#northern tradition pagan

[entanglementdivination]

never thought i'd find myself back on this website, but here i am. hello fellow genderfreaks of the pagan persuasion! let's talk gods and wights, cartomancy, forces of Nature, decolonization, and the building of a better world. how's the community been since i left?

[lokabrenna13]

Good morning! The rune for this week is Gebo.

Gebo is the rune of partnership, giving, equal exchange, generosity, honor, love, and self-sacrifice. Gebo is a partnership rune, so a partnership may be on the horizon (this could mean romantic relationship, business partnership, or a collaboration of some kind) or there could be shifts in a current partnership. Changes in a contract could reflect a fairer, more equal exchange. Gebo can also indicate a gift in all its forms, including a talent or spiritual gift. Some of you may be giving or receiving a gift in the next seven days. This could include a physical or monetary gift. This could also mean a talent or spiritual gift coming to light.

#runepull #runeart #runes #runedivination #divination #northerntraditionpagan #pagan #northerntradition #gebo #partnership #gift #reciprocity #love #runeoftheweek #runevideo #norsepagan #futhark #elderfuthark

[embervoices]

Boosting signal:

Cyber-volunteers needed to teach for an hour by Skype/Zoom once (or more, you decide) a month. Eclectic Wiccans, inclusive Heathens or Northern Trad Pagans, and eclectic Pagans educated in a few religions in any state.

Support will be provided about how they may do things within prison limitations.

Contact: Pagan Prison Resource Center

[violetmoondaughter]

According to the folktale, the Giubiana was an old witch, thin, with very long legs and red stockings. She lived in the woods and because of her long legs, she never set foot on the ground, but moved from tree to tree.  On the last Thursday of January, she used to go in search of some children to eat. One mother, to protect her child, decided to set a trap for her. She prepared a large pot full of yellow (saffron) risotto with luganega (sausage) and put it on the windowsill. The Giubiana attracted by the smell, came out of the woods, and began to eat all the contents of the huge pot. The risotto was so good that the ravenous Giubiana did not notice the time passing. She did not notice that the sun, which kills witches, was now about to rise. By the time the Giubiana finished all the risotto, the first ray of sunshine had come out: the Giubiana was thus pulverized by the sunlight, and from that day all the children were saved. To remember that event at the end of January, risotto with luganega is prepared and the puppet in the guise of the old witch is burned. 

The name "Giubiana" seems related to the Roman god Jupiter, but other possible reference figures are Juno, Janus, and Diana. 

In the medieval centuries the popular narrative created a variety of legends and numerous folk tales, in which Giubiana thus became a female figure alluding to the Great Mother, sometimes an old woman, sometimes a witch, a variant of the Befana, to be symbolically driven away along with the rigors of winter. The most distinguishing element of the festival is the great bonfire, which even today is perceived by all as a symbol of renewal and a new year's restart.

[pudding-parade]

[stairnaheireann]

How the Irish Influenced Christmas Traditions

In much the same way that the modern interpretation of Halloween descended from the Celtic pagan celebration of Samhain, several important pre-Christian Irish traditions have been incorporated into the winter holiday season. Prior to the introduction of Christianity during the early 5th century, Ireland was home to the Celts, a pagan civilisation which worshipped many gods and goddesses. Animism…

[wunjold]

Had an interesting experience.

I live with my Christian family, but don't often eat with them. My mother invited me to join them for dinner, and I gratefully accepted.

My family always prayed to the Christian god before meals, per the Christian custom, just like they faithfully attended church every Sunday and gave praise and offerings (of money) there. Myself, having recently come into a new shade of my pagan path, I was looking forward to the mealtime prayer as an opportunity to actively thank whatever I was eating and appreciate all the energy and life that went into it. In this case, it was potatoes, corn, and beef, which were very easy to offer thanks to. I feel that acknowledging what I am eating and thanking it's spirit and having an attitude of gratitude is the least I can do for these literal living things that involuntarily died and passed on their energy to sustain my own life force. They could have had any other fate, but instead, these particular potatoes and corn kernels and slices of beef came to me, so why on earth not be grateful to them?

I was highly disappointed and a little taken aback when my very Christian mother, with her many Bible-verse wall hangings and cross decorations and strict rules of church attendance (at least when I was a child), did not offer a prayer of thanks to her god. I'm sure the delicious dinner blessed her body all the same, but it struck me as odd that this woman who always managed to appear holy in public was unbothered to toss aside a simple ritual she made me believe was of the outmost importance as a child. Meanwhile, I cared little how my practices appeared to the public, in fact endeavoring I don't draw too much attention to myself with my offerings, burnt herbs, antlers, drum and singing, but some things just can't be replaced (and I'm certainly not posting my practices on social media nor inviting others to watch). Integrity, how you behave when no one is watching to scrutinize your actions, is a key part of any spirituality or religion. If you can't carry out your faith and beliefs in solitude, in your home, even with a scowl, why perform them in public?

[confessions-of-a-nt-practitioner]

Invocation to Loki

Wisp of smoke and spark of flame,

Son of Laufey, I call Your name!

I pray you hearken to my call,

Come and grace my humble hall.

Loki, lead me in your ways,

Speak to my heart,

And set me ablaze!

[broomsick]

List of interesting ressources pertaining to norse paganism, scandinavian folklore and history, and nordic religions in general

These are sources I have personally used in the context of my research, and which I've enjoyed and found useful. Please don’t mind if I missed this or that ressource, as for this post, I focused solely on my own preferences when it comes to research. I may add on to this list via reblog if other interesting sources come to my mind after this has been posted. Good luck on your research! And as always, my question box is open if you have any questions pertaining to my experiences and thoughts on paganism.

Mythology

The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion

Dictionnary of Northern Mythology

The Prose and Poetic Eddas (online)

Grottasöngr: The Song of Grotti (online)

The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes

The Wanderer's Hávamál

The Song of Beowulf

Rauðúlfs Þáttr

The Penguin Book of Norse Myths: Gods of the Vikings (Kevin Crossley-Holland's are my favorite retellings)

Myths of the Norsemen From the Eddas and the Sagas (online) A source that's as old as the world, but still very complete and an interesting read.

The Elder Eddas of Saemung Sigfusson

Pocket Hávamál

Myths of the Pagan North: Gods of the Norsemen

Lore of the Vanir: A Brief Overview of the Vanir Gods

Anglo-Saxon and Norse Poems

Gods of the Ancient Northmen

Gods of the Ancient Northmen (online)

Two Icelandic Stories: Hreiðars Þáttr and Orms Þáttr

Two Icelandic Stories: Hreiðars Þáttr and Orms Þáttr (online)

Sagas

Two Sagas of Mythical Heroes: Hervor and Heidrek & Hrólf Kraki and His Champions (compiling the Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks and the Hrólfs saga kraka)

Icelandic Saga Database (website)

The Saga of the Jómsvíkings

The Heimskringla or the Chronicle of the Kings of Norway (online)

Stories and Ballads of the Far Past: Icelandic and Faroese

Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway

The Saga of the Volsungs: With the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok

The Saga of the Volsungs (online) Interesting analysis, but this is another pretty old source.

The Story of the Volsungs (online) Morris and Magnusson translation

The Vinland Sagas

Hákon the Good's Saga (online)

History of religious practices

The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia

Nordic Religions in the Viking Age

Agricola and Germania Tacitus' account of religion in nordic countries

Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions

Tacitus on Germany (online)

Scandinavia and the Viking Age

Viking Age Iceland

Landnámabók: Book of the Settlement of Iceland (online)

The Age of the Vikings

Gesta Danorum: The Danish History (Books I-IX)

The Sea Wolves: a History of the Vikings

The Viking World

Guta Lag: The Law of the Gotlanders (online)

The Pre-Christian Religions of the North This is a four-volume series I haven't read yet, but that I wish to acquire soon! It's the next research read I have planned.

Old Norse Folklore: Tradition, Innovation, and Performance in Medieval Scandinavia

Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings

The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings by John Haywood

Landnámabók: Viking Settlers and Their Customs in Iceland

Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark For a little literary break from all the serious research! The stories are told in a way that can sometimes get repetitive, but it makes it easier to notice recurring patterns and themes within Scandinavian oral tradition.

Old Norse-Icelandic Literature: A Short Introduction

Saga Form, Oral Prehistory, and the Icelandic Social Context

An Early Meal: A Viking Age Cookbook and Culinary Oddyssey

Runes & Old Norse language

Uppland region runestones and their translations

Viking Language 1: Learn Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas and Viking Language 2: The Old Norse Reader

Catalogue of the Manks Crosses with Runic Inscriptions

Old Norse - Old Icelandic: Concise Introduction to the Language of the Sagas

A Companion to Old Norse-Icelandic Literature and Culture

Nordic Runes: Understanding, Casting, and Interpreting the Ancient Viking Oracle 

YouTube channels

Ocean Keltoi

Arith Härger

Old Halfdan

Jackson Crawford

Wolf the Red

Sigurboði Grétarsson

Grimfrost

(Reminder! The channel "The Wisdom of Odin", aka Jacob Toddson, is a known supporter of pseudo scientific theories and of the AFA, a folkist and white-supremacist organization, and he's been known to hold cult-like, dangerous rituals, as well as to use his UPG as truth and to ask for his followers to provide money for his building some kind of "real life viking hall", as supposedly asked to him by Óðinn himself. A source to avoid. But more on that here.)

Websites

The Troth

Norse Mythology for Smart People

Voluspa.org

Icelandic Saga Database

Skaldic Project

Life in Norway This is more of a tourist's ressources, but I find they publish loads of fascinating articles pertaining to Norway's history and its traditions.

[actiwitch]

Queer Heathenry Masterpost

(updated google doc here)

General awareness:

Neo-Nazi Prevention & Dog Whistles White supremacists are misappropriating Norse mythology Dog Whistles in the Gender Critical Movement Guide to Anti-LGBTQ Online Hate and Disinformation What To Do When Racists Try To Hijack Your Religion Inside Asatruism's Fight Against the Co-Opting of Their Religion by White Supremacists

Sources and Sites:

GLBT in the Northern Tradition (site) Vikings are Gay! Podcast (podcast) Academic Research

Excerpts and Essays:

Sex, Status, and Seiðr: Homosexuality and Germanic Religion Sons of Frey Ergi: The Way of the Third Being Ergi The Tale of a Transsexual Norse Pagan Spirit-Worker

Scholarly Articles:

Queer Themes In Old Norse Myth Feminism in Medieval Scandinavia: How Paganism Forged Gender Equality Magic, Genderfluidity, and queer Vikings, ca. 750-1050 Mythical beasts: How queer bodies expand the religious imaginary

Practices:

Rite of Passage for an Ergi Child Honoring Ancestors: Queer Rite of Elevation

Queer-friendly Creators:

Ocean Keltoi (YouTube) Nordic Mythology Podcast (Spotify) The Norse Gods: Loki: An Evil Queer Icon? (YouTube) Storied (YouTube) The Welsh Viking (YouTube) Hearthkvlt (online shop; artist) Lockwood Metaphysical (online shop; artist) Ludvig Levin (online shop; artist)

Queer/queer interpreted passages:

Grettisfærsla  The Birth of Sleipnir  Þrymskviða  Lokasenna

[lokabrenna13]

July for Loki Tarot Card Reading

Five of Cups, The Hanged Man, Eight of Cups

Times of greatest despair and greatest loss can offer substantial shifts in perspective and moments of clarity...and in time... healing. While grieving a loss of any kind cannot be rushed, moving forward is part of the healing process, even though at times, you may not feel ready. Note the blood in the water in the Eight of Cups card. There is still quite a bit of healing to do, and yet, He moves forward.

Thank you for reading/watching. This is a collective reading. Take only what resonates.

Hail Loki! I love You!

Deck: Vikings Tarot

Artwork on the Tarot cards by Pietro Alligo

#julyforloki #tarot #vikingstarot #tarotcards #tarotdeck #tarotreading #runes #loki #hailloki #lokabrenna #godspouse #lucifer #morningstar #haillucifer #divination #collectivetarotreading #tarotvideo #reels #healing

[breelandwalker]

Frost Moon - November 26-27, 2023

Grab your scarves and mittens, witches - it's time for the Frost Moon!

Frost Moon

The Frost Moon is the name given to the full moon which occurs in the month of November. In temperate zones in the Northern Hemisphere, November is the month during which the first frost or first hard freeze of the season is usually observed.

Like most full moon names, this is an English translation of a traditional name used by one or more North American indigenous groups, in this case the Cree and the Assiniboine. Similarly, the Anishinaabe and the Ojibwe also called this month the Freezing Moon or Freezing Over Moon respectively, as indigenous naming conventions usually refer to the entire lunar month and not just the full moon itself. Other indigenous names include Deer Rutting Moon (Dakota and Lakota), Whitefish Moon (Algonquin), Leaf Fall Moon (Catawba), and Digging (or Scratching) Moon (Tlingit). The latter refers to the habit of deer and other creatures scratching up the ground to find hidden food caches, as well as bears digging their dens for winter hibernation.

Another common name for this month's full moon is the Beaver Moon, due to the increased sightings of these busy little creatures shoring up their dams and food stores before the first hard freeze of winter. (Unfortunately, it's also a reference to the peak days of the North American fur trade, signaling the optimal hunting time for beaver pelts.)

In some modern pagan traditions, particularly those claiming Celtic lineage, the November moon is also called the Mourning Moon. This occurs when the November moon is the final full moon before the winter solstice. In 2023, the November is indeed a Mourning Moon, as the December full moon falls on the 26th, a good few days after the solstice. (I was not able to find an original source for this claim, but given the celebration of the beloved dead in October, a subsequent period of mourning and remembrance makes sense. It may also be a reference to the Catholic All Souls Day, but that's just speculation.)

This particular Frost Moon will be at peak fullness in the early hours of November 27th (4:16am EST), so the moon may appear to be full on both Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th, depending on where you live.

What Does It Mean For Witches?

This is the month when migrations are finishing up, animals are finishing their cold weather preparations, the temperature starts to plummet, and fall descends rapidly into winter. If you haven't finished your preparations for winter, mundane or magical, this is probably your last chance to do it. (Don't forget to prioritize and delegate!)

With the days getting shorter and the nights getting colder, the temptation to hunker down and hibernate is STRONG. But we have to remember that just like the eponymous Beaver, humans have to stay active during the cold months. Start stockpiling ways to keep yourself busy and motivated, since that Seasonal Slump is on the horizon for many of us.

Consider also the beaver's dam. You've spent the whole year working towards all kinds of goals. Is there still something blocking your way? What might it be and how can you best address and remove the obstacle? Or, alternatively, is it time to stop and rest and see if that roadblock will clear itself with a little time and patience?

In keeping with the Mourning Moon moniker, this could be a good time for reflection and remembrance. Think back on what you've built this year and take time to be proud of yourself. Remember what is dear to you, take a moment to miss someone who is gone, and consider rekindling bonds that may have lapsed or grown tenuous during the hustle and bustle of daily life. It's always a good time to tell someone you love them.

On a practical note, if you have pets that regularly stay outdoors overnight, start bringing them inside or make sure they have a shelter that is properly warm, clean, and secure against human or animal intruders. If it's too chilly for you to be out without a coat, it's too chilly for the critters, fur or no fur. PLEASE do not leave your furry friends out in the cold!

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

As we prepare for winter, this is an excellent time to shore up those magical protections. Check on your longterm spells to see if they need refreshing, or just go ahead and do a quick cleanse-and-reclaim as a proactive measure. Even if everything is solid, practice your technique by shoring up points of egress or adding a new layer to the existing wards or trying a new visualization or method for personal protections. Create a new charm or talisman to carry you through the winter or make something festive and decorative that could be given as a gift.

On the subject of cleansing, this is a good time to clear out any stale or disruptive energy that might be lingering from the recent change of seasons. Solstices can be times of transformation, but change is rarely a calm or peaceful process and it brings its' own set of challenges and upheavals. If things have gotten a little more chaotic than you'd like, take a moment to put your house in order, metaphysically speaking.

If you're partial to jar spells, consider putting one together to help maintain safety and abundance through the winter months. If you're going to be traveling for the upcoming holidays, a bit of luck and protection for the journey wouldn't go amiss either.

Try a frost divination. If your area is starting to see overnight frosts, take a moment in the morning to examine the patterns that the frost leaves on the windows of your home or vehicle. Do you see any patterns or images in the ice crystals? Check the weather forecast and whisper a question into the wind when the overnight temps will drop below freezing. Then in the morning, see if there's an answer waiting for you!

Happy Frost Moon, witches! 🌕❄

Further Reading:

Additional Lunar Calendar posts

Full Moon November 2023: The Beaver Moon's Spectacular Spiritual Meaning, The Peculiar Brunette.

Beaver Moon: Full Moon in November 2023, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Beaver Full Moon in November - Buckle and Hocken, TimeAndDate.com.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Image Credit - iStockPhoto.

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[nesyanast]

Ethiopia is unique in the way of being Jewish before it was Christian. There are several theories as to how exactly this happened - some swear by the legend of King Solomon and Queen Sheba giving a start to a dynasty of Jewish kings; others, among them some of the more prominent Biblical historians, believe that an Israelite tribe, or tribes, migrated south via Egypt following the destruction of the first Temple. Either way, when Christianity did arrive in Ethiopia, it grafted itself not on paganism, as in almost every other part of the world, but on Judaism, which led to the formation of a church very closely associated with its Jewish sources (as the Ethiopian church remains to this day).

According to the Beta Israel tradition, the Jewish kingdom of Beta Israel, later called the kingdom of Gondar, was initially established after Ezana was crowned as the Emperor of Axum in 325 CE. Ezana, who was educated in his childhood by the missionary Frumentius, declared Christianity as the religion of the Ethiopian empire after he was crowned. The inhabitants who practiced Judaism and refused to convert to Christianity began revolting; this group was referred to as "Beta Israel" by the emperor. Following civil war between the Jewish population and the Christian population, the Beta Israel appear to have forged an independent state, either in northern western Ethiopia or the eastern region of Northern Sudan.

The Golden Age of the Beta Israel kingdom took place, according to the Ethiopian tradition, between the years 858–1270, in which the Jewish kingdom flourished. During that period, the world Jewry heard for the first time the stories of Eldad ha-Dani, who either visited the kingdom or heard many accounts of it in his own Jewish kingdom of pastoralists. Even Marco Polo and Benjamin of Tudela mention an independent Ethiopian Jewish kingdom in the writings from that period.

[greenwitchcrafts]

April 2024 witch guide

Full moon: April 23rd

New moon: April 8th

Solar eclipse: April 8th

Sabbats: None

April Pink Moon

Known as: Breaking Ice Moon, Budding Moon of Plants & shrubs, Budding Tree Moon, Eastermonath, Frog Moon, Green Grass Moon, Growing Moon, Hare Moon, Moon of the Red Grass appearing, Moon When Geese Lay Egss, Moon When thd Ducks Come Back, Ostarmanoth, Planters Moon, Seed Moon, Sucker Moon & Wind Moon

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Aries & Taurus

Nature spirits: Plant Faeries

Deities: Anahita, Bast, Ceres, Cernunnos, Hathor, Herne, Ishtar, Kali, Tawaret & Venus

Animals: Bear & wolf

Birds:  Hawk & magpie

Trees: Bay, forsythia, hazel, lilac, pine & willow

Herbs:  Basil, chives, dandelion, dill, dogwood, dragon's blood, fennel, geranium, milkweed & thistle

Flowers: Daisy & sweetpea

Scents: Bay, bergamot, patchouli & pine

Stones: Angelite, beryl, diamond, garnet, malachite, quartz, ruby, sapphire, sard, selenite & zircon

Colors: Blue, brown, crimson, gold & green

Energy: Authority, balance, beginnings, change, fertility, growth, leadership, opportunities, overcoming obstacles, personal skill development, re-birth, self-evaluation, self-reliance, spirituality, temper control & willpower

April’s full Moon often corresponded with the early springtime blooms of a certain wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata—commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox—which also went by the name “moss pink.” Thanks to this seasonal association, this full Moon came to be called the “Pink” Moon.

Other celebrations:

• Walpurgis Night - April 30th

Also known as: May Eve

The origins of the holiday date back to pagan celebrations of fertility rites & the coming of spring. After the Norse were Christianized, the pagan celebration became combined with the legend of St. Walburga, an English-born nun who lived at Heidenheim monastery in Germany & later became the abbess there. Saint Walpurga was hailed by the Christians of Germany for battling "pest, rabies, & whooping cough as well as against witchcraft". Christians prayed to God through the intercession of Saint Walpurga in order to protect themselves from witchcraft, as Saint Walpurga was successful in converting the local populace to Christianity. Although it is likely that the date of her canonization is purely coincidental to the date of the pagan celebrations of spring, people were able to celebrate both events under church law without fear of reprisal.

Walpurgis Night is still a traditional holiday celebrated on April 30th in northern Europe & Scandinavia. In Sweden typical holiday activities include the singing of traditional spring folk songs & the lighting of bonfires. In Germany the holiday is celebrated by dressing in costumes, playing pranks on people & creating loud noises meant to keep evil at bay. Many people also hang blessed sprigs of foliage from houses & barns to ward off evil spirits, or they leave pieces of bread spread with butter & honey, called ankenschnitt, as offerings for phantom hounds.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

[stairnaheireann]

How the Irish Influenced Christmas Traditions

How the Irish Influenced Christmas Traditions

In much the same way that the modern interpretation of Halloween descended from the Celtic pagan celebration of Samhain, several important pre-Christian Irish traditions have been incorporated into the winter holiday season. Prior to the introduction of Christianity during the early 5th century, Ireland was home to the Celts, a pagan civilisation which worshipped many gods and goddesses. Animism…

[mummawitch]

Sabbats

Witches, particularly those who follow modern Pagan or Wiccan traditions, often celebrate a series of holidays, known as Sabbats, that are based on the cycles of the seasons and nature. These holidays are divided into two categories: the Greater Sabbats, which are often associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the Lesser Sabbats, which mark the points between the equinoxes and solstices. Here's an overview of the eight major witchcraft holidays:

1. Samhain (pronounced SOW-IN or SAH-WIN): Celebrated on October 31st (Northern Hemisphere) or May 1st (Southern Hemisphere). Samhain marks the beginning of the Witches' Wheel of the Year. It's a time to honor the dead, reflect on the past, and prepare for the winter months.

2. Yule (pronounced YOOL): Celebrated around the winter solstice (usually December 20th-23rd for Northern Hemisphere, or June 20th-23rd Southern Hemisphere), Yule is a festival of light and rebirth. It's a time to celebrate the return of the sun's strength and the lengthening of days.

3. Imbolc (pronounced IM-BULK or IM-BULG): Celebrated around February 1st-2nd (Northern Hemisphere) or August 1st-2nd (Southern Hemisphere). Imbolc marks the first signs of spring. It's a time to honor the goddess Brigid and welcome the returning life in nature.

4. Ostara (pronounced OST-AR-A): Celebrated around the spring equinox (usually March 20th-23rd for NH, or September 20th-23rd SH), Ostara is a celebration of balance and the arrival of spring. It's a time to honor the goddess Eostre and the fertility of the land.

5. Beltane (pronounced BELL-TAIN): Celebrated on May 1st (NH) or October 1st (SH). Beltane marks the peak of spring and the beginning of summer. It's a time to celebrate fertility, love, and the union of the god and goddess.

6. Litha (pronunced LEE-THA): Celebrated around the summer solstice (usually June 20th-23rd NH, or December 20th-23rd SH). Litha is a time of maximum light and the celebration of the sun's power.

7. Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-NAH-SA, also called Lammas, pronounced LAH-MUS): Celebrated around August 1st (NH), or February 1st (SH). Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvest festivals. It's a time to give thanks for the first fruits of the harvest.

8. Mabon (pronunced MAH-BON) : Celebrated around the autumn equinox (usually September 20th-23rd NH, March 20th-23rd SH). Mabon is a time of balance and the second harvest festival. It's a time to give thanks for the abundance of the Earth.

These holidays are often celebrated with rituals, feasts, and various customs, including the crafting of seasonal decorations and the lighting of bonfires or candles. It's important to note that the specific dates for these holidays can vary slightly depending on tradition and location, as they are often calculated based on astronomical events.