I do my best to keep up with both my holidays (the ones listed above) and the Christian holidays (what is predominantly practiced). My daughter is being raised with both sets of traditions, and she will be permitted to choose any path she wishes, provided it harms none.
Samhain, Oct. 31st
(pronounced sa-wen): the Wiccan New Year. It is when the harvest comes to an end and the earth begins her long winter sleep. Leaves turn color and fall from the trees, the remains of the crops are burned or plowed back into the fields to nourish the soil for spring planting. It is a time to reflect on the past year, finish any old business, pay off any debts, let any grievances and ill feelings die. The idea, of course, being not to take any of the negativity from the previous year into the coming one so you can start a-new. It is also the time for the Feast of the Dead when we honor the memories of those who passed on to the Otherworld and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. It is also a time to remember that the end of one thing, though it may be sad, leads to a beginning of something new.
Yule Tide, Dec. 21st
Winter solstice and the longest night of the year. Its significance is that even though everything appears dead and is covered under a blanket of snow (or mud depending where you live), we are to observe that new life will come forth in the spring and we look forward to the days of growing light and warmth. The ritual is based around the yule log, which in my house is traditionally the stump end of last year's Christmas tree. Incidentally, Christmas trees really have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. It was a tradition brought to England and Ireland by the Norsemen who, in their respective country, would cut boughs of fir trees and other evergreen trees and bring them inside to decorate and brighten their homes and great community halls as a symbol of life; amid the death-like grip of winter. It is a popular tale among children that we still do so to invite the frigid, warmth-loving nature faerys in to live in this decorated tree until the weather turns pleasant again. Back then, no doubt the piney fragrance would also serve to chase away the stale smells of so many people being forced to stay indoors out of the bitter cold for so many months. The fir boughs gave way to bringing in whole trees that would later be "decorated" with items that represent wishes for the coming year such as a prosperous harvest, a marriage or children. At solstice, the ancient Celts were already having bon fires with the purpose of driving the cold winter away - and the beckoning the Sun God (also known as the Oak King) to rise triumphantly to defeat the long dark winter gloom (which is the dominion of the Holly King). They once believed that if they did not do this, He would be defeated and the sun would never rise again. So when the Norsemen invaded their land and brought their Yule Tide tradition with them, the Celts simply adapted it to their own bon fire ritual and thus the Yule log was born.
Imbolc, Feb. 2nd
pronounced em-bowlg (often spelled Imbolg), also known as the Feast of Bridgid. Witches honor the Triple Goddess, because it is at this time during the dead of winter that Earth has renewed her virginity. Even so, she bears the seed of the coming Spring within the warmth of her womb. It is customary at the coven ritual for the High Priestess and the other women of the coven to come in dressed in crimson (for the Mother), white (for the Maiden) or black (for the Crone). The high Priestess wears a crown of candles and walks doesil (clockwise) around the circle in quiet procession as music is played. The candles represent the warmth and light of the sun. At this time, the winter is losing its frigid grip on the earth and warmer days are drawing near. It is a time for us to say a blessing over and prepare any seeds or bulbs that will be planted in the spring to ensure they will grow and flourish. It is also a time for witches to renew their vows to the craft and to the Goddess and God.
Ostara, March 21st
Basically, Easter! One source I read said that "Ostara" was also another name for "Easter" the Pagan Goddess of Spring.. but I'm not sure that's accurate since I've never found a lick of evidence stating so in the past. Anyway, many of the Christian holidays fall on or very near to the old Pagan celebrations mainly because the Pagan people were so unwilling to relinquish their own festivals when Christianity absorbed them - to make for an easier transition, the churches developed holidays around the existing Pagan festivals. The story makes more sense the way we tell it, I think. At this time the Goddess transforms from being the Maiden to the Mother once more, giving birth to the sun and to all life. A young Pagan was out walking the snow-covered fields when she discovered a bird nearly frozen solid. She tried her best to warm the bird by her fire, wrapping the bird in her coat and breathing her life into it. In desperation to preserve this living thing, she asked the Goddess for help, and the Mother descended to help the bird. The only way to save its life was to transform it into a rabbit. To pay tribute to the Goddess, every year, the rabbit lays painted, colorful eggs -- as a permanent Thank You.
Beltane, May 1st
The beginning of summer! Winter's chill is but a distant memory and the sweet fruits of summer are just becoming ripe for the picking. Life as a whole seems sweeter too. The sun is warm and bright but is not yet too punishingly hot. The grass is still green and not yet turned brown. Flowers are in bloom and color, and sweet fragrances are everywhere. It is often a time when couples plan to soon wed and children anxiously await the closing of school for the summer, high school and college graduates look forward to hopefully bright new futures. Truly it does seem the best of things happen at this time of year even today. This is what Beltane is all about. The earth is coming into her fullness and the promise of bounty is in sight. Traditionally, it is a time for building a bon fire and gathering round with friends to share the first bounty of the year. Among Witches, this is a perfect time for handfasting (weddings!). A handfasting traditionally is to last for only a year and a day and then the next year the couple can renew their vows to each other or simply choose let their vows and their marriage expire. However, a couple may choose to have their marriage last as long as they wish so long as they both agree as to how long.
Midsummer, June 21st
The Earth is in her prime, crops are high and the sun shines longest on this day. This time of year is full of folly and mirth, a time where a certain giddiness is felt, an unrest that leads us to thoughts of love and pleasure. It is where the phrase "when a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love" comes from. We all can still feel the effects of the warm weather and the lazy days of summer even today. Stuck inside our office buildings or places of work we long to go outside and just lay on the warm sweet grass or on a sandy beach and loll in the sun. We are beckoned to enjoy the warm days and sweet fruits that come into ripening, to not take life for granted. What prompts us to act this way? Perhaps in our deep recessed instincts we are aware that even though the days are warm and the sun is high, on this day the days begin to get shorter. For as this is the time the Sun God or Oak King reaches His zenith it also marks the time when He must relent to the slow rise of the Holly King who is the God of winter. The Oak King begins His retreat into the enchanted realm of the Goddess Arinrod, the Goddess of the Silver Wheel. The Silver Wheel refers to the cycle of death and rebirth. There Arinrod rules over His temporary refuge of death where He must wait and learn before being born again at Winter Solstice. So on this day take some time to sit and relax, be with ones you love, invite your closets friends over for a summer barbecue and enjoy life.
Lughnasadh, August 1st
(pronounced Loo-na-sa) is the feast of Lugh whose name means "shining one". He is the Irish God of the sun and of agricultural fertility, since his foster mother died from preparing the lands of Ireland for planting. His festival is in Her honor. For it is through Her sacrifice that the people had grain to eat and to sustain their lives. Lughnasadh marks the beginning of the grain harvest and grain being a staple of the diets of nearly all civilizations around the world it is indeed a very important crop. It feeds not only us but the animals we raise for food and for milk. Grain is also very important to the making of beer and ale and while we today we see those beverages as being, shall we say, "recreational" to the people of old Europe it was a means of liquid sustenance. The alcohol content was marginal and calorie content was high. For those who worked in the fields or on the docks or in the blacksmith's shop and were too poor to afford much meat they needed something hardy to see them through the long working day. Beer and bread was their standard midday meal. Today grain is still very important and most likely will continue to be so, to the diets of not only humans, but all living things. During this time we are urged to give thanks for the bounty of what we have, so in a way it is like the Wiccan version of Thanksgiving.
Mabon, Sept. 21st
comes at the autumnal equinox when once again the day and night are at equal length. This time of year is the reaping time when we pause to reflect on the passing year and express our gratitude to Mother Nature for all our wishes that she has helped us to manifest. We also begin looking toward the coming year and posabilties of what might lay before us, our dreams and wishes yet unrealized and things we never even imagined.
Mythically, this is the day of the year when the god of light is defeated by his twin and alter-ego, the god of darkness. It is the time of the year when night conquers day.
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.