Hellenic holidays pagan: In ancient Greece, the Hellenic people celebrated a variety of holidays and festivals that were deeply rooted in their pagan beliefs. These holidays were an integral part of their religious and cultural practices and provided an opportunity for the community to come together in celebration. One of the most well-known and important Hellenic holidays was the festival of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. This festival, known as the Dionysia, involved dramatic performances, processions, and feasting. It was a time of great joy and merriment, as people celebrated the bountiful harvest and honored the god of fertility. Another significant Hellenic holiday was the Panathenaia, which was dedicated to the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare.
Hellenion’s Calendar
This calendar is the working calendar of Hellenion, a diverse group of Hellenic polytheists sharing the common goal of living a life of piety and proper respect for the Gods of Olympos and ancient Hellenic tradition.
The calendar is based on the monthly and annual observances and festivals of the ancient Athenians from about 800 BCE to 323 BCE. This version was created using information derived from www.numachi.com/~ccount/hmepa [archived version] and from timeanddate.com/moon/phases as well as sources:
- Greek Religion by Walter Burkert (Harvard University Press, 1977, English translation: Basil Blackwell Publisher and Harvard University Press, 1985)
- Old Stones, New Temples by Drew Campbell (Xlibris Corporation, 2000) and
- Festivals of the Athenians, by H. W. Parke (London, Thames and Hudson, 1977).
- Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship, by Christos Pandion Panopoulos, Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos and Erymanthos Armyras; English translation: Mano Rathamanthys Madytinos and Lesley Madytinou (Athens, Greece, LABYRS, 2014).
This calendar is a work in progress, and as research and reconstruction proceeds, the calendars of future years will reflect this. The on-line version of this calendar, contains links to descriptions of all the special days noted on this calendar and suggestions about how to observe them in the 21st century.
You are under no obligation to observe all the occasions and days mentioned here; in fact, that would be all but impossible at present, since none of us live in a wholly polytheistic city. Every observance is optional. This calendar is made available to you as a learning tool, and as a framework to begin or extend your practice of ancient Hellenic religious tradition. Needless to say, ancient Hellenic religion involved many more practices than are implied by the calendar.
The calendar outlines ancient monthly practices, such as Hekate’s Deipnon (on the darkest night, honoring Hekate, the “Bringer of Light”, by a donation of food at a crossroads or to a charity), Noumenia (new moon, beginning of the new Athenian month) and the Agathos Daimon (honoring one’s own personal spirit, a destiny, a characteristic, a blessing, inherently neither good nor bad) and indicates those days each month that were dedicated to specific gods (as defined in Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship, pp 84-85) It also lists ancient Athenian festivals, on the exact dates where these are known. Where the exact date has not been revealed by research, a question mark follows the name of the festival. Information about the specific observance can be found in the references mentioned above, or on our ALPHABETICAL LIST OF FESTIVALS. Note that the date of the new moon is determined by when the crescent is visible in Athens; check local sources for the exact time and day in your locality if you wish to be precise.
In addition to ancient festivals and observances, certain modern occasions are listed as well. This includes the Hellenion monthly libation (ensuring that at least one day a month is shared by a community, albeit scattered, at the same time, and also ensuring that each of the twelve Olympians is honored at least once during the year). Note that this libation is not an official practice of Hellenion but a voluntary activity endorsed by many Hellenion members. Other modern observances we’ve added are memorial days to Alexander the Great, Socrates, the Roman Emperor Julian, and Hypatia of Alexandra, as well as secular holidays widely observed in the Americas.
Some modern festivals are also listed, such as Heliogenna, held over several days during the shortest days of December. Gods’ names in italics indicate the gods receiving special honors on that day.
Remember that, among the ancient Greeks, the day begins at sundown of the previous day. Days in gray indicate days observed by Hellenion members, including new moon/beginning of Greek month and Hellenion monthly libation.
Transliteration of Greek month names and festivals below used “y” to represent the short “u” of Greek, “kh” is used to represent “chi” (χ), a sound which does not exist in English, and “e” represents both epsilon (ε) and eta (η). Έρρωσο!
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Hellenism
Hellenism (also known as Hellenismos and Hellenic polytheism) refers to the religious practices of those who honour the Gods of ancient Greece.
Hellenic refers to a particular time in Greek history, beginning with the conquests of Alexander the Great. In practice, those who practice Hellenism base their spirituality on the time spanning from the Minoan Era, through the Hellenic Era and up to the Christianisation of Rome.
There is a great deal of variety in how followers approach Hellenism, ranging from a Reconstructionist path, seeking to recreate ancient religious practices, right through to adaptations of contemporary pagan practice. Hellenismos often refers specifically to the Reconstructionist path or Hellenic reconstruction.
Another significant Hellenic holiday was the Panathenaia, which was dedicated to the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. This festival included athletic competitions, musical performances, and religious processions. The highlight of the festival was the reenactment of the mythical battle between Athena and Poseidon for the patronage of Athens.
Hellenic reconstruction
Hellenismos is the religious path of the ancient Greek, faithfully reconstructed for Pagans in the modern world. Followers seek to be true adherents of the public and family ways of honouring the Gods, in a manner that is as close as possible to that of the ancient Greeks.
Hellenismos is a diverse religious path that allows the follower to be equally diverse. The religion of the ancient Greeks had no formal doctrine regarding what was considered canon or the right way to serve a particular God. Instead, there existed a great deal of variety in forms of worship and belief across the Greek world and over the centuries. Different city states had different times for festivals and many had festivals that were unique to their own city. The ways in which people celebrated their religion differed from place to place and people held different views of the Gods and life, often influenced by great philosophers such as Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. In fact, the path of Hellenismos is closely linked to philosophy. Studying the great philosophical writings of the time helps us to discover how the Greeks lived and how they viewed their world, including their perception of the divine. This diversity is not however a license for modern Hellenes to mix together whatever they want and call it Hellenismos. The focus is upon what is true to ancient Greek culture, as opposed to that of the Celts, the Jews, the Norse, etc.
The Athenian people also celebrated the festival of the Thesmophoria, which was dedicated to the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. This festival was only open to married women and involved fasting, purification rituals, and the reenactment of the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were secret initiation ceremonies. In addition to these major holidays, the Hellenic people also celebrated a variety of local and regional festivals throughout the year. These festivals honored a wide range of gods and goddesses and were often accompanied by sacrifices, processions, and communal meals. Although these Hellenic holidays were rooted in pagan beliefs, they were an important part of the culture and identity of the ancient Greeks. They provided a sense of community and shared purpose, as well as an opportunity for individuals to express their devotion to the gods. While the Hellenic religion and its holidays are no longer practiced in the same way today, many aspects of their traditions and rituals have had a lasting impact on Western civilization. The theatrical performances and artistic expressions of the Dionysia, for example, have influenced the development of drama and theater. Overall, Hellenic holidays were an integral part of the ancient Greek culture and provided a means to express devotion to the gods, celebrate the seasons, and come together as a community. They were a time of joy, merriment, and reflection, and their legacy can still be felt in modern society..
Reviews for "Delving into the Symbolism of Hellenic Pagan Holidays"
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