December Celebrations:
Decem was the tenth month on the old Roman calendar, the
month containing the care-free Saturnalia. The Franks
called it Heilagmanoth, or Holy Month, because of its large
number of sacred festivals. On the old Tibetan calendar
December 1 was the beginning of a new year.
The ancient Mayan goddess Ixchel is still honored in
southern Mexico with processions and rituals that bless
boats and fields. She was also known as Lady Unique
Circular Darkness, Lady Splotch of Blood, Lady of the
Night, and Lady All Embracer. Her worship at one time
extended through southern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula,
and as far as El Salvador.
In Sweden, the Sun goddess Lucina is still honored on St.
Lucy's Day. At daybreak a daughter of the house wears a
candle crown and serves the family with cakes. There are
processions and treats. Young girls often wear white
dresses, and many of the men dress as elves, who are known
as Lucy's helpers.
The very ancient god Saturn was honored at the Roman
Saturnalia, a seven day celebration. He was pictured with a
half-bare chest and a sickle or ears of corn in his hand. His
consort was the goddess Ops, deity of fertility. Gifts were
exchanged, and there was much wine and singing. It was a
time of temporary freedom for slaves, when they could
supposedly say what they wished to their owners. This
festival is the origin of all carnivals and revels that we still
observe today.
The Winter Solstice, a time when the Sun turns from its fall
into darkness back into gaining light, was and is celebrated
around the world. Around the world it is the time when
Virgin mothers give birth to sacred sons:
Rhiannon to Pryderi;
Isis to Horus;
Demeter to Persephone.
In Japan it was the time when the hiding Sun goddess
Amaterasu came out of her cave. The birth of Horus was
celebrated about December 23, shortly after the Winter
Solstice, the time of Osiris's final entombment. At this time
of the year, Isis and Nephthys were said to have circled the
shrine of Osiris seven times, symbolizing their mourning and
search for his scattered body parts. Set was driven away by
the shaking of Isis's sistrum.
In the ancient Middle East countries, celebration of the
Great Goddess Astarte goes back to Neolithic times. This
goddess was called Athtar by the Arabs, Attar-Samayin in
Aramaic, Ashtoreth by the Canaanites. She was known as the
morning star, the celestial ruler, mother of all the gods.
Mother Night, or Modresnach (Anglo-Saxon), was a
Germanic-Scandinavian festival. Many of its traditions still
live on in our present Christmas celebrations. The decorated
evergreen tree was a symbol of the Tree of Life, or World
Tree. The crackling Yule log was lit in honor of the
returning sun. The star atop the tree represented the pole
star of the Star Goddess. The dinners and gifts were in
honor of the food and prosperity given by the Mother
Goddesses to their human children. The elves connected with
our current Santa Claus are remnants of the supernatural
Nature fold of the Old Religion. The reindeer are symbols
of old shamanic abilities used by the people. The mistletoe is
said to have first been picked and used to collect kisses by
the goddess Frigg, before it became a weapon to kill her
son.
In the Slavonic cultures, the festival of Koleda began at
Winter Solstice and lasted for ten days. In Russia, this
festival was called Kutuja, which was later applied to
Christmas Eve. Although the Slavonic name comes from the
god Kolyada, it was in honor of the goddess Lada, the
goddess of love, Spring, youth, and fertility. She was said to
be reborn each year at this time. Each family burned a Yule
log and invited their personal household gods to join in the
festivities. Groups of children went from house to house
singing; as a reward, they were given little gifts. One of the
big events was the use of prophecy for the coming year.
In Scotland, December 31 is still called Hogmanay; it is the
Scottish New Year. Traditional foods served at this time
are: bannocks, oarsmen, shortbread, black buns, and
ankersocks (a type of gingerbread). A long time ago it was
customary for the men to dress in animal skins, often
wearing horns or antlers. At midnight people opened all the
doors and windows in their homes to let out the old and let
in the new.
In Wales, some people still believe that the Cwn Annwn, or
the Underworld hounds, run through the air at midnight New
Year's Eve, looking for victims to carry back to their master.
Pots and pans are banged to drive these supernatural animals
away.
In the Incan civilization, the great feast of Capac Raymi, or
Magnificent Festival was held at the Solstice. This month
was also a time for the Huarachico, or puberty ceremony for
young boys.
In the Southern Hemisphere, this Solstice was equal to the
Summer Solstice in the North. In Tahiti, they celebrated the
parara'a matahiti, or first-fruit festival, honoring the god of
Paradise, Roma-tane. In Tonga, there was a similar festival
where the men indulged in wrestling, club-fighting, and
boxing. In Fiji, they said that at this time of the year the
Lord from the Underworld came to push the yam shoots
through the soil.
This is a month for contemplating the coming new year and
what one plans to do with it. Ideas are formed and allowed
to germinate until the new year has started, but one must
begin thinking about it.
From Moon Magick
By D J Conway
