Ancient Calendar & Pagan Holidays: June 1: A link between Celtic and Greek Dieties, Rome’s One and not the Other, Ancient World Vampires, Norse Syn and Ancient Egypt

Time to reflect on Celtic lore, for our Ancient Calendar reveals the Celts would have honored what they called, the Hamadryads. The Hamadryads were spirits that lived within the sacred Oak trees .

The name actually came from Greece, but in that culture, had a somewhat different meaning.

In Greek lore, the Hamadryads were not Celtic spirits but, Nymphs. The connection between these two cultures may live within the whole “tree” thing, for it is said that Nymphs were individually born with an attachment to a certain tree.

According to the Greeks, if the tree died, so did the Nymph.

Also, to harm a tree connected to a Nymph was a great crime against Greek Gods.

In fact, their Gods were said to punish anyone who maliciously set out to harm either.

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Over in Rome, on June 1st, a festival for two Goddesses named Carna and Cardea would be happening. These two ladies and their purposes intertwined. Goddess Carna overlooked doors and locks, while Cardea overlooked the hinges. Also, Carna protected the larger organs of the body as Cardea protected the innocent while they slept…but from what?

The Strig.

Who were the Strig? A type of Vampire/Demon, who sucked the blood of their victims while they slept.

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Today is also the Kalends of June in Ancient Roman Calendars.

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Now, let us go to the land and culture of the Norse, as they were honoring one of my favorite Goddesses named, Syn. Syn not only aided Fridd, but was also valued as a protector. In order to be granted the protection of Syn, all one had to do was invoke her.

Later, she became known as a protector of those in need of justice and those on trial.

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In Ancient Egypt, they are celebrating Maat and Ra, as this is the day they go forth in secret.

Ancient Calendar: June 22, 2010

One of the Greeks favorites was the woodland Pan. This God was envied and highly celebrated. So it comes of no surprise that today was just one more day in their calendar honoring him.

Pan kept to the meadows and forests. He traveled with his own entourage of Nymphs during the evening hours. Pan was famous for his sexual encounters and exploitations. Pan in his day was the equivalent of a rock star in ours.

Pan had the legs and hoofs of a goat, plus the horns of one. In fact, many believe that he was so popular–being one of the oldest gods of the Greek pantheon, that the Christians used his image to form their artistic version of Satan.

C.H. SCARLETT
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Ancient Calendar: June 17, 2010

Way back in the Ancient day, the Romans had a thing called Ludi Piscatari which was a sacred time for Fisherman. Hey, fisherman were very important in Ancient times. In many societies, that was an easy score for meals—fish.

Now over in Greece, they were honoring a Nymph (they really dug those) named Eurydice. This is a rather interesting tale. See, Eurydice was married to Orpheus but was killed after a serpent bit her. Her hubby wasn’t about to let her go (awwwwwww true love) so he follows her spirit into the Underworld and sings a tune for Persephone. Well Persephone, a kind heart, and totally moved by the song, allowed him to take his woman BACK to the Land of the Living on one condition… (there is always a catch, isn’t there?). On the way out of Hades, he could not look back. Sounds easy enough, though, right? Well, he screwed it up lol. He looked and because of that, his woman was bound to stay in the Underworld. COMPLETE BUMMER!

We have a Festival of the Bards beginning in the evening hours (Wheres Brynneth?). The Welsh would have allowed the Gwl o Bardd go on until sundown June 22.

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C.H. SCARLETT
~Casey~
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Ancient Calendar: June 1, 2010

June: Pagan Artist of the Month: Willow Arleana

Happy June 1st!!!!!!!!!!!

Boy, the months just slip away the older you get, don’t they?

And unfortunately, the 1st of every month is a BUSY time for me at the Pagan & the Pen…but let me goof off some by dragging you down memory lane and take a look at what our Ancient Ancestors were doing.

Yep, so far it looks like a busy time for them too.

Ready to step back in time and take a look?

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Let’s give a shout out to all those who are and were Celtic! Because in Celtic lore,  they would have honored what is called the Hamadryads. The Hamadryads were actually spirits that lived in Oak Trees. The name actually came straight out of Greece with a somewhat different meaning. In Greece, the Hamadryads were actually Nymphs (the Greeks loved their Nymphs) that were born with attachments to a certain tree. According to their beliefs, if the tree died, then so did the Nymph. And don’t think about running off to cut one down to see if it’s true, either, because the Gods are said to punish anyone who maliciously hurt a tree and or Nymph. (The Gods, like the Greeks love their Nymphs).

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Jumping the magic carpet over into Rome, we see that they were having a festival for two so-very-fabulous Goddesses named Carna and Cardea. Carna overlooked doors, locks, while Cardea overlooked the hinges. Also, Carna protects the larger organs of the body…while Cardea protects the innocent while they sleep from Strigæ. Who were they? A type of Vampire (even though they didn’t use that word back then) who sucked the blood of their victims while they slept. I keep telling people Vampires didn’t begin with Bram Stoker, but no one wants to believe me. *eye roll*

Today is also their Kalends of June.

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Leaving Rome, we go to the land and culture of the Norse, as they are honoring one of my favorite Goddesses named Syn (actually named a cat that when I was a kid and then was shocked to find out later–in life–that the name belonged to a cool goddess). Anyway, back then, Syn hung out and aided Fridd, but was also a protector, who would do so if one simply invoked her. Later on, she came to be known as a protector of those in need of justice AS WELL AS those who are on trial.

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Checking out Egypt, we have one more celebration going down involving Ma’at and Ra. As this is the day that THEY go forth in secret. (sh-sh-sh don’t tell anybody).

Oh what the hell, run on out and tell the whole world!

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Hope you enjoyed today’s Ancient calendar. See you all tomorrow for another look into Ancient History.

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Want more? Ancient Calendar.

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©C.H. SCARLETT

www.chscarlett.net

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