winter – West Coast Pagan

Imbolc

Candlemas, Brigid’s Day, Brigantia (Caledonni), Lupercalia (Roman), Feast of Nut (Egyptian), Feast of Pan, Snowdrop Festival, Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau (Welsh), Disablot (Norse) February 2 Imbolc is a festival of fire and light, and in many Neopagan traditions, celebrates the goddess Brigid. It falls around the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox,Continue reading “Imbolc”

December’s Long Nights Moon

Oak Moon, Long Nights Moon, Cold Moon, Wolf Moon Nature Spirits: snow faeries, storm faeries, winter tree faeries Herbs: holly, English ivy, fir, mistletoe Colors: red, white and black Flowers: holly, poinsettia, Christmas cactus Scents: violet, patchouli, rose geranium, frankincense, myrrh, lilac Stones: serpentine, jacinth, peridot Trees: pine, fir, holly Animals: mouse, deer, horse, bearContinue reading “December’s Long Nights Moon”

Yule / Midwinter

Winter Solstice, Yuletide, Mother Night, Winter Rite, Festival of Sol Invictus/Mithras, Saturnalia (Roman), Cuidle, Gŵyl Galan Gaeaf, Meán Geimhridh (Welsh), Alban Arthan/Arthuan (Druid, ‘Light of Arthur/Winter’), Jol/Yuleblot (Norse) ~ December 20-23 Yule, or Midwinter, celebrates the winter solstice, a time of renewal and rebirth. It marks the shortest day of the year, after which theContinue reading “Yule / Midwinter”

November’s Mourning Moon

Mourning Moon, Dark Moon, Snow Moon, Fog Moon, Storm Moon, Beaver Moon, Oak Moon, Frosty Moon Nature Spirits: subterranean faeries Herbs: grains of paradise, verbena, betony, borage, cinquefoil, blessed thistle Colors: gray, sea-green Flowers: blooming cacti, chrysanthemum Scents: cedar, cherry blossoms, hyacinth, narcissus, peppermint, lemon Stones: topaz, hyacinth, lapis lazuli Trees: alder, cypress Animals: unicorn,Continue reading “November’s Mourning Moon”

Samhain

Third/Last Harvest, Blood Harvest, Halloween, Old Hallowmas, All Hallows Eve, All Saint’s Eve, Witch’s New Year, Feast/Day of the Dead, Ancestor Night, Feast of Spirits, Feast of Apples, Festival of Pomona, Samonios, Samana, Shadowfest (Strega), Nos Galan/Calan Gaeaf (Welsh), Vetrablot/Winternight (Norse) October 31 Samhain (SAH-wen or SOW-wen) represents the end of the harvest when theContinue reading “Samhain”

February’s Quickening Moon

Quickening Moon, Snow Moon, Storm Moon, Ice Moon, Big Winter Moon, Horning Moon, Hunger Moon, Wild Moon Nature Spirits: house faeries, both of the home itself and of house plants Herbs: balm of Gilead, hyssop, myrrh, sage, spikenard Colors: light blue, violet Flowers: primrose Scents: wisteria, heliotrope Stones: amethyst, jasper Trees: rowan, laurel, cedar Animals:Continue reading “February’s Quickening Moon”

January’s Cold Moon

Cold Moon, Wolf Moon, Chaste Moon, Quiet Moon, Snow Moon, Ice Moon, Storm Moon, Hunger Moon, Old Moon Nature Spirits: gnomes, brownies Herbs: marjoram, holy thistle, nuts, cones Colors: white, blue-violet, black Flowers: snowdrop, crocus Scents: musk, mimosa Stones: garnet, onyx, jet, chrysoprase Trees: birch Animals: fox, coyote Birds: pheasant, blue jay Deities: Freyja, Inanna,Continue reading “January’s Cold Moon”

Winternights

Winternights (Vetrnætr) is one of the three major festivals celebrated in pre-Christian Scandinavia, the others being midwinter (Yule, Jól/Jólablót, Hökunótt) and the beginning of the summer raiding season (Sigrblót “Victory Blot” or Sumarmál). Snorri Sturluson wrote of these festivals in the Ynglinga saga of the Heimskringla: “There should be a sacrifice at the beginning ofContinue reading “Winternights”

Pagan Origins of Christmas

Christmas as we know it today has developed from a variety of origins, including pagan ones! Things like the evergreen tree, mistletoe, gift giving, and even the birth date of Jesus have come from pagan sources.

Hogmanay

‘Hogmanay’ is celebrated in Scotland on the last day of the year, with festivities often extending until the first or second day of the New Year. Also known as Ne’erday (Netherday, New Year’s Day), Hogmanay is thought to be related to pagan celebrations such as the Winter Solstice and Yule. The origin of the termContinue reading “Hogmanay”