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Imbolc or 'Ewe's milk' is the festival of early Spring and Awakening occurring around the beginning of February. This is a time of clearing out the old and bringing in the new. This festival is associated with pastel colors and candles representing spring sunshine and new life. February is also associated with many gods of love and, in modern times, we celebrate these ancient ties with Valentine's Day.
This festival of Promise occurs around the 21st-22nd March, the first day of Spring when day and night are of equal length and we emerge from the last days of Winter. All around us we see growth, young flowers and new-born animals. Everything is bursting with life. The Equinoxes balance light and dark and are often represented by spirals, labyrinths and Celtic crosses.
Bel-tene, a 'goodly fire' is the Feast of Life celebrated at the beginning of May. A time of merry making and fun, we are full of expectation for the coming of Summer. This is a wonderful fire festival of union, energy and creative life force.
The sun reaches a peak in its cycle and gives us the longest day and shortest night, occurring around the 20th -23rd June. This is the festival of Midsummer and Joy, bestowing abundance and love, celebrating achieving goals and fulfilling our wishes. From now the days become a little shorter but often hotter. We store this energy in preparation for the seasons to follow.
Lammas or 'loaf mass' is the festival of Transformation, early harvest, first fruits and gathering. Usually celebrated in the first few days in August, we can almost sense the coming of Autumn. 'Auger' is an ancient word meaning a person with the gift of foretelling events through signs and omens, also known as an 'increaser'. This is a time of feasting and dancing.
Occurring around 20th-23rd September this is another festival of balance where day and night are of equal length. This is the main Harvest festival as we prepare for the coming of Winter. The days will now get shorter and the wind will blow a little colder. In nature we can see signs and changes taking place; a busy time for animals filling their stores and leaves changing color and falling.
Pronounced 'Sow-en' meaning 'the fire of peace' this is the Celtic New Year celebrating Summer's end and falls at the end of October, beginning of November. This is the festival of Remembrance, particularly recalling our ancestors. In ancient times it was believed that the veil between the worlds of the seen and unseen was at its thinnest and many people believed they could cross the realms at this time. These old customs have nurtured our present day Halloween celebrations!
This is the festival of Rebirth at Midwinter and gives us the shortest day and longest night. The sun rises a little higher each day from now and celebrations at this time include the lighting of the Yule log and candles, feasting with family and friends and decorating evergreen trees. 'Yule' means wheel and is often depicted by a wreath: the evergreens represent everlasting life. |
