Feast of Sekhmet – Egyptian New Year’s Day

In ancient Egypt, the saving of mankind was commemorated every year on the feast day of Hathor/Sekhmet (Jan 7). Everyone drank beer stained with pomegranate juice and worshiped

“the Mistress and lady of the tomb,
gracious one,
destroyer of rebellion,
mighty one of enchantments“

A statue of Sekhmet was dressed in red facing west, while Bast was dressed in green and faced east. Bast was sometimes considered to be Sekhmet´s counterpart (or twin depending on the legend), and in the festival of Hathor they embodied the duality central to Egyptian mythology. Sekhmet represented Upper Egypt while Bast represented Lower Egypt.

• Note:

The dates for this feast day vary widely.  In the book, Festivals of Light, August 7 is given as the Inebriety of Hathor, with a similar description of the festivities.