Many people, when asked to think about pagan traditions and practices, may think of Druids gathered at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice or Morris dancers. Others may assume that all pagan rites are to do with fertility. To some extent both would be right.
The word "pagan" means "rustic" or "of the country" and in its broadest sense can cover a wide variety of faiths and beliefs. In the UK paganism is often used as a blanket term for "the old ways": Druidism, Celtic, Wicca, and Ogham to name a few. Whilst many of these beliefs have their own pantheon of deities and myths, the underlying theme is harmony with nature; listening to the changes of the seasons and being guided by Nature's signposts.
The fertility rites and practices are a celebration of the circle of life; not just our own but the annual cycle of life, death and rebirth in Nature.
The Celtic year is divided into eight festivals each celebrating a different part of the annual cycle. Fires or candles are lit to symbolise the warmth and live-giving force of the sun.
Imbolc
2nd February (coincides with St Brigid's Day and Candlemas). This is traditionally the first day of spring and falls midway between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. It is a time when Nature begins to awaken after her winter hibernation; ewes are lactating; crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops poke through the barren grounds left by winter; and birds prepare their nests.
Brigid was the Triple Goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft. She is also the patron saint of midwives and is known, in Scotland and Ireland, as the "foster mother of Jesus". She goes by many names: Brighid, Bride, Fraid, Brigantia. Some believe Brigid was the inspiration for the personification of Britannia, the Roman name from Great Britain. It is this image of Brigid / Britannia that features on the back of the fifty pence coin.
Ostara (Vernal or Spring Equinox)
20th - 23rd March (Northern Hemisphere), 20th - 23rd September (Southern Hemisphere). The equinox celebrations are held when day and night are of equal length. This festival has links with Easter (although Easter does not always fall near the equinox).
Ostara is the goddess of spring and the tradition of the Easter bunny is believed to have originated from here. In order to please the goddess a rabbit laid sacred eggs in her honor, painted them and presented them to her. She was so pleased with the offering that she wished everyone to share in her joy.
Egg rolling is still a popular tradition at this time of year.
Beltaine
1st May (coincides with May Day). The festival of Beltaine (sometimes known as the fire festival) is another celebration of fertility and marks the first day of summer and the beginning of the light half of the year. It falls midway between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice.
Need-fires were lit and were believed to purify all who walked between them or leaped over them. It was a time when hearths were cleared out in every home, re-laid and then lit from the need-fire. Young couples would spend the night in the greenwood in the belief that they would be blessed with fertility.
The May pole is also a pagan fertility symbol; the tall phallic pole represents the male and the soft feminine ribbons entwining it represent the female.
Midsummer / Litha (Summer Solstice)
20th - 23rd June (Northern hemisphere), 20th - 23rd December (Southern hemisphere). The Summer Solstice is sometimes referred to as Midsummer; it marks the longest day or more accurately the shortest night (pagan celebrations are traditionally held between sunset and sunset). This is the zenith of the year; when the world is at its peak. Meadows are lush and green; trees ring out with birdsong; flowers are in full bloom and the world is aglow with color.
Lughnasadh (Lammas)
1st August. Midway between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox Lughnasadh marks the beginning of autumn. The hedgerows are full of fruit preparing to ripen; fields are full of crops. After a summer of growth the harvest season beckons.
Mabon (Autumnal Equinox)
20th - 23rd September (Northern hemisphere), 20th - 23rd March (Southern hemisphere). By the time night and day are of equal length again the signs of autumn should be widely visible. Crops and fruits are harvested; leaves begin to change to yellow, auburn and fiery red and all around Nature prepares for her annual sleep.
Samhain
1st November (coincides with Halloween and All Saint's Day). At the mid point between Mabon and Yule this is the first day of winter and the start of the dark half of the year. All life begins in darkness: the child in the womb, seeds in the ground and this is the Celtic New Year.
Marking summer's end this was often celebrated as the festival of darkness and death, hence the links with modern-day Halloween.
Yule (Winter Solstice)
20th - 23rd December (Northern hemisphere), 20th - 23rd June (Southern hemisphere). The word "yule" is often associated with Christmas.
Mistletoe is seen as a powerful fertility symbol as it grows all year round even at a time when everything else is dead.
Although now known as Christmas trees, the traditional of bringing a fir tree into your home at this time of year is pagan. The decorations on the tree symbolize buds of new growth and it is meant as a reminder to Nature to wake up; for the world to be reborn in the spring.
Father Christmas (Santa Clause, Saint Nicholas) has been wearing his characteristic red suit ever since Coca Cola used him in an advert in the 1930s. Before that time he was traditionally thought of wearing green and has associations with the Green Man.
