Celebrating the Year in the Ancient Ways

The Messenger Website ©Copyright 2002 The Messenger - All rights reservedPerhaps, you would like to celebrate an old fashioned Christmas (Yule) and connect in spirit with your ancient ancestors or expand your joy of the season.

• Samhain, October 31—New Year
The Old New Year begins with Samhain (pronounced Sawain) on October 31. We know it as Halloween, the Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples, and All Hallow’s Eve. Literally, Samhain means summer’s End, a time to work with the ebbing energy of the Sun and the increasing energy of moonlight. This is the time when the veil between the spirit worlds and the physical worlds is at its thinnest and communication with the spirit world is easiest. Early Christians, misunderstanding the meaning of the festival, took protective measures and dressed in frightening costumes, displaying Jack-o-Lanterns to ward off the spirits they thought the Pagans were bringing back from the dead.

• Yule, Winter Solstice, December 21
The word Yule means wheel and Yule is the longest night of the year. From here, in the Northern Hemisphere, the days begin to lengthen. Now, at the time of great darkness, it is good to turn within to contemplate our true nature. This is the night of the Great Goddess, the Universal Mother. Fires and candles are lit to welcome the returning Sun and the awakening of the Earth. This time is a reminder that the outcome of death is rebirth. Christians adopted Yule as the birthday of Jesus in the 4th century because it was the date of the Roman Saturnalia and was celebrated as Yule in so many other Pagan religions.

• Imbolc, February 2—Groundhog Day
Imbolc is also known as Oimelc, Candlemas, and St. Brigit’s Day. This holiday begins its celebration at sundown on February 1 and continues through February 2. Imbolc means the belly of the Great Mother, and is where the seeds of spring are sprouting. Traditionally, Imbolc is celebrated with a crown of lights on a High Priestess, representing the return of the Goddess to her youth. The Christians adopted this holiday as Candlemas, a day to bless candles for the liturgical year. It is also celebrated as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, adapted from the theme of the Goddess returning to her maiden state.

• Ostara, Spring Equinox, March 21
Ostara is also known as Lady Day, and Alban Eiler. Spring has come midway; night and day are equal. It is a time of balancing of masculine and feminine energies. This was celebrated in myth as the sacred marriage of the Sun God to the Maiden Goddess, who conceived. It is a time of fertility, new growth and birth. The first full Moon after March 21 is called the Ostara and is sacred to the Saxon Lunar fertility Goddess Eostre. It is from this tradition that we get the symbols of the rabbit and eggs at Easter. The Christians adopted these symbols for Easter, which is still celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full Moon following the Spring Equinox.

• Beltane, April 30
Beltane is also known as Roodmas, Walpurga, and May Day. The word Beltane means Fire of Belinos, one of the names for the Sun God. As winter is ebbing in the Northern Hemisphere, and summer is close, the earth blossoms. This is the time when the Celtics would indulge in fun and romance. The Maypole, so innocently observed now, has its beginnings in the Pagan ritual of dancing around the phallic Maypole. This was joyously done after a night of “romantic romping” in the forest. On the morning of Beltane, it was time for bathing in springs or other natural waters, and drinking to everyone’s health. This cleanses the old and makes way for the newness of the season. It is a life-affirming celebration. The Christians changed this day into Roodmas, replacing the Maypole with the Rood Cross. The Rood Cross is an image of Christ on the Cross erected on a loft just over the passage out of the Church into the Chancel.

• Summer Solstice, Litha, June 21
Litha is also known as Alban Heruin. This Saxon holiday is the opposite of Yule—the longest day of the year and a time to celebrate life and abundance. The Sun God is at his greatest power and celebrated in myth with him seated on a greenwood throne. He is the king of the forests—Jack-in-the-Green. The Christians substituted John the Baptist for the Jack-in-the-Green, and in early Christian architecture, his likeness is often carved into the exterior walls.

• Lughnasadh, July 31
Lughnasadh is also known as Lammas, Lunasa, August Eve, Feast of Bread, Harvest Home. The word Lughnasadh means Lugh’s (Loo’s) games. Lugh was an Irish Sun God and the games were funeral games in honor of his stepmother Tailte. It is also the time of the first harvest, and when plants begin to produce seed for the next year’s crop. Autumn is coming and the Sun God’s power is waning. The days are becoming shorter and it is a time to begin storing fuel, food, and energy for the winter. The Christians adopted this holiday and turned into Lammas (loaf mass). It was a time when parishioners would place freshly baked loaves of bread on the altar.

• Autumnal Equinox, Mabon, September 21
The Autumnal Equinox is also known as Alban Elved. Again the day and night are of equal length and daylight is growing short in the Northern Hemisphere. All nature is preparing for dormancy and rest. The colors of nature become brilliant with reds, golds, yellows, and browns. Christians turned this holiday into Michaelmas, which celebrated Michael, the warrior Archangel whose flashing blue sword allowed truth, love and “Holidays” are more than just days off from work. They can be times of spiritual renewal to help us cope with the stresses of everyday life.

ANITA BURNS is a holistic spiritual seeker and teacher. For more information, visit www.anitaburns.info or e-mail her at shanti3@usa.net.