Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony - Rock God Tribute

And another one without the annoying music:

Russian Bath House Oracle

This Russian New Year's Eve women's divination ritual foretells the fortunes awaiting in the New Year. In the days before private bathrooms and indoor plumbing, the bathhouse was a place of social as well as hygienic significance. It is also often a place of great magical and spiritual significance. What is now only a "bathhouse" was once the home for spiritual, shamanic, and magic rites. Babies were born in the bathhouse, healings performed, men and women readied for marriage. Post Christianity, the bathhouse retained its power but also developed an aura of the forbidden.

In Russia, the bathhouse maintains a magical aura akin to a crossroads. The bathhouse is also the home of powerful spirits, ancient pagan deities now demoted to bathhouse guardians. Forgotten spirits tend to be grouchy spirits, although not always. This ritual takes place at midnight, ideally at midnight, the threshold of the New Year....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website Divination, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Russian Bath House Oracle

Unfinished Business

The New Year represents a new beginning in every way. Clearing up unfinished business, of whatever kind, is a good notion, and blowing away the cobwebs from the old year that has passed is no bad thing either. In parts of Scotland this was accomplished by the juniper and water rite.

After sunset on New Year's Eve, people went out to gather branches of juniper and buckets of fresh water from a well or stream. The branches were then placed by the fire to dry out. In the morning the head of the household...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in it's entirety here: New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve

From The Silver Bough we have this nice little New Year's Eve folk tradition:

The house received a mini spring-cleaning. Slops and ashes, which are usually removed in the morning, are carried out. Debts must be paid, borrowed articles returned, stockings darned, tears mended, clocks wound up, musical instruments tuned...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: New Year's Eve

First Footing

New Year's Eve is traditionally a time for assessing the past twelve months and for looking ahead to the New Year. Numerous customs are still retained in Europe and the United States, including the idea of kindling a new light from the old. This can be achieved in a number of ways, including the following simple ceremony.

At a few minutes to midnight, put out all of your lights except for a single candle or a lantern (it's important that the light be a living one rather than electric). Send someone outside (traditionally it is someone who has dark hair) with the light, which they must guard and protect from the weather. As the clock strikes twelve have that person knock on the door....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: First Footing

Bringing In The Boar

The sixth day of Christmas is the day of "Bringing in the Boar." Two traditions honor the importance of the boar at Solstice tide. In Scandinavia, Frey, the god of sunshine, rode across the sky on his golden-bristled boar. Gulli-burstin, who was seen as a solar image, his spikes representing the rays of the sun. 

In the ancient Norse tradition, the intention was to gain favor from Frey in the new year. The boar's head with an apple in his mouth was carried into the banquet hall on a gold or silver dish to the sounds of trumpets and the songs of minstrels....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Bringing In The Boar

Feast Of Fools

The Feast of Fools, a day when the normal order of things was ceremonially reversed, has been neglected for a long while - unfortunately, as it could well serve in our own times as a safe way of letting off steam. Essentially, it allowed people who were restricted from even the most casual of pleasure by the Church, to act in an abandoned way. It was also a time of festivity that was both part of, and sometimes even superseded, Christmas.

So, why not celebrate the Feast of Fools by ...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Feast of Fools

Dyzymas Day

Today (December 28) is Dyzymas Day, also known as Holy Innocent's Day, or Childremass. This day has always, in one way or another been associated with children. In more recent times the connection is specifically with the children slaughtered at the orders of Herod, who feared the prophecy of the Magi that a new King of the Jews had been born in Judea.

Throughout the Middle Ages this day was considered particularly unlucky and it was believed that no task begun on December 28th would prosper. ...

In Northamptonshire it was known as Dyzymas Day and a local saying was: "What is begun on Dyzymas Day will never be finished."

A more barbaric practice that continued well into the eighteenth century was to beat children on this day....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar (hosted on shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Dyzymas Day

Mother Night

Mother Night is traditionally celebrated on the third day of the twelve days of Christmas. I couldn't find much lore, but I did find this nice little article in The Winter Solstice about Mother Christmas (Frau Holle, Holda, Hulda, Holla):

Honoring the Mothers

There are so many male figures associated with the Winter Solstice, we should give room to at least one female character, and who better than Mother Christmas? On this day, include a figure of Holda upon your Winter shrine....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Mother Night

St John's Wine

In the Christian calendar the third day of Christmas is given over to St. John, the beloved disciple. Throughout Germany and Austria, it is still customary to have the priest bless the wine on this day. The resulting "St John's wine" is considered very lucky and is believed to have healing properties. It is preserved throughout the year, and even ordinary bottles placed next to it are said to taste better!

Here's the traditional blessing:

Priest: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray. If it please you, Lord God, bless + and consecrate + this vessel of wine (or any other beverage) by the power of ...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Book of Shadows (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: St John's Wine.

St Stephen's Day

St Stephen's Day draws together a number of solstice traditions. We have already learned of the ancient practice of hunting the wren, the King of all birds (see King Wren), and of displaying the tiny corpse around the villages throughout Britain and Ireland. The origins of this custom probably date back to the time when kings were slaughtered after a year in office - and in France up until the seventeenth century the first person to kill and display the body of the wren was chosen king for a day at the time of the Feast of Fools.

The association of the wren killing with St. Stephen's Day may well derive from a legend of the saint's visit to Scandinavia.

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: St Stephen's Day

King Wren

The wren, the wren, The king of all birds,

On St. Stephen's Day Is caught in the furze.

One of the most remarkable and dramatic Solstice customs involving animals is the Hunting of the Wren, which traditionally takes place on Boxing Day or St. Stephen's Day. The custom lasted longest in Wales and the Isle of Man and still takes place today in Ireland. A description from 1840 describes it thus:

For some weeks preceding Christmas, crowds of village boys may be seen peering into hedges, in search of the tiny wren...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Day of the Wren

A Christmas Blessing

You shall receive whatever

gift you may name,

as far as wind dries,

rain wets, sun revolves;

as far as sea encircles

and earth extends.

~Culhwch and Olwen

More Christmas blessing, stories, and songs can be found at my new website, Widdershins.

Figgy Pudding

Figgy pudding is a pudding resembling something like a white Christmas pudding containing figs. The pudding may be baked, steamed in the oven, boiled or fried. The history of figgy pudding dates back to 16th century England. Its possible ancestors include savory puddings such as crustades, fygeye or figge (a potage of mashed figs thickened with bread), creme boiled (a kind of stirred custard), and sippets. In any case, its methods and ingredients appear in diverse older recipes.

Today, the term figgy pudding is popularized mainly by the Christmas carol "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," which includes the line, "Now bring us some figgy pudding" in the chorus....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Figgy Pudding

The Twelve Days of Yule

The following is a variation on the famous song about the twelve Days of Christmas from Scotland.

Gather a few friends around the fire. Have one of them say or sing the first verse aloud. Then have everyone repeat it, the same with the next verse and so on. As the verses get longer, whoever makes a slip in repeating the lines pays a forfeit - any small object they may possess such as a candy or a nut.

(Note also the 13th day of Yule - a sure sign of an ancient origin.)

The Days of Yule

The King sent his lady on the first Yule day

A papingo-aye (exotic parrot).

Who learns my carol and carries it away?

...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: The Twelve Days of Yule

The Twelve Days of Christmas

From the earliest times the twelve days have been regarded as a time when supernatural events can easily happen, when the dead are close at hand and might often be seen.

One reads of the Wild Hunt, or the Fairy Host riding across the lands of Britain and Germany in particular, led by characters such as King Arthur, Woden, and Arawn, the Celtic god of the Underworld. In Ireland these supernatural hunters are known as the Yule Host, and in common with all these bands they are believed to gather up wandering souls and carry them away to the Otherworld.

The Twelve Days of Christmas stand outside of "ordinary time," and celebrations focus on the return of the sun and a continuation of the eternal cycle of life....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been expanded and moved to The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be viewed in its entirety here: The Twelve Days of Christmas

Mistletoe Lore

According to the Celtic mythology of trees, Mistletoe is the tree of the day after the Winter Solstice (Aprox. December 23).

• Latin name: Viscum Album
• Celtic name: It is said that Mistletoe is too sacred to have a written word.
• Latin name :Loranthaceae Phoradendron flavescens
• Folk or Common names: Mistletoe, Birdlime, All Heal, Golden Bough, 
• Parts Used: leaves, berries, twigs

Magical History and Associations: Mistletoe is one of the Druid's most sacred trees - as Ovid said, "Ad viscum Druidae cantare solebant. (The Druids are wont to sing to the Mistletoe.)." In Druidic lore Mistletoe is an herb of the Winter Solstice and is the special plant for the day after Yule. The Druids gathered their Mistletoe at Midsummer or at the 6th day of the moon....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: More Mistletoe Magick and Lore

Invocation to the Sun

O Sun, great Oriental, my proud mind's golden cap,

I love to wear you cocked askew, to play and burst

in song throughout our lives, and so rejoice our hearts....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, and can be found in its entirety here: Invocation To The Sun

Silver Fir Lore

According to Celtic tree mythology, the Silver Fir is the tree of the day of the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice. This usually takes place on December 20th or 21st, although it does sometimes occur on the 22nd or 23rd (check your calendar as it changes from year to year).

• Latin name: Abies alba.
• Celtic name: Ailim (pronounced: Ahl' em).
• Folk or Common names: Common Silver Fir, Balm of Gilead Fir, Balsam Fir, American Silver Fir.
• Parts Used: Needles, wood, sap.

Magical History and Associations: The Silver Fir is associated with the moon and with the planet of Jupiter. Its colors are piebald and light or pale blue....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Silver Fir Magick and Lore

Yew Lore

According to Celtic tree mythology, the Yew is the tree of the day before the Winter Solstice (Approx. December 21).

• Latin name: Taxus baccata.
• Celtic name: Idho (pronounced: Ih' huh).
• Folk or Common names: English Yew.
• Parts Used: Needles, wood, berries.

Magical History and Associations: The name "Yew" is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon word 'eow'. The word 'Taxus' is from the Greek word 'Taxon', meaning 'bow'. The 5000 year old "Ice Man", discovered in the Alps, had a bow and axe handle made of Yew....

...I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Yew Magick and Lore

Mistletoe Magick

Ruler: Apollo, Druids, Venus
Type: Herb
Magickal Form: Berries, Leaves, Wood
Use for: Fertility, protection, love, healing, luck, and invisibility

Mistletoe is another important plant that is used in many holiday traditions surrounding the winter solstice. Druids believed that anything found growing on an oak tree had been sent from heaven and mistletoe found on oaks was especially sacred.

Said to lose its power once it touches the ground, mistletoe is a holy herb and sacred to many deities. Mistletoe was perceived as being in a category all its own....

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Mistletoe

Yule Fire and Ice Reflection Ritual

Here is a fun way to gather the family in a simply beautiful Yule project and ritual. With supervision, most children can easily make this themselves; it makes a fun family project.

1. Gather your favorite evergreens. Choose a few cuttings each from such winter favorites as holly with berries, juniper with berries, cedar, spruce, or pine needles. If available, add a few tiny birch pinecones as well (these are one inch or less)....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Yule Fire and Ice Reflection Ritual

In Our Bones

We locked up our wisdom into our bones

And swallowed the keys

They sank in our rivers of blood

And we forgot the maps

Because we had to forget the mysteries

To keep them safe....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: In Our Bones

Meteor Shower

Found on facebook.

Spell to Speed Up Time

[Editor's Note: If you are having trouble finding the patience for Yule to come around, try the following spell designed to speed up your experience of time so that it goes faster for you.]

There are many spells to accelerate time for the caster. This spell is designed to make time fly, or at least feel like it is. Begin by outlining your altar with roses to form a circle. Next, light three candles and place them upon your alter....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Book of Shadows (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Spell to Speed Up Time

Lighting The Yule Log

Here are two different ways to celebrate with a Yule Log.

One practice consists of lighting and burning a Yule Log. If you choose to burn one, select a proper log of oak or pine. Carve (with your Bolline) or chalk upon it a figure of the Sun (a rayed disc) or the Horned God (a horned circle). Set it alight in the fireplace at dusk, on Yule....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Lighting The Yule Log

About The Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice or Yule is one of the Lesser Wiccan Sabbats, and it is also the shortest day of the year, and hence - the longest night. This usually takes place on December 20th or 21st, although it does sometimes occur on the 22nd or 23rd (check your calendar as it changes from year to year).

Other than the most common name of Yule, various other names for the Winter Solstice include Midwinter, Yuletide (the Teutonic version), Alban Arthan (Caledonii Tradition, or the Druids), Feill Fionnain (Pecti-Wita Tradition, which falls on December 22nd)...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found here: More About The Yule Sabbat

Decorating for Christmas

Yes you can have a family Yule celebration and still have a holiday tree, and hang stockings with care by the fire.

During the Roman festival of Saturnalia, celebrants often decorated their homes with clippings of shrubs, and hung metal ornaments outside on trees....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Decorating For Christmas and Yule

Holly for Luck

Although it is one of the most enduring symbols of Christmas, holly was the gift of good luck among the Romans celebrating their midwinter festivals. The northern tribes, who eventually brought about Rome's downfall draped holly over doorways as shelter for friendly woodland spirits who could bring good luck to their houses.

Sprigs of holly in the house at Christmastime will bring you good luck. But... be careful not to bring it indoors before Christmas Eve or your family will fall to squabbling....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients. It can be found here: Holly Magick and Lore

Yule Eggnog Bread

4 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 tbs. butter
1 6 oz. packet Sun Maid Sun Ripened Dried Fruit Bits...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Yule Eggnog Bread

Pine Bath

For a magical, cleansing, stimulating, and reinvigorating bath, place fresh pine needles in a muslin or cheesecloth bag. Allow your bathwater to run over the bag, creating an infusion. For extra punch, light some pine scented candles.

More cleansing recipes and ideas can be found at my new website, the Magickal Apothecary.

Cinnamon Cures and Remedies

Cinnamon is one of the all time great "go to" spices when it comes to old herbal remedies, however it is rarely used alone. Most often, cinnamon is used as an added ingredient to herbal teas or other preparations. Because of that, most of the entries here are recipes with many other ingredients. It is likely that the addition of cinnamon is often for flavor, however it does have a warming effect on the body and may add punch to the prescription.

Some of these remedies are benign and might actually work, for example: cinnamon tea for a cold and the lovely tea for indigestion. Others might be downright dangerous - check out the cures for Blindness and Syphilis. As always, if you decide to try one or more of the following remedies, please use common sense and educate yourself beforehand. Remember, these cures are old and were used in an era of ignorance and superstition....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Folk Medicine Remedies and Cures, and can be found in its entirety here: Cinnamon Cures and Remedies

Cinnamon as a Magickal Ingredient

• Ruler: Sun, Mercury, all Gods and Goddesses of victory
• Type: Spice
• Magickal Form: powder, sticks, oil

A favorite of many gods and goddesses, cinnamon powder is sprinkled on offerings to attract attention and win the favor of the gods. Add the oil or powder to any money or success blend to bring swift results. Before getting out of bed in the morning, rub a dab of pure essential...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Cinnamon Magick

Cinnamon Ornaments

• 1 part cinnamon
• 1 part applesauce
• splash of nutmeg, cloves or ginger

Mix ingredients until it is a firm dough. If too try and crumbly, add more applesauce. If too moist, add more cinnamon or nutmeg. Roll out on a cinnamon-dusted board, rolling 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick.If the dough is really sticky, you can roll it out between 2 sheets of plastic wrap....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Cool Beans, and can be found in its entirety here: Cinnamon Ornaments

Something To Think About

At a time when the commercial Christmas has a tendency to swamp the sacredness of the season, we ask and are being asked, "What do you want this year?" There are certainly things that we would quite like, things that we hope will be given to us, but these are not the same as our wants....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, and can be found in its entirety here: Something To Think About

Casting the Future

For this you need a little lead such as the sticks provided for use in soldering. Place a small piece of this in an old spoon and hold it over a hot flame until it melts. Then, thinking of the question you want answered, toss the molten lead into a metal bucket filled with water....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Divination, and can be found in its entirety here: Casting The Future

Safe Travel Spell

This spell is used to ensure that your travel will be safe and protected throughout the upcoming holiday season. First, cast your circle and place a map of the area you will be travelling upon your altar. On the map, trace the path you will be taking using a green pen.

When you have finished, retrace the route with a piece of white chalk. As you trace the route with chalk, visualize the white powder as ...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Safe Travel Spell

Midwinter Celebrations - A History

Here is a nice little article about the history of midwinter celebrations from Delaware Online:

Ancient Worship:

Long ago, people worshiped the sun as a god. His cycles were watched and measured with great care because it was thought the quality of life on Earth changed dramatically according to his whims.

As the season changed and winter fell, survival became much harder for ancient man. Many would not live through a cold winter, when food became scarce. As the days shortened, they feared the sun would disappear completely and leave them helpless in the dark....

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Midwinter Celebrations

Traditional Eggnog

Ingredients:

• 12 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 qt heavy cream
• 1 qt milk
• 1 qt bourbon whiskey 
• 1 cup rum
• nutmeg

Separate the eggs. Beat the egg whites together until stiff, then beat in a 1/2 cup of sugar. Beat the egg yolks until pale and light. Add the remaining cup of sugar and a 1/4 tsp of salt....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar. It can be found here: Eggnog For The Holidays

December Magicks and Rituals

December, the twelfth and final month of the current Gregorian calendar and the first month Winter, derives its name from decem, the Latin word meaning "ten," as December was the tenth month of the old Roman calendar.

This page serves as a jumping off point for December holy days, spells, magicks, lore, rituals, superstitions and  more.

General information on the month of December:

• December Magick
• December Moon Names

Astrology and Birth Signs for December:

(note: some of the dates will overlap with November and January)

• Sign of the Narcissus (Nov 22 to Dec 21)
• Sign of the Carnation (Dec 22 to Jan 21)
• Sun in Sagittarius  (Nov 23 to Dec 21)
• Sun in Capricorn (Dec 22 to Jan 19)

Celtic and Nordic Tree astrology and signs for December:

(note: some of the dates will overlap with November and January)

• Ash Tree (Nov 22 to Dec 01)
• Elder (Nov 25 - Dec 23)
• Hornbeam Tree (Dec 02 to Dec 11)
• Fig Tree (Dec 12 to Dec 21)
• Yew (day before the winter solstice)
• Fir (day of the winter solstice)
• Mistletoe (day after the winter solstice)
• Beech (Dec 22)
• Apple (Dec 23 to Jan 1)
• Birch (Dec 24 - Jan 21)

Holidays, Feast Days and Holy Days in December:

• 1: The festival of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Poseidon is also the god of rebirth.
• 4: Bona Dea
• 5: Faunalia
• 9;: The festival of Ops, the Roman goddess of harvest.
• 11: The Septimontium
• 11: Agonalia
• 13: New Moon (this date will vary from year to year)
• 13: The Sementivae, the second festival of Tellus, the Roman earth goddess.
• 15: The second festival of Consus, the Roman god of good council
• 17: Beginning of Saturnalia - festival of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture. The most popular Roman festival, for on this day the roles of master and slave were reverted.
• 18: Eponalia
• 20: Mother Night
• 21: Winter Solstice or Yule
• 21: Litha (Southern Hemisphere)
• 21: The Juvenalia
• 21: Divalia - Angeronalia, festival of Angerona, the Roman goddess of secrecy.
• 22: Sun enters Capricorn
• 22: Sign of the Beech Tree
• 23: The Larentalia (Larentinalia), festival of Acca Larentia the Roman goddess who gave the early Romans their land.
• 25: Christmas Day
• 25: The birthday of Mithra, the Persian god of light and wisdom.
• 25: Festival of the Invincible Sun God
• 25: Feast of Frau Holle, Germanic goddess
• 26: Boxing Day
• 26: St Stephen's Day
• 27: Mother Night
• 27: Blessing of the Wine
• 28:  Full moon - Big Winter Moon
• 28: Dyzymas Day
• 29: Feast of Fools
• 30: Bringing In The Boar
• 31: New Years Eve
• 31: St Sylvester's Day
• 31: Festival of Hogmanay

Spells and Magicks for December:

• Chasing Trolls
• Christmas Ornament Protection Spell
• Divination Pudding
• First Footing
• Grapes at Midnight
• Holly For Luck
• New Year's Eve
• Rebirth
• Romany New Year's Eve Love Divination
• Russian Bath House Oracle
• Unfinished Business

The Stories and Lore of December:

• Giving The Gift
• Hogmanay Trollolay
• Holly Tree Lore
• King Wren
• Lucky Devil
• Saturnalia Practices and Rituals
• Song of the Holly Fairy
• Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony
• St Sylvester's Day Lore
• The Story of Frau Holle
• The Septimontium

Yule and the Winter Solstice:

• About The Winter Solstice
• A Christmas Blessing
• A Christmas Salutation
• A Pagan Christmas Tree
• A Wassail Ceremony
• A Winter Solstice Story for Children
• Celebrating the Winter Solstice
• Christmas Spell for Clairvoyance
• Christmas Spell
• Decorating For Christmas
• Greeting Cards
• Herbs and Plants of Yule
• Hymn to the Sun
• Invoking the Holly King
• Midwinter Celebrations - A History
• Raven Power for the Winter Solstice
• Ritual for Yule
• Solstice Story
• Some Correspondences for Yule
• Something To Think About
• Spell for the Christmas Lunar Eclipse
• The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun
• The Yule Log
• The Yule Story
• Twas the Night Before Yule
• Twelfth Night Wassail Celebration
• Ves Heill - Be Healthy
• Winter Solstice
• Winter Solstice Song For Yule
• Yule - A Celebration of Light and Warmth
• Yule Fire and Ice Reflection Ritual
• Yule Holiday Svaijko
• Yuletide Greetings
• Yule Traditions and Symbols

The Twelve Days of Christmas

• When Do The Twelve Days of Christmas Really Begin?
• The Twelve Days of Christmas
• The Twelve Days of Yule

Recipes for food, incense, potpourri, and more:

• A Wassail Ceremony
• Anise Cookies for Yule
• Figgy Pudding
• Incense for Yule
• Swedish Yule Bread
• Traditional Eggnog
• Wassail Recipe for Yule
• Wassail for Kids
• Winter Solstice Potpourri
• Yule Eggnog Bread
• Yule Log
• Yuletide Incense
• Yuletide Potpourri
• Yule Oil

For anything newly posted on this subject and not on this list see: December Spells and Rituals

Anise Cookies For Yule

1 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon anise seed ...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Anise Cookies for Yule

Snow Queen Water

Gather handfuls of fresh clean snow from the first snowfall of the season, or break off the first icicle you see. Place it in a clean glass bowl and let it melt. Add holly leaves and let this water sit overnight...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Magickal Apothecary (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Snow Queen Water

Divination Tea

Drink this tea an hour before undertaking any form of divination. If you wish, you can continue sipping it throughout the divination process.

• 3 tsp rose petals
• 1 tsp jasmine flowers
• 2 crushed bay leaves
• 1 pinch of nutmeg...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: Divination Tea

Magical Working Tea

Have a glass of this tea an hour before undertaking ritual or any magical work. It helps in the preparation of both mind and body.

• 2 tsp rosemary leaves
• 1 tsp lavender flowers
• grated peel of one orange...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: Magickal Working Tea

Peace in a Moment

This is a easy spell for peace, it helps relax and calm your soul.

Items you will need

• White candle
• Needle
• Full moon

Casting Instructions

Take your needle and write peace in the side of the candle....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Peace In A Moment

Greeting Cards

The sending of cards is a fairly modern tradition, and used to be only for people that you would not be actually seeing. It was considered polite to give your greetings in person, whenever you could. However, today clever marketing from the manufacturers means that we tend to send cards to everyone, even when they live in the same house.

Whether you celebrate Yule, Christmas or another festival in December, you will probably be sending greeting cards. If you do this now then not only do you save a panic later, but also you will have the time to do a bit more than just scrawl your name...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Sending Cards at Christmas

Feast of Ullr

The Feast of Ullr was traditionally a hunting festival. Ullr, god of hunting, and the bow was honoured and a feast was shared by the tribe of the spoils of the hunt. I remember hearing somewhere about Skathi also being honoured on this day but I can’t recall where… Anyway, in addition to being the goddess of skiing, she also governs hunting and bows.

The tribe (or family) on this day would take a portion of the meat from the hunt and have a large and joyous feast before the winter sets in hard...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Feast of Ullr

Pagan Calendar of Days - 2013

Here is a quick and extensive listing of pagan, wiccan, roman, magical, and other holidays for November 2012 through December 2013. The dates of the new and full moons are also listed. As you can see there is a reason to celebrate just about any day of the year. Some of the more obscure holidays have short explanations. As we post about the various festival days and celebrations, links will be updated, so be sure to bookmark this post.

Note: some of the holidays are different depending on which side of the equator you are on. Also the dates of some festivals and feast days vary from year to year.

November 2012

• 1: Pomona's Day
• 1: Day of the Dead
• 2: Festival of Woden
• 3: Feast of the Einherjar
• 5: Bonfire Night
• 11: Veteran's Day
• 11: Martinmas
• 13: New Moon - Solar Eclipse
• 16: Night of Hekate
• 21: Sun enters Sagittarius
• 22: Thanksgiving day (United States)
• 25: Elder Tree Month begins - Celtic Calendar
• 25: Stir Up Sunday
• 27: Feast of Ullr
• 28: Full moon - Mourning Moon - Lunar Eclipse
• 30: St Andrew's Day
• 30: Festival of Hecate Trivia (The night of the crossroads.)

December 2012

• 1: The festival of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Poseidon is also the god of rebirth.
• 4: Bona Dea
• 5: Faunalia
• 9;: The festival of Ops, the Roman goddess of harvest.
• 11: The Septimontium
• 11: Agonalia
• 13: New Moon
• 13: The Sementivae, the second festival of Tellus, the Roman earth goddess.
• 15: The second festival of Consus, the Roman god of good council
• 17: Beginning of Saturnalia - festival of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture. The most popular Roman festival, for on this day the roles of master and slave were reverted.
• 18: Eponalia
• 20: Mother Night
• 21: Winter Solstice or Yule
• 21: Litha (Southern Hemisphere)
• 21: Divalia - Angeronalia, festival of Angerona, the Roman goddess of secrecy.
• 22: Sun enters Capricorn
• 23: The Larentalia (Larentinalia), festival of Acca Larentia the Roman goddess who gave the early Romans their land.
• 25: Christmas Day
• 25: The birthday of Mithra, the Persian god of light and wisdom.
• 25: Festival of the Invincible Sun God
• 25: Feast of Frau Holle, Germanic goddess
• 26: Boxing Day
• 28:  Full moon - Big Winter Moon
• 31: New Year's Eve
• 31: Festival of Hogmanay

January 2013

• 1: New Year's Day
• 1 - 3: Kalends of January
• 2: Advent of Isis
• 3: Festival of Pax the Roman goddess of peace.
• 3: Snow Day
• 4: Evergreen Day
• 5: Festival of Lares Compitales - Roman guardian deities of crossroads.
• 5: Twelfth Night
• 6: Epiphany
• 6: Festival of Kore
• 7: Feast of Sekhmet, the Egyptian New Year's Day.
• 7: Distaff Day
• 8: It's Midwives' Day
• 9: The Agonium, festival of Janus, the Roman god of gates and doors, beginnings and endings.
• 10: Plough Monday
• 11: New Moon
• 11 and 15: The Carmentalia, festival of Carmenta, the Roman goddess of childbirth
• 16: Festival of Concordia, the Roman goddess of harmonious relations
• 17: Good Luck Day, the festival of Felicitas, the Roman goddess of good luck
• 19: Blessing of the Waters
• 21: Sun enters Aquarius
• 24: Feriae Sementivae - blessing the seeds
• 24: Gold Rush Day
• 25: Up Helly Aa - Scottish Viking celebration
• 25: St Paul's Day 
• 26: Full moon - Wolf Moon
• 30 - Feb. 2: Roman celebration of Februalia
• 31: Disfest/Disablot
• 31: Hecate's Feast

February 2013

• 1: Festival of Brigit, the Celtic goddess of healing, fertility, and patroness of smiths.
• 2: Imbolc - the Celtic festival marking the period of lactation of the ewes.
• 2: Lammas or Lughnasadh (Southern Hemisphere)
• 2: Candlemas
• 3: Setsubun, celebration - Japan
• 4: Disting - The Charming of the Plow
• 4: King Frost Day
• 5: St Agatha's Day
• 5 thru 17: Fornacalia - The Day of the Ovens
• 6: The Aphrodesia, feast day of the goddess Aphrodite
• 7: Day of Selene
• 8: Festival for the Broken Needles
• 10: New Moon
• 10: Chinese New Year (Year of the Snake begins) dates vary from year to year
• 12: Festival of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt
• 13-21: The Parentalis - festival to honor the spirits of the ancestors.
• 14: Valentine's Day
• 15: Lupercalia - the festival of Lupercus, the Roman god of flocks and fertility.
• 17: Festival of Quirinus, god of war, storms and thunder.
• 21: Feralia - an ancient Roman Day of the Dead
• 21: Sun enters Pisces
• 22: Caristia - Roman holiday of family reunions
• 23: Festival of Terminus, the Roman god of boundaries and border markers.
• 24: Flight of the King - Regifugium
• 25: Full moon -- Quickening Moon
• 28: The epic poem, Kalevala, is celebrated by the Finns with parades and readings from the poem.

March 2013

• 1: Matronalia, the Festival of Women 
• 1: New Year's Day in the old Roman calendar.
• 1: Saint David's Day
• 1: Mother March
• 2: Holy Wells Day, the day of Ceadda, the Celtic goddess of healing springs and holy wells.
• 4: The Anestheria - Greek festival of flowers
• 4: Feast of Rhiannon (Welsh)
• 8: Pancake Day
• 8: Birthday of Mother Earth (Chinese)
• 10: Mothering Sunday - 4th Sunday in Lent
• 10: The Daedala
• 11: New Moon
• 11: Hercules' Day (Greek)
• 11: Russian Butter Festival (date varies year to year)
• 12: Marduk's Feast Day
• 13: Purification Feast (Balinese)
• 14: Feriae Marti - Festival of Mars
• 14: The Diasia to ward off poverty - Greece.
• 15  Ides of March (Roman)
• 16: Whale Festival 
• 16 - 17 : Bacchanalia - The festival of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine
• 17: Liberalia, the festival of Liber and Libera, a Roman fertility god and goddess
• 17: St Patrick's Day
• 17: Damballah's Day
• 19: Ides of March
• 19: Festival of Anna Perenna, the Roman goddess of the circle of the year.
• 19: Day of Aganyu (Santeria)
• 19 - 23: The Mivervalia and Quinquatria, main festivals of Minerva, the Roman goddess of war, wisdom arts and trades.
• 20: Ostara - the  Vernal Equinox
• 20: Festival of Isis
• 20: Mabon (Southern Hemisphere)
• 21: Tea and Tephi Day (Irish)
• 21: Festival of Salii
• 21: Sun enters Aries
• 22: Hilaria
• 23: Summer Finding (Norse)
• 23: The Tubilustrium (also celebrated May 23)
• 26: Plowing Day (Slavic)
• 27: Full moon Crow Moon
• 27: Ascent Of The Christ Of The Gypsies - Holy Wednesday
• 28:  Birthday of Kwan Yin
• 29: The Delphinia, or Artemis Soteira, of Artemis in Greece
• 29: Good Friday
• 29: Expulsion of the Demons of Bad Luck
• 29: Festival of Ishtar 
• 30: The Festival of Salus, the Roman goddess of public safety and welfare.
• 30: Day of Bau (Babylonian)
• 31: Easter Sunday
• 31: Festival of Luna, the Roman goddess of the moon.

April 2013

• 1: Dyngus Day - Easter Monday (date varies)
• 1: Egg Rolling Day (England) - Easter Monday (date varies)
• 1: April Fool's Day / Loki's Day
• 1: The Veneralia, the festival of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty.
• 3: Passover begins at sundown (date varies)
• 4: Ching Ming - Tomb Sweeping Day (China) - sometimes falls on April 5
• 4 - 10: Megalesia - Celebrates the accuracy of the Sibylline oracles
• 5: Lady Luck Day, the festival Fortuna, the goddess of good fortune
• 6: National Tartan Day
• 8: Hana-Matsuri - Japanese Flower Festival to honor the Buddha's birthday.
• 8: Geranium Day - England
• 9: A-ma Festival - Portugal and China
• 10: New Moon
• 12: Chhau Festival - India
• 12 - 19: Ludi Cereales
• 13: Songkran - Thailand
• 15: Fordicia, the festival of Tellus, the Roman earth goddess
• 16: The feast day of St. Bernadette.
• 19: Festival of Ceres, a Roman corn goddess.
• 20: Furukawa Matsuri - Japan
• 21: Palilia (Parilia), the festival of Pales, the Roman goddess of sheperds and flocks. This is also the legendary founding date of Rome.
• 21: Sun enters Taurus
• 22: Festival of Ishtar
• 22: Earth Day
• 23: St George's Day
• 24: Peppercorn Ceremony - Bermuda (date varies year to year)
• 25: Full moon -- Wind Moon - Lunar Eclipse (partial)
• 25: The Robigalia, the festival of Robigus, a Roman corn god.
• 28 - May 1 The Floralia, the festival of Flora, Roman goddess of fruitfulness and flowers.
• 29: Tako-Age - Japan - Kite Flying Day
• 30: May Day Eve - Walpurgisnacht
• 30: Beltane

May 2013

• 1: Beltane - Mayday
• 1: Festival of Belenus, the Celtic god of fire and the sun.
• 1: Samhain (Southern Hemisphere)
• 1: Bona Dea
• 5: Humane Day - United States - 1st Sunday in May
• 5: Cinco de Mayo
• 6: Durdevan - Feast of St. George
• 8: The festival of Mens, the Roman goddess of mind and consciousness.
• 8: The Furry Dance 
• 9: New Moon
• 9, 11, 13: Roman festival - Feast of the Lemures  - in honor of the Lemures, the spirits of dead family members who wander the earth on these three spring nights.
• 10: Solar Eclipse
• 12: Mother's Day
• 13: Hawthorn Moon begins - 6th month of the Celtic Calendar
• 13: Festival of Cats
• 15: Festival of Mercury, the Roman god of merchants and travellers.
• 20: Sun enters Gemini
• 23: The Tubilustrium
• 24: The Thargalia
• 25: Full moon -- Hare's Moon - Lunar Eclipse
• 25: Festival of the Holy Marys - Gypsy festival and pilgrimage
• 27: Frigga Blot
• 30: Memorial Day - Einherjar Day
• 31: Flores de Mayo

June 2013

• 1: The festival of Carna, the Roman goddess of bodily organs.
• 2: Festival of Juno
• 3: The festival of Bellona the Roman goddess of war.
• 3: Pharmakos
• 4: The Rosalia
• 8: New Moon
• 9: Festival of Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth.
• 10: Oak Moon begins - 7th month of the Celtic calendar
• 11: Festival of Mater Matuta, old Italian goddess of the dawn.
• 12: Zeus' Day
• 14: Birthday of the Muse
• 14: Vidar's Day
• 16: Night of a Teardrop
• 16: Father's Day
• 17: Ludi Piscatari
• 21: Summer Solstice - Litha
• 21: Yule (Southern Hemisphere)
• 21: Sun enters Cancer
• 23:  Full moon - Honey Moon
• 23: Day of Bad Omens
• 23: Rousalii
• 24: The festival of Fata, the Roman goddesses of fate and chance.
• 24: Saint John's Day - Feast of the Dews
• 24: Sânziene - A Romanian Midsummer Festival 
• 29: Feoh - First day of the Rune Cycle

July 2013

• 2: Feast of Expectant Mothers
• 3 thru Aug 11: Dog Days of Summer
• 3: Festival of Cerridwen
• 4: Independence Day
• 5: Poplifugia
• 7: Festival of the Handmaidens - Nonae Caprotinae ("the nones of the wild fig")
• 7: Tanabata
• 7: Rumilia Festival
• 8: New Moon
• 8: Holly Moon begins - 8th month of the Celtic Calendar
• 9: Day of Unn the Wise Person
• 10: Day of Hel
• 10: Festival of Knut the Reaper
• 10: Lady Godiva Day
• 11: Naadam Festival
• 13: O-Bon Festival - welcoming the spirits of the dead
• 14: Uruz - The second rune cycle begins
• 15: St. Swithin's Day
• 15: Day of Rauni
• 16: Feast of Our Lady of Carmel
• 17: Festival of Amaterasu - Shinto Sun Goddess
• 17: The Maidens Fair on Hen Mountain
• 18: Day of Bad Omens
• 19: Feast of Kuan Yin
• 19: Lucaria
• 20: Moon Day
• 21: Sun enters Leo
• 22: Full moon - Buck Moon
• 22: Feast of Mary Magdalene
• 23: Neptunalia - the festival of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.
• 23: Sign of the Sunflower Begins
• 23: Saint Anne's Eve
• 25: Furinalia
• 27 - 31: The Five Epagomenal Days
• 27: Birthday of Osiris
• 28: Birthday of Horus
• 29: Birthday of Set
• 30: Birthday of Isis
• 31: Birthday of Nephthys

August 2013

• 1: Lammas or Lughnasadh
• 1: Festival of Lugh, the Celtic hero god.
• 1: Imbolc (Southern Hemisphere)
• 4: Festival of the Tooth
• 5: Hazel Moon begins - 9th moon of the Celtic Calendar
• 6: New Moon
• 6: Festival of Thoth
• 7: Blessing of the Sea
• 9: Festival of Sol Indigis, the Roman sun god.
• 12: Blessing of the Boats
• 13: The Vertumnalia, the festival of Vertumnus, the Roman god of seasons, gardens and orchards.
• 13: Day of Hecate
• 15: Festival of Torches - Nemoralia
• 15: Herbal Holy Day
• 17: The Portunalia, the festival of Portunes, the Roman god of gates, doors and harbours.
• 19: The Vinalia Rustica
• 20: Full Moon -- Corn Moon
• 21: Festival of Consus, the Roman god of good council.
• 21: Sun enters Virgo
• 22: Sign of the Morning Glory begins
• 23: Freyfaxi
• 23: The Volcanalia, the festival of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
• 25: The Opiconsivia, the harvest festival of Ops, the Roman goddess of harvest.
• 27: Volturnalia

September 2013

• 2: The Sign of the Vine begins - 10th moon of the Celtic Calendar
• 5: New Moon
• 5: Labor Day
• 9: Double Ninth Day
• 9: Chrysanthemum Day
• 13: Friday the 13th
• 19: Full Moon --Harvest Moon
• 19: Chinese Moon Festival -The Festival of Chang O, on the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox, the Chinese people pay homage to the moon goddess Chang O. Some Chinese celebrate this day as the moon's birthday.
• 19: The Fast of Thoth, this day-long fast honors the Egyptian god of wisdom and magic.
• 21: International Day of Peace
• 21: The feast of the Divine Life, this ancient Egyptian feast honored the great goddess in her three-fold aspect as mother (creator), daughter (renewer), and dark mother (the absolute).
• 21: Sun enters Libra
• 23: Fall Equinox or Mabon
• 23: Michaelmas
• 23: Ostara (Southern Hemisphere)

October 2013

• 1: Festival of Fides, the Roman goddess of good faith, honesty and oaths.
• 3: The festival of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry, also known as Bacchus to the Romans.
• 4: New Moon
• 4: Feast of Ceres
• 6: Day of Bad Omens
• 9: The festival of Felicitas, the Roman goddess of good luck and joy.
• 11: Winter Nights - Sacred to Freya
• 11: The Meditrinalia, the festival of Meditrina, the Roman goddess of healing.
• 12: The festival of Fortuna Redux, the Roman goddess of successful journeys and safe returns from those journeys.
• 13: The festival of Fontus, the Roman god of springs.
• 18: Full moon -- Blood Moon - Lunar Eclipse
• 19: The Armilustrium, the second festival of Mars, the Roman god of war. On this day, military arms were ritually purified and put in storage for winter.
• 21: Sun enters Scorpio
• 31: Halloween
• Oct 31 - Nov 1 Samhain, the Celtic festival marking the beginning of the winter and the Celtic New Year. Also the rebirth of Caileach Beara, the Celtic goddess who turned to stone on May 1 (Beltane).

November 2013

• 1: Samhain
• 1: Beltane (Southern Hemisphere)
• 1: Day of the Dead
• 1: Pomona's Day
• 2: Festival of Woden
• 3: New Moon - Solar Eclipse
• 5: Bonfire Night
• 11: Veteran's Day - Hero's Day
• 11: Lunantishees Day - Celtic Faery Day
• 11: Martinmas
• 13: Epulum Jovis
• 15: Feronia Festival
• 16: Night of Hekate
• 17: Full moon -- Mourning Moon
• 21: Sun enters Sagittarius
• 24: Brumalia
• 24: The feast of Baba Yaga. On the full moon of November, the supreme crone goddess of old Russia is honored with a feast day. Once honored as an important old goddess, she is now often portrayed as a wicked old witch.
• 24: Stir Up Sunday
• 27: Feast of Ullr
• 28: Thanksgiving day (United States)
• 30: Festival of Hecate Trivia (The night of the crossroads.)

December 2013

• 1: The festival of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Poseidon is also the god of rebirth.
• 2: New Moon
• 4: Bona Dea, a Roman fertility goddess
• 5: Faunalia
• 9;: The festival of Ops, the Roman goddess of harvest.
• 11: Agonalia
• 13: Friday the 13th
• 13: The Sementivae, the second festival of Tellus, the Roman earth goddess.
• 15: The second festival of Consus, the Roman god of good council.
• 17: Full moon - Long Nights Moon
• 17: Beginning of Saturnalia - festival of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture. The most popular Roman festival, for on this day the roles of master and slave were reverted.
• 18: Eponalia
• 20: Mother Night
• 21: Winter Solstice.
• 21: Divalia - Angeronalia, festival of Angerona, the Roman goddess of secrecy.
• 22: Winter Solstice or Yule
• 22: Litha (Southern Hemisphere)
• 22: Sun enters Capricorn
• 23: The Larentalia (Larentinalia), festival of Acca Larentia the Roman goddess who gave the early Romans their land.
• 25: Christmas Day
• 25: The birthday of Mithra, the Persian god of light and wisdom.
• 25: Festival of the Invincible Sun God
• 25: Feast of Frau Halle, Germanic goddess
• 26: Boxing Day
• 31: New Year's Eve
• 31: Festival of Hogmanay