October 2007 - Alternative Faith

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Alternative Faith - October 2007

The Witches Festivals-Sabbats, Esbats and Celebrations (LINK)

October 27th 2007 16:55

Wiccan and Neo Pagan festivals aren't as steeped in mystery as one might think, but their origins are centuries old and rooted in the natural ebb and flow of nature.

There are primairily 8 festivals, coinciding with the sesonal changes of the earth. Four of these festivals fall on the equinoxes and solstices and are called lesser sabbats, the other 4 festivals are called "cross quarter days" as they fall between the other sabbats, they are considered to be the "fire festivals" or greater sabbats. Esbats are generally celebrated once a month qnd on the full moon/ Usually covens or groups will gather to celebrate the esbats.

The Eight Sabbats:

Samhain: (pronounced sowen) Oct 31/Nov. 1 Greater Sabbat/Fire Festival
Honoring our ancestors, aka day of the dead, the last harvest, witches new year. The festival celebrates the cycle of decline, dying, and rebirth. It is also said that at midnight on October 31st, you can communicate with your departed ancestors. Christian equivalent is All Souls/Saints Day.

Yule: Dec19- 23. Usually celebrated on Dec. 21st. Lesser Sabbat/Winter Solstice. In ancient times Yule was celebrated for 12 consecutive days...Do the "12 Days of Christmas" ring any bells? Celebration of the Holly King retiring to the frozen North, and welcoming back the Oak King. Signifying that the longest night of the year has passed and now commences the lengthening of the days, moving toward spring. Christian equivalent: You guessed it, Christmas.

Imbolc: Feb. 1-2. Greater Sabbat/Fire Festival. AKA Brigid's Day, Brides' Day, Brigantia. This festival is one that welcomes back the warmth and the light. The beginning of spring is just around the corner and the new lambs are being born. Christian equivalent is:
Candlemass.

Ostara: March 20 - 23, Lesser Sabbat/Vernal Equinox. Also known as Lady's day or Festival of Trees. The word ostara comes from the latin word Eostre (from which we get the word "estrogen") This is a celebration of the beginning of spring, the earth coming back to life. The symbols for this sabbat are eggs and bunnies. Christian eqivalent is Easter. Bet you couldn't guess that one huh?

Beltane: May 1. Greater Sabbat/Fire Festival. Also known as May day. This is a celebration of fertility and this festival marked the beginning of the summer season. In certain pagan traditions it was said that on Beltne, for that one night, married couples could partner with anyone they wished. Other traditions included dancing around the may pole.

Litha: June 19-23. Lesser Sabbat/Summer Solstice. Usually celebrated on June 21st. Also known as Midsummer's night. This is a celebration of the longest night of the year and when summer is at it's height. We celebrate the beauty of the earth. Christian equivalent is: Saint Johns Day, or John the Baptist's day.

Lughnasadh: (pronounced Loo Na Sah) August 1-2 Greater Sabbat/Fire Festival.
Also known as Llamas. This is the celebration of the first harvest, the bread harvest or the first fruits harvest. This was a time for market festivals and community gatherings. In certain European cultures, Handfastings were performed. (a trial "marriage" or union that would last a year and a day). Christian equivalent: There is no name for this particular day, but this is the date on which the fields would be consecrated and blessed by the christian priests.

Mabon: September 19 - 23. Lesser Sabbat/Fall Equinox. Also known as wine harvest, second harvest or fruit harvest. This was a festival of thanksgiving for all the bounty of the harvest. Usually at this time corn dollies and the Corn Queen ( a larger version of a corn dollie) were constructed from the corn sheaves and paraded through the village. She (the queen) would then be doused with water to ensure that there would be plenty of rain for the next seasons crops. The Corn Queen was then stored away till the following spring and then plowed into the ground for good luck. In some instances, the corn queen was given to the villager with the smalles harvest as a good luck charm.

So now you know a bit more about what Wiccan celebrations are all about, but here's an interesting question for you. Have you wondered why so many of the Christian holidays or festivals co-incide with the pagan celebrations? Centuries ago, when christianity was in the process of taking over the world. The church tried to convince the Pagans their ways were better...They build their new churches over the sites of pagan places of worship so that the pagans would feel more "at home" with their new religion. It was also thought that if they had a holy day or holiday on or near the dates of pagan sabbats, it would aid in the transitioning of the pagans and in their conversion. That my friends is just the beginning...

Blessed Be
Whitewillow

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Samhain-The Witchs New Year

October 25th 2007 20:03

Halloween; for most that one word conjures visions of ghouls and goblins, fairies and princesses. It's a time to dress up in spooky costumes, and go begging for candy. It's that time of year when fall is in the air, the leaves are displaying their colors and pumpkins are being carved throughout the land. But where does the tradition for Halloween come from?

Centuries ago, Halloween started out as something much different and yet similar, It began as the Celtic holiday "Samhain:. Pronounced S'awen or Sowen. It was a festival that marked the end of harvest, the end of summer and the beginning of the colder and harsher winter months. It was generally regarded as the Celtic New Year.

Tha Gauls had created a calender that was divided into 2 halves, The dark half beginning with October/November and the light half commencing with April/May.These halves coincided with the fall/winter seasons and the spring/summer seasons respectively. It would seem that the year or calender was determined by the agricultural cycle of vegetation. In Medieval Ireland, Samhain was considered to be the most important of festivals and was celebrated for 3 days, at the royal court in Tara.

In Ireland and Scotland, the festival of "Oidiche Shamhna" or "Day of the Dead" was celebrated. An empty place would be set at the table for the departed ancestors and those attending the feast would tell tales about the departed. This celebration took place on October 31st and signified the last harvest.

Neo-Paganism and Modern Day Witches

We as modern day wicca/witches consider Samhain to be the most important of the 4 greater sabbats. Samhain falls on October 31st and this is said to be the time when the veil between the worlds is the thinest, and spirits are able to pass between the two worlds to communicate with their loved ones. Most of us will be celebrating Halloween/
Samhain in one form or another. Some will go to masquerade balls, others will attend or perform a ritual celebrating darkness and death. Those rituals are to remind us that the cycle of life, death and rebirth is never ending. That every year when the earth goes to sleep, and the foliage dies, the promise of spring is just a few months away, and the earth will come back to life and grow green once more.

Witches Flying On Broomsticks And Other Nonsense

Because Samhain or Halloween falls at the end of the harvest period, it goes without saying that the ancient celebrations included fire. At the end of harvest, all the farmers and villagers would light either one or two large fires under the moon and in the fields where the last of the harvest had been gathered. They still held their pitchforks, brooms and other farming implements, and while the bonfires burned the would dance around the fire in celebration of their bounty. They believed that the higher they would leap, that would be the height of their crops in the upcoming year. Can you figure out where the witch riding on a broom under the full moon came from? You guessed it...a simple harvest celebration by farmers and villagers soon became an unnatural act by demonically possessed witches.

FInally, here's a bit more information on the magickal aspects of Halloween/Samhain.
The colors associated with Samhain are Black, white, orange, silver and gold.
The incense for Samhain is: Heliotrope, mint and nutmeg.
Foods associated with Samhain: Gourds, turnips. apples, nuts, mulled wine, beef, pork
Symbols of Samhain: Jack o Lanterns, Pumpkins, black cats, besoms, apples
Herbs of Samhain: Mugwort, Nightshade, Mandrake, Catnip, Oak leaves, Sage & Straw
Stones of Samhain: Obsidian and any other black stones. Onyx, etc.

So now you know a wee bit about the traditions of Halloween and the Wicca celebration of Samhain. May I wish you a hauntingly Happy Halloween and a Blessed Day of the Dead...Samhain.
BB
Whitewillow

references:
www.wikipedia.com

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