History and celebrations.
Bonjour mes amies.
Yesterday was a total wash and I'm off to a bit of a late start this morning. Ah well, I'm not one of those who wails and gnashes her teeth when things don't go according to plan. The way I see it, if plan A fails the next step is to implement plan B and if that crumbles then heck, you just gotta wing it. Life is too short to spend a moment of it stressing over what should have been, might have been, or isn't going to happen.
Our author is out of pocket for a few days (internal family matters) and yep, we have those too. So we wing it and make the best of what we have. We've received a lot e-mail regarding the Witch's calendar and the meaning of our holidays so that is our topic of the day.
All of our holidays and festivals are of Celtic origins; most particularly from Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. So it isn't unusual that Celtic blood runs in the veins of true Witches. Down through the ages the names of those holidays, festivals, and rites have taken on more modern names and spellings but 'tis the Old Ways the majority of us hold true.
An example: One of our most notable and majical events is Samhain, also known as All Hallows; Hallow E'en; and Halloween, the eve of All Hallow's Day which is November 1st. Traditionally celebrated, beginning at sundown on October 31st, Samhain means 'summer's end'. The earlier Celts held to a two fold division of the year where summer extended from Beltane to Samhain and winter, from Samhain to Beltane. In later years the calendar was extended to a four fold division and Samhain is known as 'autumn's end' and the beginning of winter.
The various pronunciations are as follows: 'Sowin' in Ireland; 'Soween' in Wales; 'Saven' in Scotland; and the United States, 'Samhain'. The importance lies in that it is the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Samhain is considered by Witches as one of four Greater Sabbats and, as it is the most important of those, it is often referred to as 'The Great Sabbat'.
Another, pronounced Beltane in the United States, is the celebration of May 1st and is known as 'Galan Mae' in Wales;' Beltaine' in Ireland; 'Shenn do Boaldyn' in the Isle of Mann; and 'Bealtunn' in Scotland. This is one our our most important religious festivals, for it is symbolic of the coming of spring; the time of year when all things renew themselves.
Imbolc, or Candlemass, is celebrated on February 1st (Groundhog's Day) symbolizing six more weeks of winter which is the halfway point of the year. The Celts called it 'Brigit's Day' and the Irish called it 'Brid's Day', for a powerful Goddess who became Saint Brigit. La Feill Bhride, Brigit' s feast day, celebrates new life about to awaken in the earth thus the earth is furrowed and prepared for seed.
Another of our celebrations is Ostara; also known as Easter, Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox, which is the day when light and darkness are of equal length. This sacred holiday is when seeds are sown and also represent the planting of new ideas and goals for the coming year. It is considered the best time to begin new businesses and to start new activities.
There are also four lesser holidays known as the two solstices and the two equinoxes;the four quarter days of the years and the more modern terms are 'Lesser Sabbats' or 'Low Holidays'.
There is so much more interesting information but in the interest of time I'll stop here, and pick up this topic at a later time. I hope I've touched high points of interest that have answered some of your questions and even further peaked your curiosity. I so enjoy telling of our history and the changes wrought through the ages, but it is the tried and true which must be told. Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin.
Yesterday was a total wash and I'm off to a bit of a late start this morning. Ah well, I'm not one of those who wails and gnashes her teeth when things don't go according to plan. The way I see it, if plan A fails the next step is to implement plan B and if that crumbles then heck, you just gotta wing it. Life is too short to spend a moment of it stressing over what should have been, might have been, or isn't going to happen.
Our author is out of pocket for a few days (internal family matters) and yep, we have those too. So we wing it and make the best of what we have. We've received a lot e-mail regarding the Witch's calendar and the meaning of our holidays so that is our topic of the day.
All of our holidays and festivals are of Celtic origins; most particularly from Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. So it isn't unusual that Celtic blood runs in the veins of true Witches. Down through the ages the names of those holidays, festivals, and rites have taken on more modern names and spellings but 'tis the Old Ways the majority of us hold true.
An example: One of our most notable and majical events is Samhain, also known as All Hallows; Hallow E'en; and Halloween, the eve of All Hallow's Day which is November 1st. Traditionally celebrated, beginning at sundown on October 31st, Samhain means 'summer's end'. The earlier Celts held to a two fold division of the year where summer extended from Beltane to Samhain and winter, from Samhain to Beltane. In later years the calendar was extended to a four fold division and Samhain is known as 'autumn's end' and the beginning of winter.
The various pronunciations are as follows: 'Sowin' in Ireland; 'Soween' in Wales; 'Saven' in Scotland; and the United States, 'Samhain'. The importance lies in that it is the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Samhain is considered by Witches as one of four Greater Sabbats and, as it is the most important of those, it is often referred to as 'The Great Sabbat'.
Another, pronounced Beltane in the United States, is the celebration of May 1st and is known as 'Galan Mae' in Wales;' Beltaine' in Ireland; 'Shenn do Boaldyn' in the Isle of Mann; and 'Bealtunn' in Scotland. This is one our our most important religious festivals, for it is symbolic of the coming of spring; the time of year when all things renew themselves.
Imbolc, or Candlemass, is celebrated on February 1st (Groundhog's Day) symbolizing six more weeks of winter which is the halfway point of the year. The Celts called it 'Brigit's Day' and the Irish called it 'Brid's Day', for a powerful Goddess who became Saint Brigit. La Feill Bhride, Brigit' s feast day, celebrates new life about to awaken in the earth thus the earth is furrowed and prepared for seed.
Another of our celebrations is Ostara; also known as Easter, Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox, which is the day when light and darkness are of equal length. This sacred holiday is when seeds are sown and also represent the planting of new ideas and goals for the coming year. It is considered the best time to begin new businesses and to start new activities.
There are also four lesser holidays known as the two solstices and the two equinoxes;the four quarter days of the years and the more modern terms are 'Lesser Sabbats' or 'Low Holidays'.
There is so much more interesting information but in the interest of time I'll stop here, and pick up this topic at a later time. I hope I've touched high points of interest that have answered some of your questions and even further peaked your curiosity. I so enjoy telling of our history and the changes wrought through the ages, but it is the tried and true which must be told. Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin.
posted by Dreamteller at
6:38 AM
<< Home