We would like to introduce to you our regular columist for 'World Walking' - Kirean!

The Pagan Activist

I am a solitaire witch of native descent as well as Irish and French. In 1996 I was introduced to the pagan community and found more of what I needed to grow and learn about all the Pagan paths. I follow my Metis guardian spirit and have made many friends. I find myself having more time to pursue all my spirituality as well as my talents. I am a writer as well as artist, musician, photographer and the list goes on from there.

You may jump articles or just scroll down

2008:

May

April

March

February

January

2007:

December / November / October / September / August / July / June / May / April / March / February / January

2006:

December / November / October / September

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By: Kirean

 

Beltane approaches again and I welcome the fires as it has been a damp and cold winter. Everywhere I see new life springing or sprouting with each sunny day. Hope and rebirth will live on in the years to come.

 

Bale Fires that burn all around the world. Some with the tradition of bringing the new fire into their homes from the sacred flame or taking it from their homes to light the bonfire outside.

 

In Edinburgh with the Beltane Fire Society, over twelve thousand people attend. “ The Beltane Fire Society celebrate each of the four seasons but especially Beltane which is marked with a fire-and-costume spectacular evoking the mystic rites of ancient Britons. ” I can’t wait to see this on my list of places to travel.

 

From Ancient Ireland rules were passed that the Bale fire cannot be lit until the King had his lit. “ Beltain was sacred to the god Belinus, whose cult formerly spread throughout Europe. Beltain was thus one of the most ancient and widespread of all Celtic Calendar festivals. A great Celtic king, Cunobelinus, had reigned over the Catuvellauni in much of southern Britain just before the arrival of the Romans armies in 43 A.D. It is believed that the mythological king in the story of Lludd and Llefelys in the medieval Welsh tales known as the Mabinogion is a folk memory of Belinus. ”

 

Dancing around the Maypole at this time is familiar everywhere. You can see a wonderful setup of a maypole and the proceedings afterward here.

 

In other parts of the world creating your own woodland or some garden space and gathering flowers (or using origami) to decorate your living space. I have lots of ivy that is creeping around the window whenever it stays on the temporary hooks I have used.

 

I had mentioned last year the Festival of Wesak. Here in Sri Lanka you can find out a bit more and maybe make your own lantern.

 

Of the many parts of Wesak here you will find this short paragraph: The 'Bathing the Buddha' ceremony is often part of Wesak celebrations. Water is poured over the shoulders of the Buddha and serves as a reminder to purify the mind from evil. Donations, giving food to the needy, offerings of incense, joss sticks releasing of pigeons, ordination of monks and the offering of flowers normally takes place in temples. Chanting and praying are an important part of the Wesak celebration.   At night, processions of floats parade the streets, with devotees carrying candles.

 

As the warmth fingers its way I bid you farewell with my ribbon flying in the wind!

 

*Kirean waves to the greenery around her

 

Bibliography:

 

http://www.worldeventsguide.com/event/337/Edinburgh-United-Kingdom/Beltane-Fire-Festival.html

http://www.widdershins.org/vol3iss1/b9704.htm

http://www.catanna.com/paganholidays.htm

http://www.britannia.com/celtic/celtictraditions.html

http://www.airforce.lk/news/wesak06.htm

http://lakdiva.com/island/i980517/leisure.htm

 

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April 2008 - By Kirean

 

Hooray! It’s Spring! Can you see and hear all the birds singing as they come back from the South? Of course I am saying this as the Canadian I am.

 

We are all preparing for Beltane. May Day coming up next month, but here in April we have festivals from different countries.

 

On April 4^th we see the Chinese and the people of Taiwan visiting the family graves to ask for blessings from their ancestors during the Ch’ing Ming Festival. Here’s a quote from the Chinese Historical Society of California: “Planting willow slips cha liu near the doorway of one's house, or at the back of the house, near the water's edge, or on the roadside is also customary on Ch'ing Ming. It is said that sprigs planted on this day will take root with great facility, so Ch'ing Ming is also known as a tree planting festival zhi shu jie.”

 

April 7^th I see from India, Mauritius and Nepal a holiday marking the beginning of another year. Ugadi has its own rituals which you can find here.

 

During Sechselauten in Switzerland you will hear bells ringing six times. Sechselauten means ‘six o’clock chimes’. It is a representation of winter being burned to welcome in spring. A wonderful parade is held on April 14^th this year.

 

Earth Day! April 22^nd all over the world to bring a healthier cleaner world for all of us to live in. I found in my travels that the original Earth Day is not on April 22^nd, but during the Spring Equinox in March. You can see that here. I will still celebrate on April 22^nd.

 

Another helping the planet is Arbor day on April 25^th in the United States. It is their effort to conserve and rebuild the forests with new trees. Every year this country has major forest fires wiping out whole forests which in turn takes homes away from the animals.

 

So, during this month is looking after the planet who looks after us. We can hear and see all the birds rejoining us here in Canada and all that snow melting away!

 

Kirean *wrapping arms around her favorite oak tree*

 

 

Bibliography:

http://www.chssc.org/Festival/ChingMing/Ch'ing%20Ming.htm

http://www.virtualbangalore.com/EveFst/ugadi/index.html

http://www.virtualbangalore.com/EveFst/ugadi/index.html#rituals

http://travelguide.all-about-switzerland.info/zurich-sechselauten-guilds-spring-festival.html

http://ww2.earthday.net/~earthday/

http://www.earthsite.org/

http://www.earthsite.org/origin.htm

http://www.arborday.org/

 

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As Spring approaches at various times during this month so do the different festivals honoring and celebrating this colorful time of year. I see many new things as well as the many new plants and flowers that sprout out of the ground.

 

March 2^nd hosts in the Baha’i calendar begining a 19-day fast for their coming new year. Ala as it is called means Loftiness. Quoting from this site: “The first 19 days of March are a special time for Baha'is, members of a worldwide religion with a liberal reputation based on its vision of the underlying unity of all faiths, the oneness of humanity and the harmony of science and religion.”

 

Also on this day, in tribute to our esteemed owner/editor, you will find in England that it’s Mothering Sunday. This day is celebrated by the children bringing flowers and chocolates to their mothers. Over the years it has changed drastically as you can read about it here.

 

As March 20^th approaches you will find in Japan that it is Ohigon. Korea as well celebrates this Spring Equinox with the Buddhists meditating on the harmony in the universe.

 

Eostre or Ostara where fires are lit at sunrise, bells are rung and decorating of hard-boiled eggs are done. This fertility festival celebrates the birth of Spring and awakening Mother Earth.

 

Family as a whole on this day in Shinto where ancestors are revered at home altars and still considered active. Gravesites are swept clean and purified on this day of Shunki-Sorei-Sai.

 

From Aboriginal roots of the Maori in New Zealand you will celebrate Poutuerangi. This is the Fall season and Autumn Equinox in the Maori calendar where they harvest their crops. Great feasting and celebration goes on at this time of year.

 

Naw Ruz is the culmination of Ala in the Baha’i faith and their New Year celebrations begin. In the Zoroastrian calendar during this New Year celebration they acknowledge the creation of fire on March 21^st when Zarathustra received his revelation.

 

Also on March 21^st you will find in the Sikh culture a relative of Prahlad, Holika his aunt took his place to be burned to death for his refusal to worship his father as God. Holi a colorful festival which celebrates Spring with powdered and liquid colors, lighting of bonfires and blowing horns for the destruction of Holika. Right after this festival is another where mock battles are fought and great displays of martial arts are performed in honor of Guru Gobind Singh. Hola Mohalla, a festival lasting 3 days. “Together the words "Hola Mohalla" stands for "mock fight". During this festivals, procession are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one gurdwara to another.”

 

In Greece on March 25^th both their national Independence Day and Annunciation is celebrated with speeches, folk dancing and traditional clothing is worn all on what they believed to be the spring equinox. Evangelismou is a hut monastery on Skiathos that was founded in 1794 by Nifonas and Evangelismou an 18^th century monastery on Skopelos.

 

In Aboriginal Spirituality you will find the month of March is Xsaak. In British Columbia, the Nisga tribe thrives with the harvesting and smoking of oolichan (picture site, might be slow to load).

 

As Spring blossoms and peeks and flourishs I bid you nîmihito (dance in Michif)

*Kirean spins around the bonfire

 

Bibliography:

 

http://paganismwicca.suite101.com/article.cfm/a_pagan_celebration_of_spring

http://bahai-library.com/newspapers/chafe.html

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/easter/mothers.htm

http://www.urbanmozaik.com/2001.march_htmls/mar01_cal_religious.html

http://cort_bol.tripod.com/HolyDays.html

http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=735

http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/nawruz.html

http://www.iranvision.com/nowruz.html

http://druidsutterance.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=287&Itemid=257

http://incredibleindia.org/Fairfestivalcontest/cultural_festivals_4.htm

http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Hola_Mohalla

http://www.acapus.com/article.php?lang=2&cat1ids=168&cat2ids=141&cat3ids=

 

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By: Kirean

 

A month of dreaming and making plans you will find February full of cleansing, cleaning, preparing, feasting and just plain celebrating the coming of Spring. Many cultures have different ways of doing this.

 

February, for North America predicts how long until Spring for Canada and the colder parts of the United States. February 2^nd is Ground Hog Day.

 

As the days roll on we can find celebrations and holidays looking forward to Spring and the Summer for producing bountiful crops for the next cold season. One such celebration is Imbolg. It, like Chinese New Year, is a time of cleansing and purification. Imbolg also falls on February 2^nd.

 

In Japan is a Bean Throwing Night where they throw the beans to protect themselves against the Demons by shouting ‘Devil out, Good Fortune in’. This day is called Setsubun-Sai and falls on February 3^rd marking the day as ‘Spring Begins’.

 

This is the month of the Chinese New Year. I celebrate this as well since it is the Year of the Rat or Mouse by traditional Chinese Zodiac. I am a Rat so this will be my lucky year! February 7^th of this year is the official day of Chinese New Year and February 4^th or 6^th, depending who you talk to, is the start of the festivities with a cleansing of the house and preparing the feast. The Chinese spend the rest of the month of eating, meeting relatives, watching fireworks and observing new year's rituals.. The Dragon dance is quite the tradition and show for many people who have never experienced it. You can find more about Dragons from China here. This year, however, China has been hit with the worst snowfall in years. I wish them the best to recover and make it home to their families for the celebrations.

 

The biggest event of the year for Korea is Solnal. For 15 days after Solnal, Korean New Year, Koreans eat a five-grain meal, fly kites, receive gifts of money from elders and pay off their debts.

 

In Tibet is a three-day celebration called Losar, also a New Year celebration, where they spend those days visiting, feasting and a lot of relaxation from the monastic discipline. This falls on February 8^th and you will find a lot of people are offering large quantities of incense to appease the local spirits, deities and protectors.

 

When you see the name Basant Panchami you might think of India in the northern region honoring Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, Wisdom and the Creative arts. The color yellow, or saffron is used everywhere representing Spring.

 

In China and Taiwan is the Lantern Festival that marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations on February 22nd. Quoting from this site: “Chinese started to celebrate the Lantern Festival from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 221 AD). Like most other Chinese festivals, there is also a story behind the Festival. It is also believed that the festival has Taoist origins.

This is a festival for people having fun. On the night of the festival, people go on streets with a variety of lanterns under the full moon, watching lions or dragon dancing, playing Chinese riddles and games, and lighting up firecrackers. There is really a lot of fun for the young and the old. The festival is not well celebrated in the US, though you may find celebrations in some Chinese communities, such as Hsi Lai Temple, Hacienda Heights, California.”

In Egypt, Abu Simbel Festival is a day to watch the shafts of light illuminate the statues of Ramses, Ra and Amon. Ramses II’s temple, built by him is a sight to behold at sunrise. This event happens twice a year, this day of February 22^nd and in October on the same day.

 

As with all the festivals and celebrations during the year I look forward to hopefully getting to them all and participating.

 

*Waving my lantern in the night*

- Kirean

 

 

Bibliography:

 

http://www.wiccaweb.org.uk/imbolg.html

http://www.celticholidays.ca/imbolc/index.html

http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/setsubun.htm

http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html

http://www.chinapage.com/dragon1.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2285.html

http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-snow30jan30

http://www.partyguideonline.com/occasions/holidays/asia/Solnal.html

http://www.buddhapia.com/tibet/newyear.html

http://www.haryana-online.com/basant_panchami.htm

http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa020998.htm

http://www.2camels.com/solstice-at-abu-simbel.php

 

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By Kirean

 

Many New Year`s celebrations happen during this month. We find a few countries where new beginnings and resolutions are made as a turning point for lives either steady ahead or broken by those crossroads of which path should I take. Many a decision can be heavily affected at this time of year or life just continues on the same path it has always taken.

 

In Greece we find St. Basil`s Day where the New Year`s Cake is a big part of the celebrations. I always did wonder where hiding gifts in cakes came from. You`ll find a good recipe and its history here.

 

The Japanese visit shrines during Gantan-Sai on January 1st. The colors are red and gold/yellow and the dress is very elaborate.

 

First Muharram of Islam is a particular New Year celebration lasting ten days. It commemorates the journey Muhammad and his followers travelled from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE and happens starting on January 10th.

 

Celebrations to do with the sun are Lohri from the Sikh culture and Makar Sankranti from the Hindu. Lohri, a bonfire celebration, marks the change from a decrease of the sun to an increase and Makar Sankranti folllows the sun`s transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn. January 13th and 14th respectively mark the days as they gradually lengthen during winter solstice. Sankranti means to change direction.

 

January 14th in Japan celebrates the national holiday of Seijin No Hi. This Coming-of-Age ceremony is for all twenty year olds becoming adults.

 

The New Year for Trees in Jewish culture happens on Tu B`Shevat day, January 22nd. They eat the seven fruits of the land which are : wheat, barley, figs, grapes, pomegranates, olives and dates. More trees are planted as well.

 

What would the month of January be for a Scotsman without Robert Burns night? The national poet of Scotland who was born in 1759 on January 25th is celebrated with a sit down `Burns Supper` regaled with speeches, poetry and song. Pubs worldwide raise a glass in his honor.

 

In China on January 30th it is their custom based on the traditional farewell ceremony for the Prince of the Oven, T`sao Wang. During this ceremony, Kitchen God Celebration, is the day where T`Sao Wang leaves for his annual trip to heaven to report on all the families`good behavior during the year.

 

The world is a big place to explore with old traditions carried on in every culture worldwide.

 

Waving to you from a plane in the sky…

- Kirean

 

 

Bibliography :

 

http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/Archives/OCT2004/Greek_Desserts.htm

http://www.funsocialstudies.learninghaven.com/edu/gantan_sai.html

http://www.indiaparenting.com/indianculture/festivals/fest009.shtml

http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa011203a.htm

http://festivals.iloveindia.com/lohri/

http://www.vmission.org/hinduism/festivals/sankranti/

http://tanutech.com/japan/seijin1.html

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday8.htm

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3264/jewish/Tu-BShevat.htm

http://www.rabbie-burns.com/

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/begin/robert_burns.htm

http://www.expired-convictions.com/2007/02/18/happy-lunar-new-year-chuc-mung-nam-moi-pigs-dont-sweat-even-during-those-thirty-minutes/

http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/festival/newyear/newyear.html

 

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By: Kirean

 

This month of Yule is a particularly moving month for me. I celebrate the lives of

many people come and gone. Recently the World Health Organization designated

a day to World Aids Day. Having lost a friend to that disease I am grateful to have

a day to commemorate him and remember all the good times him, myself and all

the friends in that circle had. So, December 1^st is that day and I will be performing

a ritual to honor him as much as I will honor him yet again during Winter Solstice.

 

On December 6^th there is St. Nicholas Day celebrated in Russia. Born in Turkey he

is deemed the protector of children. They would leave their shoes out in the hopes

of receiving treats which is practiced today by the Dutch, German and Eastern

European communities.

 

Have you ever seen any of the lantern or candle festivals this year? On December

13^th the Swedes celebrate Luciadagen which is also known as “Queen of Light” day.

A huge candlestick parade is held in her honor.

 

In Islam Muslims follow a pilgrimage to the Mecca on Day of Hajj, December 19^th.

Everyone of this culture performs this pilgrimage once in their life. Seventy countries

participate with approximately 4 million Muslims.

 

Also on December 19^th in Egypt is another rite of Hajj. Waqf El Arafat has the

procession of pilgrims moving in a circular, counterclockwise direction around the

Ka’bah (pillar).

 

When in Japan you will find that the sun is the center of importance. On December

21^st Tohji-Tasai day is marking the end of the Yin period of the Sun. In its declining

strength the growing power of the Yang is acknowledged.

 

Yule. Winter Solstice. Both of these are heralded in a two-day period from December

21^st to the 22^nd and can last up to 13 days as in the old days. Many festivities are

celebrated within many Pagan groups.

 

The harvest festival of Kwanzaa which means first fruit in Swahili is on December

26^th. African-American/Canadian in origin from 1966 in California to encourage

blacks to celebrate their heritage with families exchanging gifts and African-style

feasts. Until January first, seven-pronged candelholders are lit on each consecutive

night. Each candle stands for the seven principles: unity, self-determination, working

together, sharing, purpose, creativitiy and faith.

 

Also on December 26^th in Ireland there is a celebration called Wren Day. As the boys

gather coins and sing songs they go from house to house with a captured wren

dressed in wren costumes.

 

As we travel into Scotland on December 31^st you’ll find people banging pots at midnight

as bread is brought out along with salt and coal to their hosts wymbolic of hospitality,

life and warmth. Hogmanay, dereved from the French language and meaning “Lead to

the Mistletoe”. Many a fire ceremony is performed on this day too.

 

In Japan, Omisoka, their New Year celebration has as much preparation as the Chinese

by cleaning their homes and eating toshi-koshi noodles made out of buckwheat in the

hopes that they will live long lives as long as these noodles. According to their philosophy

at the Buddhist temples bells are rung 108 times. Buddhists believe that all human beings

have 108 desires which are removed by striking the bell that many times.

 

Here’s to family, friends, festivities and fun!

Kirean waves from under a costume

 

 

Bibliography:

 

http://www.geocities.com/athens/olympus/4642/yule.html

http://www.avert.org/worldaid.htm

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=618

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9389230/Saint-Nicholas-Day

http://www.billpetro.com/blog/2006/12/history-of-luciadagen.html

http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/hajj/

http://www.travelersdigest.com/egypt_tour_operators.htm

http://touregypt.net/magazine/mag08012001/magf3.htm

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=mini_home&mini_id= 1047&utm_source=google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=about+kwanza&utm _campaign=kwanzaa&keywords=about+kwanza&paidlink=1&ref_str=http%3A// www.smarter.com/---se--qq-About+Kwanza--pt-0--tt-.html

http://kwanzaa-resource.com/

http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/wren.html

http://www.hogmanay.net/

http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow12.htm

http://japan.chez-alice.fr/Culture/Japan/Omisoka.htm

http://www.lgfl.net/lgfl/leas/ealing/web/EGFL1/teaching_learning/subjects/REandSACRE/Festival_calendar/Dec/Omisoka.htm

 

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I hope everyone's Celtic New Year was celebrated grandly this year as mine certainly was. I had made new friends this past year here and it was good to do things with them that I usually do myself being the solitaire that I am.

 

November marks the time for Mexico to honor their ancestors with Dia De Los Muertos. Portugal follows much the same by bringing hearts and crowns made of flowers to the graves of their deceased on Dia De Finades. Both fall on November the second.

 

The Hindu New Year is November 7^th which lasts for 5 days. In the Sikh language ‘Diwali’ means ‘row of lights’. Quoted from this website: Diwali (Dipavali): Perhaps the most popular of all Hindu festivals, also known as the Festival of Lights, it is dedicated to the Goddess Kali in Bengal and to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, in the rest of India. As with several other festivals, Diwali is associated with one of the stories about the destruction of evil by Vishnu in one of his many manifestations. In Jainism, where the festival is also known as  Mahavira Nirvana, Diwali celebrates the attainment of Moksa by Lord Mahavira. A burning lamp symbolizes the "light of knowledge" that dispels the darkness of delusion and ignorance. (Hinduism/Jainism)¹

 

Jain, an ancient religion of India has its own Festival of Lights called Mahavira Nirvana. It celebrates the attainment of Moska by the Lord Mahavira. Moska is the freedom from the cycle of birth and death therefore women in India cannot attain Moska.

 

We have a world day called International World Kindness Day. Many random acts of kindness are bestowed upon unsuspecting people all over the world. Have you done your random act of kindness today?

 

In amongst the many days of this month you will find one for the children of Japan. This is one of two days I know they celebrate. It falls on November 5^th. Shichi-Go-San where the boys of the ages of 3 and 5 and the girls of the ages of 3 and 7 get all dressed up to visit the tutelary deity at a Shinto shrine. Candy is given out bearing the symbols of long life--the turtle and crane--and is red and white in color. This candy is called longevity candy or Chitose which means a thousand years..

 

For the Natives and Aboriginals of Canada, Louis Riel Day falls on November 16^th. He was the famous Metis leader who led the rebellion of 1885 and had lost to the Canadian Authorities because of his fear that more land would be taken away from his Metis tribe.

 

On the twenty-second of November this year is the United States Thanksgiving where thanks is given for good harvests.

 

The twenty-third in Japan celebrates their Labour Thanksgiving Day where they give thanks to one another for all their labour throughout the year. It is named kinro-kansha-no-hi.

 

All in all it will turn out to be a very good year for all!

 

Kirean waves in passing with her candle to light her way.

 

 

Bibliography:

 

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/history/

http://abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/chaplain/calendar/glossary.html

http://jainsamaj.org/festivals/diwali.htm

http://www.kindacts.net/world_kindness/celebrating_a_decade_of_kindness.shtml

http://www.worldkindness.org.sg/guidelines.htm

http://www.ginkoya.com/pages/shigosan.html

http://www.vox.gi/Features/1322.html

http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=1122

http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/

http://japanese.meetup.com/375/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3757918

 

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By: Kirean

 

It’s that time year again where the Wheel will be turning back to the start. A brand new year of living life to the fullest.

 

I finally attended my first gem show and boy was I blown over by all the energy all in one place! This month’s stone are any and all that are black, preferably obsidian and jet.

 

If you remember last year’s article I wrote all about the alphabet. This month of October in Korea celebrates Han-Gul Day. October 9^th commemorates the 29 phonetic symbols referred to by King Sejong as han-gul between 1443 and 1446. Before then they were using the complicated Chinese characters which made it hard to distiguish themselves from the Chinese.

 

From October 11^th to October 20^th is the Hindu festival of Navratri. For nine nights starting on the new moon the people dedicate these days to the Goddess Durga who went through nine incarnations. She has the power of good to destroy the demons that gather throughout the year. Dances have a prominent distinction during this festival. The most characteristic dances of Gujarat during Navratri are the Rasa and Garba dances which are performed at all levels of society by men and women.¹

 

Victory day on October 21^st celebrated by the Hindi is the day where Lord Rama killed the demon-king Favana and won his kingdom of Lanka. This celebration is reenacted with fireworks and crackers strategically placed within effigies and shot at with arrows until they explode. After that there are games, music and dance all over.

 

An Egyptian temple built by Ramses II that lights up twice a year. October 22^nd marks the Abu Simbel Festival where the crowds pack in this temple before sunrise to watch as the whole temple is illuminated bringing to life the statues of Ramses, Ra and Amon. This is on my actual list of travelling the world and I am definitely looking forward to it.

 

October 31^st marks the end of summer for some pagans. November 1^st for others. Samhain where we come in contact with the spirits of the summerlands and all spirits that follow us through life. The other names for this day are: Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), and Samhuinn. Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

 

Halloween tradition started originally with the Celtic people 2000 years ago where they would scare away the disembodied spirits and light their windows and their land. They would wear disguises so they wouldn’t be recognized and always carried a lantern. The Irish used a pumpkin in place of a lantern.

 

I will expand on the Celtic New Year/Hallowmas in next month’s article.

 

 

*Kirean waves from the doorway between the worlds while spending time with her guardian spirits…

 

Bibliography

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navaratri 

http://www.languagehat.com/archives/002123.php

http://leekangkoog.weblogger.com/2003/10/10

http://www.ahmedabadcity.com/tourism/html/navratri.html

http://festivals.iloveindia.com/dussehra/

http://www.diwalifestival.org/importance-of-dussehra.html

http://goafrica.about.com/od/egypttopattractions/ss/topsightsegypt_3.htm

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=22268

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/samhainlore.htm

http://www.ladyoftheearth.com/sabbats/sabbats.html  (rites & rituals)

 

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by Kirean

 

Ah Fall. The change of the leaves. The wonder of color, sights, sounds and smells

at this time of year is just as heady as spring. I know of one place I go at this time

of year just to see the change. If you have ever been to Quebec, Canada in the city

called Gatineau and wandered up to the hills you would be joining thousands of

people who go there to see the change of the leaves as they are most spectacular

there. I used to live in Ottawa which is right across the river from there and would

ride my bicycle up to the hills to paint and take pictures.

 

This month of September finds us with a major celebration: Autumn Equinox. The

equinox (which is derived from the Latin words aequus meaning equal and nox

meaning night) finds the Sun right on top of the Equator. On September 22nd you

will find it the second day of the year that has an equal amount of hours of daylight

and night. This brings us into Fall where the days are shorter and the nights are

longer preparing us for the coming colder months for which we are harvesting the

food we have grown over the summer to sustain us during that time of year I am

not too fond of.

 

Autumn Equinox, or Mabon, Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Cornucopia,

Feast of Avilon, Festival of Dionysus, Harvest Home, Harvest Tide, Night of the Hunter,

Witch's Thanksgiving, and the first day of autumn celebrates balance, harvesting,

hunting, and remembrance of the dead. In my tours around the globe I have found

that Asian culture as well as the Spanish celebrate the dead and give honor and

respect as is their due. Finding this out that all Pagan paths follow the same celebrations is a good way to know where I came from and where I am heading to.

 

I this this is a good time to say I've now been writing for The Pagan Activist for a year now. With it comes the honor of telling you about harvest time for other cultures. Yet another celebration to add to my personal September calendar. Other festivals, events and celebrations during this month are: : Aequinoctium Auctumnale (Greek/Roman), The Time of Mudjekeewis, Chichen Itza Festival (Mexico), Shubun no hi (Japan), Keiro no hi (Japan), Te Whaomahura (New Zealand), Succoth (Israel), Harvest Moon Festival (China/Hong Kong), Tet Trung Thu (Vietnam) and Chusok (Korea).

 

Celebrations at the end of September occur for the Greeks and Romans for the

agricultural deities and Corn Mothers (Greek) and Feast of Jupiter, Juno and

Minerva (Roman, September 13).

 

Mexico’s Chichen Itza hosts tours to explore thousand year old ruins including

the Kukulcan Pyramid during the Autumn Equinox for which it was built. A calendar

to mark the solstices and equinoxes, the Temple of Kukulcan was built to keep track

of time.

 

A quote from here about Shubun no hi: “Many Japanese visit their family tombs on

this day in the middle of the week of HIGAN to pay their respects to their ancestors.

People weed their family tombs and leave flowers, incense and ohagi (sweet rice balls

covered with soybean paste.) It is tradition that ancestors' spirits prefer round food!

Since ASIJ is next to TAMA BOCHI (Tama cemetary) one of the largest cemeteries in

the Tokyo area, we often experience heavy traffic on trains and highways on this day.”

 

Respect for the Aged, Keiro no hi, is also celebrated during September in Japan. Many

of the world’s oldest people live in Tokyo. The latest news in the paper recently was

the oldest in the world had died at the age of 114.

 

Hebrew ancestors give thanks for the harvest with a special ceremony called Succoth

during the Exodus of Egypt. Other names for it are: Festival of the Harvest, Sukkot,

Festival of the Booths, Feast of Tabernacle.

 

Three Asian countries celebrate Mooncake madness during the Autumn Equinox. These little cakes are very addictive and literally sell like ‘hotcakes’ during the Harvest Moon Festival. The countries offering these little cakes are China, Vietnam and Korea.

 

Tet Trung Thu, September 2nd is the full moon, which represents fullness and prosperity of life. The harvest in Vietnam, (August in the Lunar calendar) gives anxious parents time to spend with their children and do something special with them. During August parents spent much time working hard and away from the family.

 

A quoted bit of text from this website about the Korean holiday: “Perhaps the greatest Korean holiday is Ch'usok, or Harvest Moon Festival, which is held on the 15th day of the Eighth Moon according to the lunar calendar. That is usually in September or October and is marked by the rising of a full "Harvest Moon.”

 

All in all o