Branch Two -
High Day Holidays
There is no evidence that the Druids celebrated all of
the Holidays listed below, the only ones that can be confirmed
are the Fire Festivals, but I am listing the others because
they are part of my Druid calendar and you may want to encorporate
them into yours.
Fire Festivals
Many of the Druids schedule the
Fire Festival celebrations on the first day of the month
in which they are given. Others used the actual "crossing
day" between the solstice and the equinox you will
have to choose which one suits you best.
Samhain
November 1, This is the time when the suns power wanes and
the strength of the gods of darkness, winter, and the underworld
grows great. The activities of the year have come to fruition
in the harvest and the warmth of summer has ended. The days
grow shorter and the nights stretch longer. The earth falls
into a winter sleep and reawakens in the spring when life
renews itself. As Beltane marks the beginning of summer,
Samhain records its end.
Imbolc
February 1, Imbolc is the Fire Festival sacred to women
and especially to Brigit. It is the point in the cycle of
seasons when new life is beginning, a time when the first
stirrings can be felt in the natural world. Traditionally,
this festival was celebrated when the first sign of milk
was observed in the ewes, and the newborn lambs, were ready
to suckle. It was a floating holiday, fixed not on the calendar,
but on signs observed in nature, that represented the agricultural
awakening of the Earth.
Beltane
May 1, Beltane is the start of the light half of the year.
Nowadays, it usually starts at dusk on April 30 and continues
through May 1. Traditionally it was celebrated when the
hawthorn trees began to bloom in late April or early May.
Judging from the multitude of stories about events, invasions,
appearance of "monsters," that have occured on Beltane,
this is one of the most important festivals of the year.
The main feast in Ireland would be held at Uisnech, on the
plain of Meath, near Tara.
Lughnasadh,
August 1, This Fire Festival marks the end of summer and
the beginning of fall. Traditionally up to a month long,
held between July 15 and August 15, Lughnasadh was the time
of many gatherings for the Celtic tribes. For the Irish,
this was the feast to commemorate the funeral games, games
held in honor of Tailtiu, the foster mother of the Celtic
sun god Lugh, the many-skilled god of the Tuatha De Danann,
who had taken Lugh in when he was young.
Quarter Days
Winter Solstice December 21, the first of the quarter days
is the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice represents the
rebirth of the sun, a particularly important turning point.
The night of Winter Solstice is the longes night of the
year. Darkness triumphs, and yet it gives way and changes
into light. The breath of nature is suspended: everything
waits while within the cauldron of rebirth, the dark king
is transformed into the infant lightl. With the coming of
dawn, the Earth Mother gives birth to the divine child sun,
who is bringer of hope and the promise of summer.
Spring
Equinox, March 21, at this time of the year,
many cultures acknowledge the lengthening of the day and
the greening of the Earth, and call attention to hares,
eggs, and special flwoers. Eostre, or Ostara, is the Anglo-Saxon
Goddess of spring whose name was used for that of the spring
festival we call Easter. The feast of Eostre was originally
celebrated at the Spring Equinox. The Goddess' sacred month
was the third lunar month, called the Moon of Eostre by
the Saxons, which corresponds to the period from mid-February
to mid-March; another modern name for it is the Month of
the Greening of the Earth. The animal associated with Eostre
in Old English literature was the hare, which has come down
to us in folklore as the Easter Bunny.
Summer
Solstice June 21, summer is the time when we
are outdoors the most and become more in tune with the natural
world around us: we work in gardens, camp at festivals,
and swim in lakes and rivers. The Summer Solstice is the
midpoint of summer, when the sun is above the horizon for
the longest period, has its northernmost rising and setting,
and its highest elevation at noon.
Fall
Equinox September 21, the fall equinox is a time
of transition, and though festive, it is connected with
the relationship between the Sun and the Earth. Most of
the customs passed down to us from the ancient Celts concern
harvest pracitices. During this season we thank the Shining
Ones and the Spirits of Nature and ask their blessings on
that which has been set aside for future nouurishment.
Information on the High Day Holidays taken
from "The Solitary Druid" by Robert Lee Ellison
Working with the
Sun & Moon
In addition to the above High
Days, Druids also had full sun & moon celebrations,
as well as a number of things that needed to be done at
certain times during full sun or full moon. Below I have
listed some of the celebrations and a few of the tasks that
can be done during the solar and lunar cycles. Some of what
is listed can be found in "The Modern Day Druidess"
by Cassandra Eason
Working with the
Sun
Sulis, Brigit, Grainne and Aine are Sun Goddesses within
the modern Celtic tradition, and ceremonies to the Celtic
Aine and Graine survived until well into the twentieth century
in Ireland, where they were conducted as folk rituals at
the height of summer.
Belenus, Lugh, Mog Ruith, and Nuada are Sun Gods within the the modern Celtic
tradition and ceremonies to Lugh and Belenus have survived,
and are celebrated as Beltane and Lughnasadh.
Capturing the Sun's energy
There is a way to capture the sun's energy for use in
healing or during overcast days, as well as during the winter
months when the sun is rarely seen. This is most magickal
on the morning of the Longest Day, Summer Solstice-June
21, during a partial solar eclipse or, a total eclipse of
the sun. However, you can make Sun water on any day when
the Sun is shining from dawn until noon.
If you are in a gloomy weather climate or live where
the Sun shines only briefly during the winter, you can add
extra-clear quartz crystals plus citrine to your water to
boost the solar energies.
-
Fill a glass bowl with spring water, rainwater is best
but if you have the opportunith to gather water from a
clear running spring by all means gather some and use
it for your Sun water.
- Add three clear crystal quartz stones and surround the
bowl with sunshine flowers.
- Leave the water from dawn until noon, the sun should be
directly overhead.
- Bottle the water in tiny clear, bottles with stoppers,
you can keep some in the fridge to drink.
- Add a few drops of you Sun water to baths, splash it on
your brow and hairline for stress, sip it for energy. You
can also energize plants and animals with a few drops, or
use it as sacred water in ritual.
The Seasons of the Sun
Each day as the Sun wheel turns we can work at these solar
highs and lows to restore our connection with nature and absorb
the strengths we need. This restoration does not need to be
made into a formal ritual, it can be done in simple ways,
like lighting a candle to welcome dusk,
When you have a free weekend try living by the three markers:
dawn, noon and dusk to experience the different energies that
the sun emits. At these times take a moment to light a candle,
or stand under the sun soaking up the energy, or watch how
the vegetation will "wake up" as dawn approaches.
Working with the Moon
The moon is the equal counterpart of the Sun and is just
as significant. Since it is thought that Druids considered
a day to from dusk to dusk. Unlike the sun however, the moon
waxes and wanes and full and in between. At some point the
moon became associated with the Goddess, and with womanhood,
and the sun became associated with the God.
The moon is modernly known as having three aspects which
are associated with womanhood, maiden, mother and crone, which
are also further associated with the triple Goddess commonly
called the Morrigan.
Full moon nights commonly called Esbats are when Druids gather
in the grove and conduct rituals for magickal purposes. Of
course magickal rituals can be done on the waxing and waning
moons as well, for things like banishing something unwanted
or starting something new.
The Seasons of the Moon
The Waxing Moon is a time of growth; this the time to start
new projects, or begin a regimen. You may feel a gentle increase
in energy and enthusiasm, the more the moon increases in size
the more powerful its energies.
The Full Moon is a time of powerful magick, there are thirteen
full moons in a year, one each month and one month with two
full moons. The month with the thirteenth moon varies from
year to year but can be easily spotted by consulting a moon
phase calendar.
The waning moon is the time for banishing bad habits, or
unwanted energies. It is as time of slowing down and putting
off the confrontations and difficult decisions. This is the
time to return all the bad, sad things of the month back to
the Earth and cosmos, by burying seeds, casting feathers into
the wind, or stones or flowers into water.
Below is a table listing the moons of each month, its polarity,
and nicknames.
*Gibbous Moon - More than half
but not entirely iluminated.
|
Month
|
Moon
Name
|
Polarity
|
Nicknames
|
| January |
Birch Moon / Wolf
|
Feminine |
Moon of Inception
Moon of Beginning
|
| February |
Rowan Moon
/ Chaste
|
Masculine |
Moon of Vision
Spirit Moon
|
| March |
Ash Moon
/ Seed |
Feminine |
Moon of Waters |
| April |
Alder Moon
/ Hare |
Masculine |
Moon of Utility
Moon of Self-Guidance
|
| May |
Willow Moon
/ Dyad |
Feminine |
The Witche's
Moon
Moon of Balance
|
| June |
Hawthorn
Moon / Mead
|
Feminine |
Moon of Restraint
Summer Moon
|
| July |
Oak Moon
/ Wort |
Masculine |
Moon of Strength
Bear Moon
|
| August |
Holly Moon
/ Barley
|
Feminine |
Moon of Encirclement
Moon of Polarity
|
| September |
Hazel Moon
/ Wine |
Feminine |
Moon of the
Wise
Crone Moon
|
| October |
Vine Moon
/ Blood
|
Androgynous |
Moon of Celebration
|
| November |
Ivy Moon
/ Snow |
Masculine |
Moon of Buoyancy
Moon of Resilience
|
| December |
Reed Moon
/ Oak |
Feminine |
Moon of the
Home
Winter Moon
|
|
13th Moon |
Elder Moon / Ice
|
Masculine |
Moon of Completeness
|
Esbat Ritual
