The Pagan Wheel of the Year Festivals encompass a series of seasonal celebrations that honor the cycles of nature and the changing seasons. These festivals are derived from ancient pagan traditions and are still observed by many modern pagan and Wiccan communities. The Wheel of the Year is divided into eight key festivals, each representing a significant moment in the agricultural calendar and symbolizing the eternal cycles of birth, growth, death, and rebirth. These festivals are deeply rooted in nature-based spirituality and are often marked by ceremonies, rituals, and feasts. The first festival on the Wheel of the Year is Imbolc, which takes place in early February. Imbolc celebrates the awakening of the earth and the first signs of spring.
What is texas tech mascot
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame has the pleasure of memorializing the great sporting history of the Lone Star State. From Tris Speaker to Jeremy Wariner, the best athletes this state has to offer have found their way into this institution’s halls. However, individuals are only part of what the Texas Sports Hall of Fame celebrates. For as many impactful individual athletes as Texas has had, there have been just as many organizations, teams and franchises that have made their mark. Within each of those, there are hundreds of traditions, stories, histories and more that we work every day to honor and share.
One such institution that we work to celebrate and honor is Texas Tech University. Originally founded in 1923 as Texas Technological College, Texas Tech is a relatively young member of the state’s collegiate fraternity; nevertheless, Tech has more than their fair share of stories and traditions worthy of distinction. Fans today are probably very familiar with Texas Tech’s athletics nickname: the Red Raiders. However, this was not the first nickname to represent the school as they sought athletic glory.
Texas Tech athletes have been known as the Red Raiders since the late 1930s but this was well after their inaugural season of competition. For instance, the Texas Tech football team had their first season of play in 1925. From 1925 to 1937, Tech football was known by the moniker of Matadors. This nickname was suggested by wife of the Tech football coach at the time, E. Y. Freeland (Freeland himself is given credit for Texas Tech’s ‘Double-T’ logo which he had sewn on his athletes sweaters). Freeland’s wife, inspired by the Spanish Renaissance architecture seen throughout Tech’s campus, thought the Matador nickname was a great way to honor the Spanish heritage present in the region.
However, Matadors wasn’t meant to be. Red Raiders replaced Matadors as the school’s officially nickname just over a decade later. How exactly that took place is of some debate, as some credit another coach’s wife while others credit a sportswriter that covered the Tech football team. Whether it was Pete Cawthon’s wife or the sportswriter who wanted to pay homage to the team’s bright red uniforms, one thing is for certain – the name stuck.
With the nickname firmly in place, it came to be embodied by two characters known to all Texas Tech fans: The Masked Rider and Raider Red. The Masked Rider is credited as the first mounted mascot in the country. Older than Florida State’s Osceola and Renegade or USC’s Traveler, Texas Tech is responsible for many of the iconic mounted mascots today. The Masked Rider became an official mascot in 1954 when he led the team onto the field at the Gator Bowl.
Ed Danforth, a writer for the Atlanta Journal at the time, wrote, “No team in any bowl game ever made a more sensational entrance.” The team, perhaps inspired by the Masked Rider, overwhelmed their opponent, Auburn, by a score of 35-13. The Masked Rider was cemented into the history of Texas Tech and the history of college athletics.
While the Masked Rider was a great mascot and beloved by Tech fans around the state, there was one problem with him representing the school – the Southwest Conference forbade live animal mascots at away games unless the home school consented. To avoid this issue, Texas Tech introduced Raider Red in 1971. The original design for Raider Red was done by Jim Gaspard, a member of the Texas Tech Saddle Tramps student spirit organization. Gaspard based the costume on a character created by cartoonist Dirk West, a Texas Tech alumnus and former Mayor of Lubbock. With Raider Red in the fold, anytime the Masked Rider couldn’t make an appearance to support the team, there would be someone there to embody the spirit of Texas Tech athletics.
From Matadors to Red Raiders, the story of Tech mascots is a long and colorful one. The constant throughout is the celebration of Texas Tech and their athletic tradition. Whether it is the Masked Rider or Raider Red, these characters are strong fibers in the fabric of Texas history and we are proud to represent them every day here at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Texas Tech Masked Rider Program
Senior Lauren Bloss is the 62nd Masked Rider for the Texas Tech University Spirit Program. Bloss is an Animal Science major with a concentration in equine production and is minoring in Psychology. She is the daughter of Leigh and Wendy Bloss and grew up in El Paso where she has been riding since she was five and competitively since she was 12. Her older brother Justin Bloss played tennis at Texas Tech. Bloss's grandmother owned and bred Thoroughbred racehorses for over five decades. She competed in hunter jumper and equitation and has been part of the Texas Tech Equestrian Team and competed at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) at the advanced level in both English and Western show.
Bloss has worked with Masked Riders Ashley Adams and Caroline Hobbs for the last two years as an assistant with both Fearless Champion and Centennial Champion. Prior to her time as an assistant with Hobbs, Bloss was on field safety and volunteered time to help 60th Masked Rider Ashley Adams at local and out of town events.
Bloss plans to attend grad school for counseling and therapy where her goal is combine her love of horses and people. She would like to specialize in the use of equine therapy and psychology to help others who may have experienced past traumatic events and pairing them with horses that have come from similar traumatic backgrounds.
Written by Paul Tubbs, Texas Tech Office of Communications & Marketing
Imbolc celebrates the awakening of the earth and the first signs of spring. It is associated with the goddess Brigid and is often celebrated with rituals of purification and the lighting of candles. Following Imbolc is Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox, which occurs around mid-March.
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Ostara represents the arrival of spring and the balance between light and darkness. It is a time of fertility and growth, and it is often celebrated with rituals of planting seeds and welcoming the return of the sun. Next is Beltane, celebrated on May 1st. Beltane marks the beginning of summer and is associated with the goddess May Queen and the god Green Man. It is a joyous celebration of life and abundance, often observed with dancing, bonfires, and the weaving of flower crowns. Midsummer, also known as Litha, is celebrated around the summer solstice in late June. It represents the peak of the sun's power and the abundance of the earth. This festival is often marked by bonfires, outdoor rituals, and celebrations of nature. Lughnasadh, or Lammas, takes place on August 1st and marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is associated with the god Lugh and is a time of thanksgiving and the gathering of the first fruits. This festival often includes feasting, dancing, and the making of corn dollies. Following Lughnasadh is Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, which occurs around mid-September. Mabon represents the second harvest and the transition into the darker half of the year. It is a time of balance and reflection, often celebrated with rituals of gratitude and the sharing of food. Samhain, celebrated on October 31st, is perhaps the most well-known festival on the Wheel of the Year. Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. It is a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is believed to be thin, and it is often marked by rituals of honoring ancestors and reflecting on mortality. Lastly, there is Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, which takes place around December 21st. Yule represents the rebirth of the sun and the return of light. It is a time of renewal and hope, often celebrated with rituals of candle lighting, gift-giving, and feasting. Overall, the Pagan Wheel of the Year Festivals serve as a way for pagans and Wiccans to connect with the rhythms of nature, celebrate the cycles of life and death, and honor the changing seasons. These festivals are deeply rooted in the reverence for nature and the interconnectedness of all living beings..
Reviews for "The Pagan Wheel of the Year: finding Balance and Harmony with Nature's Cycles"
1. John - 2/5 - I recently attended a Pagan wheel of the year festival and was quite disappointed. While I respect different spiritual beliefs, I found that the festival lacked structure and clarity. There was no clear organization or schedule for events, and it felt more like a chaotic gathering than a meaningful celebration. Additionally, there was a lack of inclusivity towards non-Pagan individuals who were curious about the festival. Overall, I left the event feeling frustrated and disconnected.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - As someone who is open-minded and curious about different spiritual practices, I attended a Pagan wheel of the year festival with high expectations. However, I found myself confused and overwhelmed by the abundance of rituals and ceremonies that were taking place simultaneously. It was challenging to fully grasp the significance of each event and engage with them on a deeper level. While the intentions of the festival were sincere, I believe there is room for improvement in terms of providing clearer explanations and guidance for attendees who may not be familiar with Pagan practices.
3. Michael - 2/5 - I attended a Pagan wheel of the year festival out of curiosity, hoping to gain a better understanding of Paganism. However, I left feeling disillusioned and unfulfilled. The festival lacked structure and meaningful explanations of the rituals and traditions. The atmosphere felt more like a commercialized event rather than a genuine spiritual gathering. I believe there should be more emphasis on education and inclusivity to make the festival more accessible and informative for outsiders like myself.