#pagan celebrations

[thefugitivesaint]

Carl Huth, 'Die Walpurgisnacht', ''Über Land und Meer'', Vol. 31, #29, 1874 Source

#carl huth #german artists #Über land und meer #die walpurgisnacht #walpurgisnacht #walpurgis night #pagan celebrations #vintage art #witches

[daphyswitchylibrary]

Ostara

Ostara, or the spring equinox, happens between the 20th and the 24th of March every year. It officially marks the beginning of spring, and so the warm weather coming! It represents rebirth and growth, but also balance.

Ostara is a good time to plan things for spring (like things you want to do this summer, or your garden. Some of us might even be able to start their garden at this time! It's still too cold here for me to do it), spring cleaning and, if possible, open windows for (probably) the first time this year! Also think of repotting your indoor plants so they can also start anew for this year!

Without really planning, you can also just write down your goals for this spring

Colors to wear, be it with makeup, clothes, or other accessories are pink, green, purple, yellow, white… mostly pastel colors!

Crystals to wear or to make spells with for Ostara are rose quartz, clear quartz, amethyst, bloodstone, carnelian, sunstone, agate and lapis lazuli Now for foods! Eat things with cheese, eggs, seeds, nuts, in-season vegetables and fruits, but most importantly: honey! I already shared it last year on my blog, but you definitely should try this easy honey cake recipe for Ostara!

And since I like Ostara a lot, I found this recipe for hot cross buns: turns out they taste amazing for breakfast or just a lil snack!

For activities, you can also light black and white candles for balance

You can dye or paint eggs in pastel colors!

You can eat chocolate rabbits and go take walks outside to see the change of seasons and how nature is coming back to life! You could also take a bath or keep yourself grounded by meditating outside (if it's not too cold!)

Of course, there's the usual divination you can do!

Blessed Ostara!

Sources: prickingofthumbs on Tumblr, witchoftheforest, wiccantips and witchytips on Instagram

#ostara #blessed ostara #sabbats #spring equinox #pagan celebrations #honey cake #honey #hot cross buns #witchy #kitchen witchcraft #green witchcraft #witchcraft #magick #spring magick #pagan sabbats #kitchen magick #witches #witches of tumblr #wheel of the year

[priestessdandelion]

My altar for Pagan Community Retreat in Hemet, CA.

Instagram: madisonvanderlinde

#pcr #pagan community retreat #pagan #paganism #pagan community #pagan celebrations #pagan gathering #California #witch #wicca #wiccan #witchcraft #witchblr #wiccablr #altar #camping

[lailoken]

The Astronomical Cross-Quarter Days & the Traditional Cross-Quarter Days

April 30th is a very special day for my tradition, as it is for many others. Though, I think I approach it a little differently than most.

In the Wending Way, the Cardinal Sabbath of Amplemas is celebrated upon the Astronomic Cross-Quarter midpoint between the Equinox and Solstice—which is May 5th, this year. When I discuss "astronomic" versus "traditional," I am referring to the long-held belief that the Cross-Quarter days hold power because they represent liminal midway points between the Solstices and Equinoxes; these celestially based windows of time change year to year and are what I refer to as "Astronomic." In the past, though, these seasonal points became more standardized and syncretized within the framework of the Gregorian calendar, resulting in the static dates that are generally regarded today; these are the dates I refer to as "traditional." Using our Sabbath of Amplemas as an example, it is related to the folk-celebrations of Beltane, May Day, and the like, and as such, the traditional date of celebration would seemingly be on May 1st. However, since we observe the Astronomic date of celebration, the actual date depends on the given year.

Even with the Wending Way celebrating the Celestial Sabbath days, though, the traditional Spirit Nights—which we generally call Maedoc's Feast (late night of January 31 & early morning of February 1,) Walpurgis (late night of April 30 & early morning of May 1,) Neot's Night (late night of July 31 & early morning of August 1,) and Hollantide (late night of October 31 & early morning of November 1)—are still enthusiastically observed.

In conclusion, I do believe there are eight times a year that represent astronomical periods of heightened energy and spirit activity, which fall strictly upon the equinoxes, solstices, and cross-quarter days between them. But that being said, there is a very real power to thousands of people coming together in worship and celebration—especially when it's been going on for so very long. That much veneration creates a lot of energy and spirit activity in its own right. What's more, there is a sacredness to the fact that these traditional dates have been passed down to me by my mother.

#spirit nights #pagan celebrations #pagan holidays #hollantide #walpurgis #neot's night #maedoc's feast #ysbrydnos #wending way #hexennacht #may day #amplemas #traditional withcraft #sabbatic witchcraft #folk magic

[stelladeaindomita]

Birthdays aren’t a Christian, Jewish or Muslim celebration but a Pagan tradition that has survived until even this day, despite the loss of knowledge.

Jews, didn’t have bar mitzvah until the 15th century, and batz mitzvahs just celebrated their 100th birthday. Christian’s also refused to celebrate for the longest time, not starting until the 4th century and for the longest time only celebrating Christs birthday, coincidentally this lines up with the falling away of saturnalia. Multiple Muslim scholars still speak out against birthday celebrations.

There is a wildly believed idea that on the days of major events spirits come and visit you, your birthday was no different there’s a different god/goddess for every day/month/season it’s believed that the spirit to come visit you was attached to your birth god/goddess. Candles lit would scare away evil spirits, and the smoke from the bringing up your prayers and wishes to the gods, goddess and ancestors.

Many pagans would use the day of someone’s birth to cast a horoscope, make decisions and decide if a marriage was a good match

Egyptians used birthdays to celebrate when a pharaoh became a god, Roman’s would go hard on a man’s 50th birthday, items like Birthday crowns were worn by nobels and kings, and might have meant you’d get a holiday or two.

Birthday cakes could come from one of two places, either Greek worship for Artemis or the German celebration for children. The birthday song is not that came to us in 1912, based of a song from 1893.

And this isn’t including Northern European or Slavic traditions which are harder to track down.

#birthdays #pagan celebrations #history

[vanilla-cigarillos]

Imbolc Info Post

Also known as Candlemas (so sweet!), Imbolc marks the halfway point of the winter season. It’s noted as a time for working with your home, as well as purging your mind of all the things that may have built up over the darker season. 

History

Imbolc dates back to the pre-Christian era in the British Isles. The earliest mentions of Imbolc in Irish literature were found in the 10th century. It’s theorized that this celebration is inspired by the breeding cycle of sheep and the beginning of lactation, with the holiday originally aligning with the first day of spring and the idea of rebirth.

Brigid was considered one of the most powerful Celtic gods, the daughter of the Dagda, the oldest god in the Celtic pantheon Tuatha du Danann. Legends about Brigid’s birth say she was born with a flame in her head and drank the milk of a mystical cow from the spirit world, hence the probable causes of her association with the Imbolc holiday. 

Celebrations

In the Northern Hemisphere, Imbolc is observed February 1 - 2. 

During the fire festival, Brigid, the Celtic goddess of motherhood and fertility, is honored. Traditionally, a Brigid’s Cross (a.k.a. sun wheel) is made by all who wish to honor the goddess and then burned to celebrate the continuity of life.

Common Imbolc Symbols - Colors: Blue, white, silver

Foods: Shortbread cookies, honey/syrups, warm milk drinks  

Herbs: Evergreen, pine, sage, holly

Objects: Candles, Brigid’s Cross

For those who practice the Wiccan religion, Imbolc is the second Sabbat of the Wheel of the Year. As such, the holiday is marked with rituals to celebrate the cycle of rebirth as the end of winter is approaching. Others who participate in Celtic beliefs mark the holiday with reenactments of Brigid’s birth.

Common traditions include feasts, bonfires, and making your own candles. 

#pagan #paganism #witch #wicca #witchcraft #pagan celebrations #wheel of the year #culture #history #irish #celtic #witchy

[thatpinkkwitch]

lughnasadh was such a wonderful and blessed day, i’m so grateful for my husband as well as our friends & family!! we had a wonderful time celebrating and it was overall a great day ☺️🩷

#lexi talks #personal blog #stoner witch #pagan witch #southern witch #witchcraft #lughnasadh #pagan holidays #pagan #queer pagans #lammas #pagan celebrations #paganism #paganblr #pagans of tumblr

[irma-oculta-da-lua]

Du mimosa, des oeufs et des pyromages 🐣

Le joli printemps est là 🌷 Joyeux Ostara 🌼 Que les projets que vous avez semés poussent, grandissent et vous épanouissent 💖

#me #ostara #pagan celebrations #ostarablessings #spring is here

[dionysianfreak]

Happy Rural Dionysia my friends ! this year, I've sewn a hand-made patch of Dionysos onto my battle jacket <3 I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season, regardless of what you celebrate 🪻🍇🍷

#dionysos #dionysus #dionysia #festivals #celebrations #rural dionysia #helpol #hellenic polytheism #polytheism #paganism #personal #devotional art #punk #battle jacket #diy punk #patches

[regina-mortis]

Ave Satanas, Lucifer!

#as the World celebrates an ursurped pagan holiday let's celebrate the one who brought the light to our eyes #satan #satanism #satanic #hail satan #altar #witch #aesthetic #baphomet #candles #easter sunday #black and white #photography #witch aesthetic #satanic aesthetic #demonic #demonic aesthetic #demon aesthetic #dark #dark aesthetic #i don't know i just had this idea #we celebrated the pagan side (well to me) eggs cognac and all but i didn't take pictures this year #i ever scraped 666 in greek on an egg 🤣

[daphyswitchylibrary]

Imbolc

Imbolc (also sometimes named "Candlemas") happens between the 1st and 2nd of February every year. It marks the midway point between Yule and Ostara, also known as the winter solstice and the spring equinox It celebrates winter coming to an end, to leave space for longer days ahead, and for new things to happen (since nature has been ''dead'' for the last few months, it is now time for it to "rebirth"!) What to do for Imbolc? Cleansing, planning new things and starting new projects is a great idea! Colors for Imbolc are: white, pale yellow, light green, brown, lavender, pink. Wear them, paint them on your nails, put some on your altar! Crystals for Imbolc are: amethyst, selenite, turquoise, ruby, garnet, bloodstone and onyx, peridot, clear quartz, moonstone. Take one with you if you can! Make plans for the upcoming spring! Be it planning your garden or activities/travels you want to do, make a bucket list, anything that has to do with planning something

Bake some bread, or make some soup! Leeks, onions and potatoes are really good during this time. You can even try this potato leek soup for this sabbat!

Have a cleansing bath/shower

Start a gratitude/mood journal! Try to keep it up for the whole year so when Yule comes around again, you can look back on it and reflect on your year. Collect snow for snow water! We won't have snow around for long now at this time of year so take advantage of it!

Start spring cleaning! Start sweeping out the old energies to welcome in the new ones

Divination! Although I always mention it in every post about sabbats, what is special about Imbolc is that some say it's a great sabbat to try new divination methods, or just not use the one you always use. For example, I mostly use tarot cards, but I have Witches Runes that I might prioritize for Imbolc.

Sources: thewitchoftheforest, witchytips and wiccantips on Instagram

#witch #witchy #pagan sabbats #pagan celebrations #sabbats #kitchen witch #kitchen magick #magick #imbolc #wheel of the year #divination #candlemas #witchcraft #kitchen witchcraft #witches of tumblr #witches #crystals #crystal witch

[princesmeadow]

Happy Theogamia Lord Zeus and Lady Hera!

#lyre harp #zeus deity #hera deity #helpol #hellenic pagan #hellenic polytheism #music #theogamia #celebration #festival #offering

[lailoken]

The Summer Queen is Born!

Upon the Spirit Night of Walpurgis, we fashion a Corn Dolly to serve as an effigy of the Summer Queen.

She is sung to, bestowed with a Whitethorn Staff, and smoked by the Balefire of Hexennacht, before she is throned in her place of honor in the home, upon the Hearth Mantle. There she will watch over us and usher in the blessings of the Sun-Warmed Seasons, until her sacrificial death on the Spirit Night of Hollantide, when the Crone of Winter takes the throne.

#walpurgis #hexennacht #beltane #may day #summer queen #corn dolly #traditional withcraft #pagan celebrations #pagan holidays #wending way

[hildegardladyofbones]

Tartu, what THE FUCK are you planning?

#For context #Tartu my beloved is the culture capital next year #They've been talking about it for two years now #Tartu #Estonia #Oh and Estonians historically have been quite pagan and we still celebrate many pagan traditions #Tartu 2024 #Paganism #Pagans

[ivycrownedpanther]

🍇💘 happy rural dionysia! 💘🍇

This is my altar for today! Theres a candle for Dionysus in the middle (back), bracelet I made for him on the left, fluorite hearts carving on the right, and a peen shaped cookie in the middle (front)

As for dionysia activities, today I’ve prayed to him and accidentally fell asleep, made sugar cookies (with vanilla frosting & sprinkles), read hymns, prayed again, and now I’m probably gonna play some video games and maybe later watch a movie :3

#I like that my celebration has been kinda more laidback #especially bc I have some mystery ailment that’s causing me much pain and discomfort #so I’ve been able to do most of these things from my bed lol #my devotion is serious but also I’m a silly lil guy and also I’m in pain #dionysus #dionysus devotee #rural dionysia #country dionysia #festivals #hellenic polytheism #hellenic polythiest #hellenic pagan #my altar #jay says stuff #forgot to mention I painted my nails last night in honor of him for dionysia early cuz I didn’t want to do too much today lol

[wyrmspade]

Joyous Solstice! 🌞🌿❄

#winter solstice #yuletide #artists on tumblr #clip studio paint #digital art #digital painting #pagan #irish reconstructionist #celtic reconstructionist #artwork #happy solstice friends!!!! the light returns #feeling very bunny lately. so some bunnies celebrating the season :) #rabbit #bunny