There are eight commonly-recognized
and celebrated Wiccan or pagan holidays. Four of these (the quarter days) are
held at the time of the solstices or equinoxes. The other four are cross-quarter
days, held roughly in between one solstice and the subsequent equinox. To
jump to a particular day, select it from the list which follows.
Historical, archeological, anthropological
and folklorist research shows that these holidays were probably celebrated throughout
Europe and the British Isles in pre-Christian times. Many of the festivals were
so popular that the Christian church could not prevent the common people from
commemorating them, so they were appropriated and held under the aegis of various
(and frequently spurious) Christian saints. The popularity of these ancient holy
occasions is linked to changes in the earth and sky, the seasons, and the natural
year-round seasonal shifts that dramatically affect human beings, animals, and
plants.
More commonly known as Imbolc (the
day when newborn lambs begin to nurse) or, to the Christians, Candlemas (the purification
of the Virgin), Brigantia is usually celebrated Feb. 1 or 2. It marks the end
of winter and the beginning of spring, when buried seeds begin to stir within
the earth. It also marks the beginning of the third of the year which belongs
to the Maiden aspect of the three-fold goddess. "Brigantia" is the day
of Brigit, an Irish goddess of smithcraft, healing, and poetry. The old Saxon
and Norse communities knew her as Birgit, the lusty, spring-loving consort of
Ullr, the god of winter. The color of this day is red.
This usually falls around the 20th
of March. There are exactly 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light on this
day, so it marks the changeover from the dark to the light half of the year. It
is a time of conception and new growth. Roman Catholics turned spring equinox
into the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25, Lady Day).
Beltane is May 1, traditionally celebrated
by twining ribbons 'round a Maypole, an obvious fertility ritual. The name of
this holiday is taken from various solar fire deities known to Celtic and Norse
peoples. Its color is white. The Norse goddess Iduna, keeper and creator of the
runes, is good to honor on Beltane. Beltane fires were lit on this evening, and
people leaped through the smoke to purify themselves and insure fertility. It
was customary to extinguish the fire in all the households in a village, then
kindle a magic flame in a nine-square grid from which the center piece of turf
had been removed. This fire was made with an oak spindle in an oak log socket,
and was used to relight everyone's hearth. Beltane was also traditionally celebrated
by couples who made love in the woods. In Germany, this holiday was known as Walpurgisnacht.
June 21 or thereabouts. In medieval
times, celebrations of this year were labeled the feast of St. John the Baptist.
Bonfires were kindled on the highest points in the district to celebrate the son
achieving the highest point in its circuit. Flaming sunwheels were rulled downhill,
and burning torches were carried sunwise around buildings to bless them. This
day is sacred to the great mother goddess, especially Cerridwen. The Maiden gives
way to Mother aspect of the goddess.
The fall begins with this holiday
which falls on July 31 or August 1. Its traditional color is brown, and it commemorates
the grain harvest. It is named after Lugh, a god of light, and an Anglo-Saxon
word for "loaf of bread." This is a time of thanksgiving and feasting.
FALL EQUINOX
About September 23, the light
begins to decrease, and the dark half of the year commences. This is the second
harvest festival, the harvest of fruits. Winemaking commences now. The community
begins to prepare for winter, and the Mother prepares to yield way to the Crone.
SAMHAIN
Pronounced "sow-en,"
with a silent "m," this holiday falls on the last day of October, and
is still celebrated today as Halloween. It was customary to slaughter lifestock
on this day and begin smoking meat. In the old Celtic calendar, this was the end
of one year and the beginning of the new. The veil between the realm of the living
and the dead is especially thin on this holiday. In Latin countries, the Day of
the Dead is commemorated around this time of year. It is customary to do a divination
on this day for what the coming year will bring.
WINTER SOLSTICE
The Solstice falls on or about
December 21. Also known as Yule, this is a major holiday, when the sun reaches
its weakest point, and we have the shortest day and the longest night of the year.
The Crone is in full force. Many religions have placed the birth of their solar
hero gods and saviors on this day: Jesus, Horus, Helios, Dionysus, and Mithras
all claim Yule as their birthday. Since this day also represents the point at
which the sun begins to wax, it represents rebirth and regeneration.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE HOLIDAYS, consult
Nigel Pennick's The Pagan Book Of Days, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny
Books, 1992. This is a wonderful guide to the entire year, and contains a lot
more information than simple descriptions of the major festivals.
DISCLAIMER:
All the above information was copied
from somewhere on the net, but I do not remember the link to the originating site.
I do NOT claim authorship.
