I was a teenager before I realized that Memorial Day was observed in memory of those who had died at war rather than a day to remember… Read more “Thoughts on Honoring the Dead”
Category: Festivals and Devotions
Proerosia, Chloeia, Antheia, Kalameia: Festivals of Growth
Modern pagans, whether or not we live where food is produced, do recognize the importance of agriculture and growth in sustaining our lives. Even when the process… Read more “Proerosia, Chloeia, Antheia, Kalameia: Festivals of Growth”
Praying on Autopilot
Ideally we do all things mindfully and with full awareness. Less ideally but perhaps more frequently, we sometimes do things without that full awareness, particularly things that… Read more “Praying on Autopilot”
Festivals: Theogamia
(I meant to post this earlier, at least before Valentine’s Day, but due to technical difficulties you are getting it today!) Hera Teleia and Zeus Teleius were… Read more “Festivals: Theogamia”
Devotions and Festivals, Intimacy and Community
One of the disadvantages of a solitary religious practice, for me, is the tendency to focus on–well, solitary religious practices! In saying that, I don’t mean to… Read more “Devotions and Festivals, Intimacy and Community”
Festivals: A List of Greek Pagan Festivals and Holy Days
The following is an alphabetical list of Greek festivals and holy days. It is incomplete, and it is a work in progress. Most of the festivals on… Read more “Festivals: A List of Greek Pagan Festivals and Holy Days”
Festivals: Poseidea
Although only one festival of this name is attested and that in the region of Marathon, it does seem likely, given the existence of a month called… Read more “Festivals: Poseidea”
Festivals: Boreaia (An Exercise in Modern Festival-building)
As far as I know, there was no ancient Greek festival that went by the name of Boreaia. If there were, it probably would not be thematically… Read more “Festivals: Boreaia (An Exercise in Modern Festival-building)”
Festivals: Maimakteria
The festival of Maimakteria is very obscure, but surely took place in the month of Maimakterion, and likely honored Zeus Maimaktes or “blustering Zeus” Given the name… Read more “Festivals: Maimakteria”
The Peplos of Athena
One of the traditions associated with ancient Athens’ greatest festival, the Panathenaia, was the presentation of a new peplos to Athena Polias on the Acropolis. This was… Read more “The Peplos of Athena”
