Post by bluefedish on May 21, 2007 19:28:48 GMT -5
The Pagan Sabbats/Holiday:
Imbolc/Candlemas: Celebrated on February 1st. All involve celebrations of banishing the winter season. Lavender & white candles can be burned in honor of the holiday. The Candlemas Sabbat marks the time to welcome the spring. The celebration is far fertility & to celebrate the things that are yet to be born, just barely walking under winter's cold shroud. Tie together 3 ears of dried corn in different colors, each representing a stage of the Goddess - Maiden, Matron, & Crone with spring-colored ribbons and use in the Candlemas ceremony. Hang the corn outside the house for wealth & protection until the day after the Fall Equinox, then bury it your garden.
Ostara: Spring (Vernal) Equinox. March 20th the night and day are of equal length. A celebration of balance - not really winter, but not yet spring. This celebration is considered on of fertility and is the 2nd in the trinity of spring celebrations. Seeds are blessed for future plantings. The colors light green, lemon yellow, & pale pink are traditional for this holiday.
Beltane: Celebrated on the 5th of May or the 1st of May. Also known as Mayday, celebrated on the 1st of May. Beltane is the last of the 3 spring fertility celebrations & is when people, plants, & 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, & white are nice representatives of the season, but the traditional colors for Mayday are red & white.
Summer Solstice: Also known as Midsummer Night's Celebration. June 21st is the longest day of the Year. A celebration of passion & success. A wreath made for your door with yellow feathers (for prosperity) inter-twined or braided with ivy. Also a good time to commune with field & forest fearies.
Lammas (Lughnassadh): August 2nd. First of the 3 harvest celebrations. The honoring of the Sun God, is held on the 7th. 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.
Mabon (Autumn Equinox): Celebrated on September 22nd. The 2nd harvest celebration, associated with the taking of the corn and other foods that are to be harvest at this time. River & stream stones gathered over the summer can be empowered for various purposes. Colors used should be brown, orange, gold, & red.
Samhain: A celebration on October 31st, also known as Halloween. Considered the witches' New Year, representing on full turn of the seasonal Year. Last of the 3 harvest celebrations stand for the same purpose. 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 the weakest. Black candles are used to ward of negativity.
Yule: Also known as Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the Year and the longest night. Usually the 20th or 21st of December. This is a solar celebration, celebrated by fire. The colors of the season, red & green, are of original Pagan descent. Wreaths of holly and fancy desserts & breads are a part of our tradition as well. Bayberry candles are burned to ensure wealth & happiness throughout the following Year. The stag is a reminder of the Horned God.
Imbolc/Candlemas: Celebrated on February 1st. All involve celebrations of banishing the winter season. Lavender & white candles can be burned in honor of the holiday. The Candlemas Sabbat marks the time to welcome the spring. The celebration is far fertility & to celebrate the things that are yet to be born, just barely walking under winter's cold shroud. Tie together 3 ears of dried corn in different colors, each representing a stage of the Goddess - Maiden, Matron, & Crone with spring-colored ribbons and use in the Candlemas ceremony. Hang the corn outside the house for wealth & protection until the day after the Fall Equinox, then bury it your garden.
Ostara: Spring (Vernal) Equinox. March 20th the night and day are of equal length. A celebration of balance - not really winter, but not yet spring. This celebration is considered on of fertility and is the 2nd in the trinity of spring celebrations. Seeds are blessed for future plantings. The colors light green, lemon yellow, & pale pink are traditional for this holiday.
Beltane: Celebrated on the 5th of May or the 1st of May. Also known as Mayday, celebrated on the 1st of May. Beltane is the last of the 3 spring fertility celebrations & is when people, plants, & 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, & white are nice representatives of the season, but the traditional colors for Mayday are red & white.
Summer Solstice: Also known as Midsummer Night's Celebration. June 21st is the longest day of the Year. A celebration of passion & success. A wreath made for your door with yellow feathers (for prosperity) inter-twined or braided with ivy. Also a good time to commune with field & forest fearies.
Lammas (Lughnassadh): August 2nd. First of the 3 harvest celebrations. The honoring of the Sun God, is held on the 7th. 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.
Mabon (Autumn Equinox): Celebrated on September 22nd. The 2nd harvest celebration, associated with the taking of the corn and other foods that are to be harvest at this time. River & stream stones gathered over the summer can be empowered for various purposes. Colors used should be brown, orange, gold, & red.
Samhain: A celebration on October 31st, also known as Halloween. Considered the witches' New Year, representing on full turn of the seasonal Year. Last of the 3 harvest celebrations stand for the same purpose. 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 the weakest. Black candles are used to ward of negativity.
Yule: Also known as Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the Year and the longest night. Usually the 20th or 21st of December. This is a solar celebration, celebrated by fire. The colors of the season, red & green, are of original Pagan descent. Wreaths of holly and fancy desserts & breads are a part of our tradition as well. Bayberry candles are burned to ensure wealth & happiness throughout the following Year. The stag is a reminder of the Horned God.
