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BACK I WHAT IS A WITCH? I PATHWAYS I CANDLE COLOR MEANING I INCENSE MEANINGS I MOON PHASES I EMAIL |
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Witches Holidays
Yule (December
21st) Winter Solstice
The shortest day of the year and, of course, the longest night. This is usually the 20th or 21st of December. Yuletide (the Teutonic version) lasts from December 20th through
December 31st. It begins on "Mother Night" and ends 12 days later on "Yule Night", hence the "12 days of Christmas" tradition. In Pecti-Wita, Yule falls on December 22nd and is called Feill Fionnain. In the Caledonii Tradition it is called Alban Arthan and
is not considered a fire festival. A time when the waxing sun overcomes the waning sun. In some traditions, it is a time when the Holly King (representing the death aspect of the God) is overcome by the Oak King (who embodies the rebirth of the God, and is
sometimes referred to as the Divine Child.).
Since this is a solar festival, it is celebrated by fire and the use of the Yule Log. The colors of the season, red and green,
are of original Pagan descent. The act of cutting and decorating the Yule Tree and exchanging gifts are also Pagan derivatives. Wreaths of holly and fancy cookies and breads are a part of the tradition as well. Food is prepared specially for the
after-dinner Yule celebration when the tree is lighted and the Yule log is burned. A portion of the Yule log is saved to be used in lighting next year's log. This piece is kept throughout the year to protect the home.
Bayberry candles are also burned to ensure wealth and happiness throughout the following year. They can be placed on the dining table at sunset and burned until they go out by
themselves. Another pair can be set upon the mantle and lit at the beginning of the Yule ceremony.
The reindeer stag is also a reminder of the horned God, so if you find
yourself trying to choose a card for both Christian and pagan friends, choose a nature scene that includes the stag - an easy way not to offend anyone! You will find that many traditional Christmas cards have some type of Pagan ancestry or significance
that can be added to your Yule holiday.
This is a holiday that involves celebrations of banishing the winter season, and takes place on February 2nd.
In October we go to a country market where we choose pumpkins for Samhain. We also purchase 3 ears of dried corm in different colors, each color representing
a stage of the Goddess - Maiden, Matron, and Crone. The corn is stored until Imbolic, then the 3 ears are tied together with spring colored ribbons and used in the ceremony. Hang the corn outside the house for wealth and
protection until the day after the Fall Equinox, then bury it in the garden.
An easy way to remember Craft Holidays is to associate them with seasons. For instance,
Imbolic, Ostara, and Beltane are the 3 Spring festivals. Imbolic welcomes the change from old to new. Ostara invites the fertility energy of the earth to awaken, and Beltane represents the fertility and love energy awakening in humans.
Lavender and white candles can be burned in honor of the holiday. This is a good
time to work in the house, changing tablecloths and curtains, room painting and wallpapering and fixing furniture.
Imbolic is one of those holidays
that creeps up on you as you are finally breathing a sigh of relief from the steady roll of celebration from October through December.
The Imbolic Sabbat
marks the time to welcome the spring. This festival is for fertility and to celebrate the things that are yet to be born, just barely waking under winter's cold shroud.
In the Caledonii tradition this holiday is known as Alban Eiler and represents the warrior aspect of the God. This
sabbat occurs in mid march when night and day are of equal length (Usually about the 21st). It is a celebration of balance - not really Winter but not yet Spring. This festival is considered one of fertility, and is the second in the trinity of spring
celebrations. Seeds are blessed for future plantings. Eggs are colored and placed on the altar as magickal talismans. The familiar Easter Bunny is a Pagan derivative, as are baskets of flowers. The colors light green, lemon yellow and pale pink are
traditional for this holiday.
This is also the time to treat yourself to a new broom if you are a woman, and a staff if you are a man. Both must be ritually consecrated.
The broom is used to sweep a magick circle clean and is given a name as you would name a familiar. A naming ceremony can also be included in your Ostara festivities.
Twisted bread and sweet cakes are prepared to be served at dusk - or better yet, prepare a family breakfast that coincides with sunrise on this day.
Beltane is the last of the spring fertility festivals, and is when people, plants, and animals prepare for the warm months ahead. This is a time for love, union, and of course, the Maypole.
Ribbons of bright blue, lavender, warm pink, lemon yellow and white are nice representatives of the season, but the traditional colors are red and white, representing the blood
that flows from the woman when her purity is taken. Pick a particular tree in your yard and adorn it with ribbons and bows. This particular holiday represents the Divine Union of the Lord and Lady.
House decorations on that day can include a large bowl of floating flowers and white floating candles. Baskets of fresh flowers picked moments before dawn can be hung on the front door, and the mantle can be laden with greens
and flowers. Flower petals can be strewn about the circle and later swept into a pile and distributed around the perimeter of the house for protection.
Celebrated around the 21st of June, this is the longest day of the year. To me, this holiday represents the Sun King in all his glory. A celebration of passion and success. Some of the most powerful magick I have ever
accomplished has been on this holiday. It is great for business needs or a situation where the power of male energy is needed. Sunflowers (provided you have planted them in the house in very early spring and put them out after the first frost) and any
flowers of red and maize yellow or gold are excellent altar decorations. A wreath can be made for your door with red feathers (for sexuality) and yellow feathers (for prosperity) intertwined or braided with ivy. Altar candles should be of gold and red.
Money tree plants can be harvested and strung above the mantle for monetary wealth, or tied in a bunch with green ribbon, provided there has been an early planting season.
If not, wait until mid-July for harvest.
Midsummer Night's Eve is also a time to commune with field and forest sprites and faeries.
LAMMAS or LUGHNASSADH (August 1st)
This is the first of the 3 harvest celebrations in the Craft. Lammas is celebrated on August 2nd, where Lughnassadh is celebrated on the 7th. Both
holidays represent the same idea. This sabbat represents the beginning of the harvest cycle and rests on the early grain harvest as well as those fruits and vegetables that are ready to be taken.
Bread is traditionally baked for this holiday, and the altar is decorated with the first fruits of garden labor. Canning goes into full swing, and magickal cabinets are stocked with herbs before the onset of fall. Herbs for
magickal use should be harvested this day. You may wish to empower some of them in your ritual.
Most of the flowers are gone; however, there are still some varieties
available. An altar decorated with pots of yellow and red cockscomb is truly arresting as the tassel of the plant resembles a flame.
This is also the time to prepare your
house for the fall season by replacing curtains, tablecloths, rugs, etc.
MABON or AUTUMN/FALL EQUINOX
(September 21st)
Mabon spans from the Equinox itself (around the 21st of Sept.) until Winter night (Oct. 15), which is the Norse New Year. The Caledonii
festival celebrates the Lord of Mysteries. This, the second harvest festival, is associated with the taking of the corn and other foods that are to be harvested at this time. Cornbread cakes and cider are an excellent addition to the festivities. The frost
will hit soon, so the last of the herbs and other plants you wish to dry for winter use should be harvested now.
Depending on when the leaves turn in your area, you may
wish to paraffin them and add them to your house decorations. Dip the leaves quickly in melted paraffin, and put them on wax paper. When the leaves are dry you can put them in a huge, decorative jar with a sigil of protection carved lightly on some or all
of the leaves.
Colors used for candles should be brown, orange, gold, or red. Altar cloths can be made of material with fall designs. River and stream stones gathered over
the summer can be empowered for various purposes.
SAMHAIN or HALLOWEEN (October 31st)
This holiday is considered the Witches' New Year, representing one full turn of the
seasonal year. This is the last of the three harvest Sabbats. Halloween is celebrated on Oct. 31st.
Celebrations to honor the dead are done at this ritual, along with speaking with those who have passed over; divination is heightened on this night.
It is said that on this night the veil between the worlds is weakest. Jack-o-lanterns, gourds, cider, and other fares of the season can be used in ritual and family celebration.
Black candles are used to ward off negativity.
Start preparing for Samhain in Sept. Decorations to be hung about the house. Hang a pentacle wreath above altar
decorated with ravens, little brooms, and orange feathers and ribbons.
Put pots of large golden-yellow mums about the house, and repaint
some of the rooms for the celebration, if it is necessary.
At dinner on Samhain, set an empty place for those who have departed who were dear to you.
BACK
I WHAT IS A WITCH? I
PATHWAYS I CANDLE COLOR MEANING I INCENSE MEANINGS
I
MOON PHASES I EMAIL
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