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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
FESTIVALS
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Within the Pagan community there are many holidays and Sabbats
celebrated for various means, and not all celebrate each holiday/Sabbat in
the same exact way or for the same reasons. The following is a general list
of the Holidays most common between all the Sects within Neo-Paganisim.
YULE (Winter Solstice, December 20-23 (varies according to the particular
date on the standard calendar according to when the Solstice will
occurastronomically)).Longest nightof theyear, theturning
point whenthe days shall afterwardsgrow longer as winterbegins
its passageinto thecoming spring.It is,inthe Goddessworship,
the time when she gives forth again to the birth of the Divine Sun
child who shall be both child and eventually lover and father of
the next child in the cycle. Winter Solstice for pagans is a time
of feasting and the exchanging of gifts and is the original Holiday
that the Christian religions modified into their own Christmas,
even upto the birth of the child (Most theologians who have spent
time studying the birth of Jesus admit he was born in either March
or April, not the celebrated Christmas date we all know from the
standard calendar - it was moved to this date to help induce Pagans to
give up their old ways yet allow them their holidays during the spread
of Christianity thru Europe and the British Isles).
Traditional adornments are a Yule Log, usually of oak, and a
combination of mistletoe and holly (also all later plagiarized into
Christian ways).
CANDLEMAS (Brigid's Day, February 2nd) Not common to all pagans, this is
very popular with Wiccans and various Celtic sects. Brigid is the
Celtic goddess of fire and inspiration (Poetry, smithcraft and healing)
as well as yet another representation of the Fertility of Femininity and
Love. Brigid had such a strong following among the Celtics that the
Christian church decided it was easier to assimilate her into their own
system, and so there came about the making of Saint Brigit and all the
stories they created about her so that her followers would leave their
old beliefs enough so they would not side with the Druids, who were
known at that time as 'the snakes' because of their tendency to have
tamed snakes that were used to help produce various healing mixtures via
their venom, and who were violently opposing the Catholic church. In
History, of
course, the druids lost against the overwhelming odds presented by the
church, led by a man who would then be himself sainted by the church,
their Saint Patrick (who was no clergyman but a warrior). Thus
Christian rule of various sorts came into Ireland. Handcrafts are often
sacrificed to Brigid or dedicated to her as they are started on this day.
Its celebration is done with many candles and as usual much feasting.
The Christians also took, moved slightly and used this d a t e b y
creating St. Valentine and using the day for one of chaste l o v e
reflections.
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Eostar Ritual (Spring Equinox, March 20-23 dependant on actual astronomical
event) This is the start in the pagan year of spring, at least among
Wiccans and Celtics. The first flowers are praised and the Gods and
Goddesses thanked for the true return to happier times for all. Eostar
is oneof the more colorful holidays, not one of the somber colors
found in Yule and Candlemas. Feasting and socializing are the important
factors in this holiday as well as the celebration of the return of color
to the natural world. In the Christian calendar, again to draw early
worshipers, they marked this as the final days and rebirth of Jesus
(when according to history he died in June!)
Beltane (May Eve, April 30th-May 1st) Most important to pagans, save f o r
Samhain, I don't know of any Pagan group that doesn't celebrate t h i s
holiday in some way. Beltane is the great Fertility rite of life,
starting at dusk on the 30th and continuing until the dawn of the 1st.
The union of the God and Goddess to conceive the sun-child to be takes
place upon this holiday, no matter which tradition of paganisim is
involved. Beltane is the one holiday most discouraged by the
Christians, who didn't even use it as a point for a holiday of their o w n
because the power and nature of the day involved. Still, even in
Christianized Ireland the May day dance of the Maypole remained, as d i d
the giving of flowers to those you loved or cared for as friends. T h e
Maypole is a symbol of the union of the God and Goddess to create life,
the pole itself a phallic symbol while the dancers and their streamers
or vines of flowers represent the fertile womb of the goddess a s i t
takes in the Phallus of the god and takes in his seed. Besides t h e
Maypole often a bonfire is present, and members of the group are
encouraged to jump the flames for luck and their own fertility. Food, drink
and love are the order of the evening. In most sects the celebration of
Beltane will become one large orgy as the participants are encouraged
to enact their own unions of love. Beltane is the time o f m a n y
marriages/handfastings in the pagan community (in some it is the point
where one chooses to begin and end relationships of a physical nature).
Clothing is very optional in most get togethers on this holiday, and
mostly it is sensual and colorful. Even those sects that are prudish
about things tend to accept the rules of the holiday, as it is the holiday
of free love. It is said that a child conceived on this day will grow up
to wield great power and knowledge and to be healthier than upon any
other.
Litha (Summer Solstice, June 20-23, dependant on actual astronomical event)
Held on the longest day of the year, the Solstice is the celebration
of lights triumph over darkness and that of the bountiful beauty that
light brings into life. Flowers are common in the circle, roses and
brightcheerful wildflowers are upon the altar and usually worn by
all. It is the changing point of the year, and the celebration of the
spiral dance of the year is common among Wiccans. It a celebration with
much joy, and much feasting. Many wiccans will attire themselves i n
bright colors and equally bright adornments of flowers. Litha' usual food
fare may include honeycakes or cornbread. Litha is not celebrated by
all sects nor in the same way.
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Lughnasad (August 1st) The great corn ritual of Wiccan belief (in Celtic
realms this is the celebration of the wheat god, corn is an
Americanization and it is possible there is an American Indian
traditional holiday near this date that was borrowed by the American
Neopagans). THis is the big celebration of the harvest (Sort of a Pagan
Thanksgiving, but the time clock is different as is that of the Celtics).
Much feasting and dancing occur, thou it is a bit more somber than
many of the other holidays. Some Pagans celebrate this day as merely
the day to bake their bread and cakes for the coming winter and do no
actual rituals save that of blessing the foods prepared.
Mabon (Fall Equinox, Sept. 20-23, dependant on actual astronomical event)
A lesser holiday, this is not widely celebrated and is most come with
Pure wiccan groups, especially those who are based in the works of
Starhawk and other Dianic sects. This is the weavers festival, and a
braiding of cords are done in the process of casting a spell to
add to ones life from what it is, each person weaving unto themselves
what they wish and the coven as a whole weaving all the cords together
to unite the power and efforts symbolically.
SAMHAIN (Halloween Oct 31st) THe year ends traditionally in Wiccan beliefs
with this holiday. Samhain is said to be the period of time when the
gates between the worlds are least guarded and the veils their thinnest.
It is a time for dimensional openings and workings, and a l s o t h e
celebration of the death of the year king. It is a somber holiday, one of
dark clothes and thoughts for the dead, it is said to be the time when
those of necromantic talents can speak with the dead and it is certainly
a time to remember ones dead. It is a time of endings of relationships
and bad situations and it is the time when one can see the glimmer of
hope in the future. THere are as many concepts attached to this holiday
as any other.
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