Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic new year. It marks the third and final harvest, and is a time to commune with and honor the dead. Similiar holidays include El Dia De Los Muertoes, Halloween, Feast of the Hungry Spirits and many others.
The Ancient Celts believed that the entire world died on Samhain night and was reborn on the next morning with the rising sun. It was also a belief of theirs that all magick and spiritual power was also renewed in this night. Samhain is also the night when the old God sacrifices his own self so that the rebirth of the world would be assured.
It is at this time that the God ventures into the underworld and takes on the guise as the Lord of Death. He is no longer a God of vegetation and growth but the horned hunter of the night that rides on night winds and grants the wisdom of death. It is during this time that the Great Goddess who enters into her crone stage mourns the loss of the God deeply for the next six weeks, until she gives birth to him again on Yule as the newly born Sun. The image of the Halloween witch stirring a huge cauldron comes from the Celtic belief that all dead souls return to the great cauldron of the Goddess to be reborn.
Samhain has always been seen as a season of transformation. All who are born must die and all who die shall be reborn. Only the Goddess in her infinite wisdom as the crone can teach the wisdom necessary for us to undergo each of our deaths and then to experience rebirth. Only she knows the true way.
It has always been a long standing tradition and belief of Samhain, that the spirits of the dead are able to return to the living once more. For one night, the veil that separates the worlds is at its thinnest and the world of shadow (the other world, underworld etc) will actually bleed into our own. During this Sabbat we can welcome back the spirits of those who have passed on and meet with them again. It is also because of this thinning of the veil that other spirits and entities may come into our world. So not only was this a most sacred night it was also a most dangerous one. These entities and spirits if allowed to wander free from the other world could cause harmful tricks and bad luck, in addition to the ever present threat of being spirited away into the other world. Our ancestors wore masks to fool these spirits into thinking that they too were spirits. Faces were carved into vegetables in an effort to scare away negative spirits and candles and lanterns were lit in windows and along the path to cemeteries to escort the spirits back to the grave.
Samhain is also a powerful time for divinations. It is because of the fact that the spirits of the dead are allowed to return they can give advice and prophecy. In fact many old Victorian Halloween parties featured fortune tellers and tarot readers. Also Samhain is a prime time to channel spirits and conduct séances.
Since Samhain is the third and final harvest and marks the end of the harvest season, all crops must be gathered from the fields by sundown on October 30th. Anything left in the fields after this time becomes property of the Phookas (hobgoblins) and to take from the hobgoblin would risk the worst of luck. These Phookas are well known for their mean and malicious tricks and attacks on people and the only way to get these creatures to leave you alone was to offer them bribes of candy and sweets, thus from the tradition of Paying the Phookas arose the old Halloween tradition of Trick or Treat.
Samhain was never considered evil to the ancients; it was a time of year where one honored those who had gone before and the lives they led. It was a time to prepare for hard, dark times ahead. Many would not make it through the winter and Samhain was a time to celebrate life and the knowledge that death was not all there is. Samhain is the celebration of life over death.
With the death of the God, the wheel of the Year turns to Yule and the rebirth of the Sun God. In Paganism death has never been seen as an end but as a transition. We, like our God, will be born anew as the Wheel of the Year turns on and on.
The Ancient Celts believed that the entire world died on Samhain night and was reborn on the next morning with the rising sun. It was also a belief of theirs that all magick and spiritual power was also renewed in this night. Samhain is also the night when the old God sacrifices his own self so that the rebirth of the world would be assured.
It is at this time that the God ventures into the underworld and takes on the guise as the Lord of Death. He is no longer a God of vegetation and growth but the horned hunter of the night that rides on night winds and grants the wisdom of death. It is during this time that the Great Goddess who enters into her crone stage mourns the loss of the God deeply for the next six weeks, until she gives birth to him again on Yule as the newly born Sun. The image of the Halloween witch stirring a huge cauldron comes from the Celtic belief that all dead souls return to the great cauldron of the Goddess to be reborn.
Samhain has always been seen as a season of transformation. All who are born must die and all who die shall be reborn. Only the Goddess in her infinite wisdom as the crone can teach the wisdom necessary for us to undergo each of our deaths and then to experience rebirth. Only she knows the true way.
It has always been a long standing tradition and belief of Samhain, that the spirits of the dead are able to return to the living once more. For one night, the veil that separates the worlds is at its thinnest and the world of shadow (the other world, underworld etc) will actually bleed into our own. During this Sabbat we can welcome back the spirits of those who have passed on and meet with them again. It is also because of this thinning of the veil that other spirits and entities may come into our world. So not only was this a most sacred night it was also a most dangerous one. These entities and spirits if allowed to wander free from the other world could cause harmful tricks and bad luck, in addition to the ever present threat of being spirited away into the other world. Our ancestors wore masks to fool these spirits into thinking that they too were spirits. Faces were carved into vegetables in an effort to scare away negative spirits and candles and lanterns were lit in windows and along the path to cemeteries to escort the spirits back to the grave.
Samhain is also a powerful time for divinations. It is because of the fact that the spirits of the dead are allowed to return they can give advice and prophecy. In fact many old Victorian Halloween parties featured fortune tellers and tarot readers. Also Samhain is a prime time to channel spirits and conduct séances.
Since Samhain is the third and final harvest and marks the end of the harvest season, all crops must be gathered from the fields by sundown on October 30th. Anything left in the fields after this time becomes property of the Phookas (hobgoblins) and to take from the hobgoblin would risk the worst of luck. These Phookas are well known for their mean and malicious tricks and attacks on people and the only way to get these creatures to leave you alone was to offer them bribes of candy and sweets, thus from the tradition of Paying the Phookas arose the old Halloween tradition of Trick or Treat.
Samhain was never considered evil to the ancients; it was a time of year where one honored those who had gone before and the lives they led. It was a time to prepare for hard, dark times ahead. Many would not make it through the winter and Samhain was a time to celebrate life and the knowledge that death was not all there is. Samhain is the celebration of life over death.
With the death of the God, the wheel of the Year turns to Yule and the rebirth of the Sun God. In Paganism death has never been seen as an end but as a transition. We, like our God, will be born anew as the Wheel of the Year turns on and on.
Also known as Winter Solstice
When the Wheel of the Year turns to Yule, the God who dies at Samhain, is reborn again. The God is born to the Goddess who is in her crone stage at this time. It is foretold by our ancestors that Yule is also the time that the Sun is reborn once more. After this night, which is the longest night in the year, the sun will gather strength as the days get longer and warmer from this point on. The God and the sun have always been seen as one and the same and thus the birth of one announces the birth of the other. Yule was also a time where the ancients lit fires and candles in an attempt at sympathetic magick to coax the sun back into the world. The holiday lights that we hang on our houses, trees, shrubs and in our windows are a modern version of this ancient pagan tradition.
Another interesting feature of the Yule season is the Celtic tradition of the battle of the Oak and Holly Kings. In the legends each Winter and Summer Solstice these two twins fight to the death for lordship of the year. In reality these two “twins” are merely two sides of the same king. The Holly King represents the destruction, darkness and decay of time, while the Oak king represents the growth, change and expansion that time brings. Each Solstice these two kings battle for dominance. At this time, the time of the dark half of the year the Holly King wins and the Oak King goes to the Underworld to rest until Summer Solstice where he wins and the Holly King goes to the Underworld. A variation of this tradition is the battle of the bull and stag gods. In this variation the stag represents the Oak King and the bull the Holly.
Since Yule has always been seen as a celebration that invokes deep magick to bring back the sun, fire has always played an important part in the rituals. Another famous tradition of the season is the Yule log. The Druids have long since been credited with the creation of this tradition. The Yule log is phallic and represents the rebirth of the God within the sacred fires of the Mother Goddess. The log is decorated with ever greens, holly and berries to represent the union of the great Mother and the God once more. Each member of the family or coven take turns making wishes on the log. There are two traditions that are honored when it comes to the Yule log. The first is probably the oldest. After everyone makes their wishes upon the log the log is then burned in the fire place to bring happiness to the family home. The other is probably more recent. Three holes are drilled into the Yule log and three candles are placed in the holes and lit to represent the Triple Goddess.
Pine trees were decorated with images of what a person wanted to bring into their life in the coming year. Fruits and other foods were hung for the wish of having enough to eat. Coins and other precious things were hung to bring in wealth into one's life. Ribbons and bows were hung for grace, compassion and unity. Candles were lit on the tree to coax the sun back and to symbolize the warmth of coming summer. A star or solar shape was often placed on the top of the tree to bring focus to the sympathetic magick.
The placing of evergreens, holly and mistletoe was important because each of these plants had triple meanings. For one each of these plants were hung because they stayed green long, long into winter. So these plants became symbolic of health and long life, something not often assured during the long winter months. These plants also represented protection. They protected the home from negative spirits, illness and ill natures of people who were forced to be cooped up inside for the long winter months. Finally they represented the blessings of the God and Goddess and where constant reminders that they were always with us.
The wreath that most of us hang on our doors is just one more representation of the unity all of us share and represents also the turning of seasons and the Wheel of the Year.
Another interesting feature of the Yule season is the Celtic tradition of the battle of the Oak and Holly Kings. In the legends each Winter and Summer Solstice these two twins fight to the death for lordship of the year. In reality these two “twins” are merely two sides of the same king. The Holly King represents the destruction, darkness and decay of time, while the Oak king represents the growth, change and expansion that time brings. Each Solstice these two kings battle for dominance. At this time, the time of the dark half of the year the Holly King wins and the Oak King goes to the Underworld to rest until Summer Solstice where he wins and the Holly King goes to the Underworld. A variation of this tradition is the battle of the bull and stag gods. In this variation the stag represents the Oak King and the bull the Holly.
Since Yule has always been seen as a celebration that invokes deep magick to bring back the sun, fire has always played an important part in the rituals. Another famous tradition of the season is the Yule log. The Druids have long since been credited with the creation of this tradition. The Yule log is phallic and represents the rebirth of the God within the sacred fires of the Mother Goddess. The log is decorated with ever greens, holly and berries to represent the union of the great Mother and the God once more. Each member of the family or coven take turns making wishes on the log. There are two traditions that are honored when it comes to the Yule log. The first is probably the oldest. After everyone makes their wishes upon the log the log is then burned in the fire place to bring happiness to the family home. The other is probably more recent. Three holes are drilled into the Yule log and three candles are placed in the holes and lit to represent the Triple Goddess.
Pine trees were decorated with images of what a person wanted to bring into their life in the coming year. Fruits and other foods were hung for the wish of having enough to eat. Coins and other precious things were hung to bring in wealth into one's life. Ribbons and bows were hung for grace, compassion and unity. Candles were lit on the tree to coax the sun back and to symbolize the warmth of coming summer. A star or solar shape was often placed on the top of the tree to bring focus to the sympathetic magick.
The placing of evergreens, holly and mistletoe was important because each of these plants had triple meanings. For one each of these plants were hung because they stayed green long, long into winter. So these plants became symbolic of health and long life, something not often assured during the long winter months. These plants also represented protection. They protected the home from negative spirits, illness and ill natures of people who were forced to be cooped up inside for the long winter months. Finally they represented the blessings of the God and Goddess and where constant reminders that they were always with us.
The wreath that most of us hang on our doors is just one more representation of the unity all of us share and represents also the turning of seasons and the Wheel of the Year.
Also known as Candlemas
The importance of Imbolc does not come from a agricultural focus or that of the changing of a season. For all purposes Imbolc is a holiday of pure magickal and spiritual focus. In ancient times the winter months were long and hard, food was scarce and in a matter of hours a healthy and strong man could be brought down and killed by an illness. The dark winter months are depressing at best and at the time of Imbolc, spring is still sometime away. Our ancestors used this sabbat as a means to honor the Goddess and the growing God. To give thanks for all they did have and to seek continued protection and blessings.
Imbolc is also known as Candalmas or the festival of lights. This is due to the practice of lighting a candle in every room of the house and in every window in an attempt to bring back the sun. A modern spin on this is to turn on every light in the house on this day to call the sun.
A prominent feature of the holiday is the honoring of Lady Bridget. Bridget is a Celtic goddess who was so well worshiped and loved that she was canonized as a catholic saint. Bridget amoung many other things is a Goddess of fire and flames, a Goddess of hearth and home and a Goddess of passion and love. Most modern pagans use Imbolc as a festival to honor Bridget and ask her blessings of warmth and passion in the coming year. In fact a Imbolc tradition is attributed to her.
Each imbolc a corn dolly is made to represent the goddess bridget. The dolly is dressed in women’s clothing and is even placed in a place of honor called the bride's bed. This little corn dolly is a means of fertility magick. A club is traditionaly placed beside the bed and before going to bed the women of the house would chant “Bridget is come. Bridget is welcome.” If in the morning the impression of a club was found in the ashes of the fire the crops would be plentiful that year.
It is said that if it snows on the day of Imbolc there will be a longer winter. Also in addition to this there is the belief that pure snow blankets all negative energies and refreshes magick. To counter the effect of snow on Imbolc, go outside and think of the warmth of spring and draw solar symbols and suns in the snow to counter the cold.
Imbolc is the time to celebrate the first stirngs of spring even though they are not yet visible. Beneath the earth the ritual of rebirth is beginning again.
Imbolc is also known as Candalmas or the festival of lights. This is due to the practice of lighting a candle in every room of the house and in every window in an attempt to bring back the sun. A modern spin on this is to turn on every light in the house on this day to call the sun.
A prominent feature of the holiday is the honoring of Lady Bridget. Bridget is a Celtic goddess who was so well worshiped and loved that she was canonized as a catholic saint. Bridget amoung many other things is a Goddess of fire and flames, a Goddess of hearth and home and a Goddess of passion and love. Most modern pagans use Imbolc as a festival to honor Bridget and ask her blessings of warmth and passion in the coming year. In fact a Imbolc tradition is attributed to her.
Each imbolc a corn dolly is made to represent the goddess bridget. The dolly is dressed in women’s clothing and is even placed in a place of honor called the bride's bed. This little corn dolly is a means of fertility magick. A club is traditionaly placed beside the bed and before going to bed the women of the house would chant “Bridget is come. Bridget is welcome.” If in the morning the impression of a club was found in the ashes of the fire the crops would be plentiful that year.
It is said that if it snows on the day of Imbolc there will be a longer winter. Also in addition to this there is the belief that pure snow blankets all negative energies and refreshes magick. To counter the effect of snow on Imbolc, go outside and think of the warmth of spring and draw solar symbols and suns in the snow to counter the cold.
Imbolc is the time to celebrate the first stirngs of spring even though they are not yet visible. Beneath the earth the ritual of rebirth is beginning again.
Or there around...Also known as Spring Equinox
Ostara comes from the name Eoster, an Ancient goddess of spring, who was honored with feasting and ritual. It is also from her name that the modern Christian holiday of Easter gets its name.
Ostara is the long awaited first day of spring, as if over night the world bursts into bright colors. The time of harsh cold and snow has come to an end. And the animals seem to be in as much of a rush to be out as we humans are and everything is fresh and new. This is the joy of Ostara. Winter has claimed those things that were at an end and now renewal is all around.
Ostara is primarily a fertility ritual. It is at this time that the goddess sheds her crone’s face and becomes youthful and refreshed. The focus of this Sabbat is fertility magick in the preparation for the gifts of summer.
The image of the colored egg has been around long before the practice of Easter. The egg has always been a symbol of fertility, life and growth. The ancients seen the egg as the ultimate form of magick. Eggs were carried as fertility amulets and were decorated to honor the Gods and it was even believed that the mere eating of an egg made one more fertile. Just as prevalent as the symbol of the egg during this time of year is that of the rabbit or hare.
The rabbit like the egg has always been seen as a strong fertility symbol, for obvious reasons. However the importance of the rabbit comes from the story of Eoster. The lowly rabbit wanted so badly to honor his beloved goddess that he laid the sacred eggs in her honor, gaily decorated them and humbly presented them to her. She was so pleased that she wanted all of humankind to share in her joy. So to honor her wishes the rabbit went all over the world delivering the beautifully decorated gifts of life. Over the centuries the rabbit became a bunny who also delivered candy as well as the eggs.
Ostara is the long awaited first day of spring, as if over night the world bursts into bright colors. The time of harsh cold and snow has come to an end. And the animals seem to be in as much of a rush to be out as we humans are and everything is fresh and new. This is the joy of Ostara. Winter has claimed those things that were at an end and now renewal is all around.
Ostara is primarily a fertility ritual. It is at this time that the goddess sheds her crone’s face and becomes youthful and refreshed. The focus of this Sabbat is fertility magick in the preparation for the gifts of summer.
The image of the colored egg has been around long before the practice of Easter. The egg has always been a symbol of fertility, life and growth. The ancients seen the egg as the ultimate form of magick. Eggs were carried as fertility amulets and were decorated to honor the Gods and it was even believed that the mere eating of an egg made one more fertile. Just as prevalent as the symbol of the egg during this time of year is that of the rabbit or hare.
The rabbit like the egg has always been seen as a strong fertility symbol, for obvious reasons. However the importance of the rabbit comes from the story of Eoster. The lowly rabbit wanted so badly to honor his beloved goddess that he laid the sacred eggs in her honor, gaily decorated them and humbly presented them to her. She was so pleased that she wanted all of humankind to share in her joy. So to honor her wishes the rabbit went all over the world delivering the beautifully decorated gifts of life. Over the centuries the rabbit became a bunny who also delivered candy as well as the eggs.
Beltane falls opposite Samhain in the Wheel of the Year. This is the second of the two most important times of the year as far as our ancestors were concerned.In the most ancient of times the year was separated into two halves. The first half was the dark half of the year, represented by the Horned Hunter and was celebrated from Samhain to beltane. Now in Beltane we see the other half, the light half of the year represented by the Great Goddess of abundance. Beltane symbolized the beginning of the time of the year were food became more abundant and the world was a brighter and warmer place. Not only was Beltane a time in which the wheel spun to a lighter time, Beltane was and still is an important time because it is when the Lord and Lady become lovers and all things begin to grow from their union. At this time the child Sun God or Lord has grown into a young adult. He now takes on the guise of Lord of the Green, the Green Man and other guises as master of vegetation. He is a virile God of fertility. At the same time the Goddess has reached young womanhood and is a potent Goddess of fertility. The two are wild lovers and through their great rite, the whole world bursts into life. (This is the time of the year that we honor both God and Goddess of fertility and Beltane is the time of the year that we celebrate their union and often refer to the Sabbat as their wedding day.) Beltane is a fertility rite. Beltane is the time to enjoy the outdoors, laugh, sing and dance and to have fun. It is also a time to marvel at the beauty of the green world. Beltane was also the time to bless the fields and herds to ensure their bounty. Ashes from the balefire were scattered over blessed fields. Favorite Beltane gods such as Pan and Persephone were invoked and their blessings upon couples, herds and fields were sought. An ancient Beltane custom that has never died out, even during the strict Puritan times is that of the maypole. The whole ritual was and still is a fertility rite. Often called the Dance of Life, the whole ritual involved the men of the village dancing one way while the women of the village danced another, each weaving in and out of each other. The maypole was a large tree that may have once been a decorated Yule tree and now had its branches removed. The upright pole now functioned as a large phallic symbol representing the full fertile powers of the God. It was inserted into a hole dug into the earth which represented the womb of the Goddess. The floral wreath or ring that crowned the top and the ribbons attached to represented the sexual organs of the Goddess and represented her full fertile powers. The ribbons that where hung from the crowning wreath where often white that represented the semen of the god and red that represented the menstrual blood of the goddess. The men would take a hold of the white ribbons and the women the red and as they danced and wove in and out of each other wove the ribbons together and created a pattern on the pole. The entire dance was symbolic of the sexual act. Beltane was also a fire ritual and Balefires played a very important part of the rituals. In fact at Beltane all of the fires in the home where extinguished and then relit from the balefire. In fact the fire played an important role in protection and health to the ancients. Two large balefires were lit beside each other with a passage between them. Anything of importance from the precious heads of cattle to new born babies were walked between the fires to protected them and to cleanse any negativity off of them. It was believed that those who wished for fertility could leap the fire and receive the blessing from the flame. Even women jumped the fire.
Or there around...Also known as Litha and Midsummer
At Midsummer the Goddess is heavy with pregnancy, just as the earth is heavy with the coming harvest's bounty. The ancents knew that crops could be blighted and animals could miscarry, so Midsummer rituals focused on having a successful crop and harvest. Animal blessings were also popular at Midsummer, even more than at Beltane. This practice has evolved into the Wiccan practice of blessing our pets at this time.
Ashes from the balefire were scattered over the fields to ensure they would be healthy and fertile. Pieces of the unburnt Balfire were kept as powerful talismans of light and were thought to hold the power of the Sun God. Also these unburnt pieces of wood where seen as a means of bringing the light and abundance of each year into the next by using them to light the Balefire next year.
Faery folk are most active at Midsummer when they are at the height of their power. Leaving food for the little folk at Midsummer is still a very common practice. Favorite foods of the wee folk is milk, butter, honey, wine and bread.
Many herbs and plants are fully mature at Midsummer and this is thought to be the best day to harvest magickal plants. This is thought to be the day that the Ancient Druids gathered most of their sacred plants, including the all important mistletoe.
Midsummer is the longest day of the year and is the time when the sun is at its greatest power. After this day the sun is now waning and we begin to move toward the ending of the year, the harvests and the death of the Sun God.
Ashes from the balefire were scattered over the fields to ensure they would be healthy and fertile. Pieces of the unburnt Balfire were kept as powerful talismans of light and were thought to hold the power of the Sun God. Also these unburnt pieces of wood where seen as a means of bringing the light and abundance of each year into the next by using them to light the Balefire next year.
Faery folk are most active at Midsummer when they are at the height of their power. Leaving food for the little folk at Midsummer is still a very common practice. Favorite foods of the wee folk is milk, butter, honey, wine and bread.
Many herbs and plants are fully mature at Midsummer and this is thought to be the best day to harvest magickal plants. This is thought to be the day that the Ancient Druids gathered most of their sacred plants, including the all important mistletoe.
Midsummer is the longest day of the year and is the time when the sun is at its greatest power. After this day the sun is now waning and we begin to move toward the ending of the year, the harvests and the death of the Sun God.
Also known as Lammas
Lughnassadh is the first of the three harvest seasons. It honors the Sun god in all his glory and carries the name of the celtic sun god Lugh. Lugh which means "shinning one" was a God of many skills and talents. He was also able to shapeshift and was said to often transform into human form, so that he could worship among the Druids. For all purposes this is a grain festival and is often times called the Harvest of first Fruits. Corn, wheat and barley are ready to be picked in August.
Native American celebrated a festival in August called the Festival of Green Corn, that was held in honor of the great Corn Mother. The feast of Lughnassadh is the time when the first fruits of the season are eaten, especially any grains. Yellow foods such as corn, corn bread and anything made of corn meal are especially good on this day as they honor the fading sun. Chicken is also eaten on this day and even chickens are part of the symbolism of this day. Many of the ancient solar gods were represented by the rooster. It was also common practice to leave a single sheaf of wheat or corn stalk in the field to represent the Goddess. Also some of the wheat and corn husks were saved back to make the all important corn dolly at imbolc.
After Lammas the sun is noticeably lower in the sky each evening. In some northern regions there is already a nip of Fall in the air as we move toward the second harvest.
Native American celebrated a festival in August called the Festival of Green Corn, that was held in honor of the great Corn Mother. The feast of Lughnassadh is the time when the first fruits of the season are eaten, especially any grains. Yellow foods such as corn, corn bread and anything made of corn meal are especially good on this day as they honor the fading sun. Chicken is also eaten on this day and even chickens are part of the symbolism of this day. Many of the ancient solar gods were represented by the rooster. It was also common practice to leave a single sheaf of wheat or corn stalk in the field to represent the Goddess. Also some of the wheat and corn husks were saved back to make the all important corn dolly at imbolc.
After Lammas the sun is noticeably lower in the sky each evening. In some northern regions there is already a nip of Fall in the air as we move toward the second harvest.
Also known as Fall Equinox
Mabon is named after the Welsh God who symbolized male fertility in Welsh myths. Even though the holiday is named after Mabon, the festival is actually held in the honor of Mabon's mother who sacrificed herself so that others may live. It is said that she harvested a whole field by herself in one day. She was so exhausted by this, that when the harvesting was over, she just lay down and died. Thus the holiday became a festival to honor her sacrifice and to honor sacrifice and being thankful in general.
The old Celtic Festival of Harvest Home, a time of rest from harvesting and a celebration of thanks, probably once was celebrated at the same time of Mabon. It is because of this that Mabon is often referred to as the "Witches' Thanksgiving" and is one of the oldest harvest celebrations in Europe.
The orignal Harvest Home Festival included cider pressing, grain threshing, dancing, feasting and the crowning of a harvest King and Queen. This is also a great time for modern covens to meet for a special feast of thanksgiving and a special day to offer thanks to the Goddess and God for the many blessings we have.
The God will sacrifice himself at the next Sabbat to ensure that the Wheel will continue. Sacrifice has always been an important and big deal to the ancients. In fact the ancient kings who were said to be earthly embodyments of the god would periodically sacrifice themselves and spill their own blood upon the ground to ensure that the land remained fertile and their kingdoms remained strong. At the Harvest Home festival it was customary for the harvest king to have the best of everything but it was also customary for his throat to be slit and his blood spilled upon the fields at the end of the festival, though as time wore on this practice changed. Men were no longer sacrificed. Instead an offering of wine was poured upon the fields to symbolize the spilling of the king's blood.
Mabon was also a time to honor the ancestors and to visit their graves, especially those of Female ancestors.
Mabon is a time when night and day are equal and all things are in balance. The forces of good and evil are thought to have equal power on this night. After this night the darkness grows in strength and we are plunged into the dark half of the year. The old God prepares for his ritual death at Samhain and the Goddess repares for cronehood. Gathering more and more wisdom, which comes with age, though deep inside her is the seed of the God who will be born again at Yule.
The old Celtic Festival of Harvest Home, a time of rest from harvesting and a celebration of thanks, probably once was celebrated at the same time of Mabon. It is because of this that Mabon is often referred to as the "Witches' Thanksgiving" and is one of the oldest harvest celebrations in Europe.
The orignal Harvest Home Festival included cider pressing, grain threshing, dancing, feasting and the crowning of a harvest King and Queen. This is also a great time for modern covens to meet for a special feast of thanksgiving and a special day to offer thanks to the Goddess and God for the many blessings we have.
The God will sacrifice himself at the next Sabbat to ensure that the Wheel will continue. Sacrifice has always been an important and big deal to the ancients. In fact the ancient kings who were said to be earthly embodyments of the god would periodically sacrifice themselves and spill their own blood upon the ground to ensure that the land remained fertile and their kingdoms remained strong. At the Harvest Home festival it was customary for the harvest king to have the best of everything but it was also customary for his throat to be slit and his blood spilled upon the fields at the end of the festival, though as time wore on this practice changed. Men were no longer sacrificed. Instead an offering of wine was poured upon the fields to symbolize the spilling of the king's blood.
Mabon was also a time to honor the ancestors and to visit their graves, especially those of Female ancestors.
Mabon is a time when night and day are equal and all things are in balance. The forces of good and evil are thought to have equal power on this night. After this night the darkness grows in strength and we are plunged into the dark half of the year. The old God prepares for his ritual death at Samhain and the Goddess repares for cronehood. Gathering more and more wisdom, which comes with age, though deep inside her is the seed of the God who will be born again at Yule.
