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Bread Folklore and Magic
When Lammas, or Lughnasadh, rolls around, many modern Pagans celebrate the harvest of the grain crops. This is nothing new – for our ancestors, the grain harvest was a cause for great celebration. A successful harvest meant families would be able to bake and store bread through the winter – and that could mean the difference between life and death for many. The word “Lammas” comes from the Old English phrase hlaf-maesse, which translates to “loaf mass.” Today, it’s not uncommon to find a celebration of bread at a Pagan festival during the Lammas season. There are a number of different ways that bread itself can be incorporated into a…
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The Aonach Tailteann Games
When Lammas, or Lughnasadh, rolls around at the beginning of August, it’s often a time for local festivals, country fairs, and harvest events. Believe it or not, this isn’t a new tradition at all. The Aonach Tailteann was a fair held by the High Kings of Ireland in County Meath, and some early historians believe it originated during prehistoric times. Also spelled Óenach Tailteann, this fair was a combination of the political assembly, marketplace, and games of skill and strength. Origins and History of the Aonach Tailteann According to the Irish Book of Invasions, the hero and god Lugh himself organized the first of these fairs, in his aspect as…
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Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535)
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim was born in Cologne, France, 1486, but beyond that, little is known about his early years. In 1499, he entered university at Cologne. Over the course of his education, he learned eight languages, and studied alchemy and hermetic philosophy. He took a position as secretary to Maximilian I, king of Germany and Rome, and spent a good deal of time socializing with scholars and nobles. According to scholar Charles Nauert, rumor has it that Agrippa formed or joined a secret society in Paris at this time. Agrippa the Educator & Feminist In 1509 Agrippa joined the teaching staff at the University of Dole, France, where…
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Ribbon Trees & Rag Bushes
This is an article that originally appeared on my About site, but with the migration to the super-cool new ThoughtCo vertical, some under-performing articles got done away with. However, I was traveling recently and saw a ribbon tree, and it made me want to share this once again. The history behind the use of ribbon trees is a long and complex one. It’s a practice found in a number of different cultures, so I thought it would be interesting to do a little digging and see how they compare in various places around the world. Although it’s difficult to tell, at least initially, where this practice may have originated, it…
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Country Fairs and Harvest Celebrations
Much like Beltane was a time of gathering and celebrating the spring, the late summer and early fall seasons have often been the times of year when people in rural areas got together with their neighbors to mark the early harvest. In parts of Europe, and particularly the British Isles, Lammas became the season for country fairs. This was partly because the herds were typically rounded up at the end of the summer, so if you had livestock to sell, a country fair was a great place to find buyers. You could bring your herds and flocks to town, pen them up for sale or trade, and enjoy some festivities…
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Sacred Springs and Holy Wells
At Litha, or Midsummer, the sun is entering the astrological house of Cancer, which is a water sign. In many traditions, this time of year is associated not just with fire, but with water as well — rivers, streams, springs, and so on. Image of the Well of Kildare by William Murphy / Flickr / Creative Commons (CC-BY-SA 2.0) In the British Isles, sacred springs and holy wells were considered more potent than usual at the summer solstice. In Bairnwell, Cambridge, a Midsummer festival has been held next to a sacred spring each year since at least the early thirteenth century. In many rural areas, local gods were often honored…
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Folklorist James Frazer and the Golden Bough
Sir James George Frazer is perhaps best known for his collection of folklore and mythology, The Golden Bough, published in 1890. The work details legends and myths from many different cultures throughout history. Frazer theorized that human belief systems had begun as primitive magic, which was then replaced by religious dogma, which has now been replaced by scientific knowledge. Frazer was one of the first anthropologists to analyze the link between myth and ritual ceremony, so his writing is a fascinating bridge between the past and the present. The Golden Bough is a study of legend and myth and how they are interpreted into ritual and celebration. Frazer’s interpretation of…
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Morris Men and Mummers’ Dances
Morris dancing was part of many social events in rural English towns. Although the dancing was for entertainment purposes, it was also quite theatrical, and dancers often worked for months preparing for a single event. Morris dancing is symbolic, and the dance tells a story, with each dancer playing the part of a specific character. Unlike traditional country dances, in which anyone could participate, a Morris dance was a spectator event. It was used to celebrate special occasions and holidays–events like Whitsun, Beltane, Michaelmas, or even a wake or funeral. Morris dancers in the past were part of an elite guild–membership as a dancer was by invitation only. Once a…
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Cleveland, OH: From Heretics to Hogwarts – Witchcraft in the Modern Era
From the Middle Ages to the present day, people have held misconceptions about witchcraft. Join me at the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick, and take a crash course in the history of modern witchcraft, and learn how the craft of the wise – and the way we perceive it – has changed over the centuries! I’ll have copies of my books, “Wicca Practical Magic” and “The Good Witch’s Daily Spell Book” to sign for you as well! Please note, seating is limited for this event, so you MUST reserve a space in advance. Your ticket will include admission to the museum’s exhibits: http://bucklandmuseum.org/product/from-heretics-to-hogwarts-witchcraft-in-the-modern-era-lecture/
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It’s the Matronalia, Be Nice to Your Mom
In ancient Rome, the holiday of Matronalia was celebrated each year at the beginning of March. This annual “festival of women” was held in honor of Juno Luciana, a goddess who watched over married women and those in childbirth. She was in charge of newborn infants, and a woman in labor might make offerings to her so that she would have a safe delivery of a healthy child. Gifts were exchanged, and everyone treated the ladies exceptionally well on this day–it was a bit like a women’s version of Saturnalia. The down side? Women were still expected to cook for their slaves, who got the day off. Later on, Matronalia…
