Hoping this new system of doing the Pagan Holidays is working for everyone…doing them ahead of time so YOU can plan ahead. Let me know if its not.
Now, let’s break the silver and step back through time to see what our Ancient Pagan Ancestors were doing….
Monday March 15, 2010
Of course the Greeks will be starting off the week by having a Festival for their Goddess Rhea, who happened to be the daughter of Uranus and Gaea. Rhea was said to be the mother of Zeus. Priests of Rhea were called Curetes and her rituals and rites were made up of noisy dances, feasts and so forth. Why? Because when Rhea gave birth to Zeus, there seemed to be trouble amongst the gods. She had to flee to an island named Crete in order to hide from the God Cronus. While giving birth to Zeus, the sounds were covered up by her aids, Curetes–demons who beat on their shields with their swords in order to prevent any of the Gods from hearing her child bearing screams.
Rome will not be without their version of Rhea either today, whom they renamed and called Cybele. Cybele was their Mother Goddess and today, the Romans would throw her and her lover Attis a great festival. All Pagans will be allowed sexual freedoms on this day…only to be followed by 9 days of abstinence and fasting!
It is also the Ides of March in Rome.
Tuesday March 16, 2010
Romans and Greeks will be having festivals for Dionysus today. In Rome, today will kick off a two day festival called Bacchanalia–for their God Bacchus (their version of Dionysus) while the Greeks kick off one for Dionysus AND his counterpart Hellenic.
Now, while the Greeks will be having orgies among other things…
Prisoners are also to be set free on this day and any Debt owed, may not be seized.
And in Rome, any young boy which has reached his manhood, will be allowed to wear the toga virilis—a white toga of course symbolizing his manhood.
Wednesday March 17, 2010
In many Pagan traditions, we will see the rebirth of the Green Man. He represents the forces of Nature and the forthcoming of Spring!
The Celtic Tree Month of Nuin Ends today.
The Babylonians will be having a festival for Astarte today!
The second day of the Roman festivals that began yesterday, will keep going today under the name of Liberalia–in name of their God Liber while the Greeks also keep going with their festivals for Dionysus and Rome’s Bacchus.
Thursday March 18, 2010
We get to peek in on Ireland today who will be having their festival of Sheela-na-gig : their Goddess of Fertility.
The story goes that many, many suns ago, on this very day, Sheela-na-gig decided to wade into a secret spring. But while doing so, she released the sacred waters causing them to spread all across Ireland-she is the womb which springs all life.
The Celtic Tree Month of Fearn Begins
Friday March 19, 2010
The Greeks will have what is called a Lesser Panathenaea for their Goddess Athena.
In Rome, they will have a day called Quinquatrus, a great festival for their Goddess Minerva.
And the Celtic Goddess Nemetona will have her sacred day as well, who is also called Blodeuwedd in Wales. Give thanks to her for watching over our outdoor places of worship.
The Goddess Month of Moura Ends.
Saturday March 20, 2010
SPRING EQUINOX Note: (How Easter was Born!)
The Druids will be having the EVE of their soon to be Festival of Alban Eilir. The symbol is a 3 leafed Shamrock–symbolizing the 3 aspects of the awakening of the Goddess. 1. Spring at Imbolc, 2. the growth and beginning growth at Alban Eilir, and 3. the peak of summer at Beltane. Alban Eilir is a time when Day and Night are equal—a time of balance.
Today is Ostara or in ancient times known as Eostre. Ostara is a goddess who protects children but is also the deity of growth and rebirth. Interestingly enough….The Goddess was famous for the ways in which she would entertain small children—one of which by hatching bunnies out of chicken eggs…Ostara gave rise to Easter.
The Norse will also be having something for their Goddess Idun, their Goddess of youth and fertility. Idun keeps the apples of life—which is what keeps the Gods young. She is the ONLY Goddess allowed to pick these apples.
Once, Idun was kidnapped by the Norse storm giant Thiazi, who sought to have the apples for himself and deny them to all the other Gods. So, the other Norse Gods sent Loki to rescue her. Loki used Freya’s falcon cloak to rescue her from Thrymheim. Thiazi turned into an eagle and chased them but was soon defeated by Aesir gods when they set his wings on fire.
The Goddess Month of Columbina Begins.
Sunday March 21, 2010
Today is the Vernal Equinox, the sun is directly over the equator today and so marks the beginning of Spring.
Today is the Druid Festival of Alban Eilir.
Today is the observance for Ostara.
The Irish said that their city Tara was founded by two princesses Tea, and Tephi today.
And Egypt will be having a coming forth of the Great Ones from the House of Ra.
~~~~~~
Well that’s it for this week! Wishing everyone a fabulous Spring!
C.H. Scarlett
And thanks to Pagan Days for all the help with the holidays!
The Pagan & the Pen ~ An Online Magazine! 