Also known as: November Eve, Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples, Hallows, or All Hallows Eve.
Samhain means Summer's End for now nights lengthen, winter begins. In the increasing star and moonlight of longer nights, many hone their Divinatory and Psychic skills as the aid of Spirits and Guides from the other world can easily be enlisted at this time. It is the one night when the veil that separates our world from the next is at its thinnest allowing the dead to return to the world of the living where their spirit and memory is welcomed and celebrated by a feast attended by their kin.
Traditional Foods: Apples, Pears, All Grains, Pumpkin-pie, Hazelnuts, Cakes for the Dead, Corn, Cranberry muffins and Breads, Ale, Cider, Herbal teas(Mugwort)
Herbs: Calendula, Cosmos, Chrysanthemum, Wormwood, Hazel, Thistle.
Incense: Mint, Heliotrope, Nutmeg, Sage or Floral's
Sacred Gemstone: Aquamarine
Yule means Wheel, For now the wheel of the year has reached a turning point, with the longest night of the year. This is the seed point of the Solar year, Mid-winter, Time of the greatest darkness when we seek within ourselves to comprehend our true nature.
Traditional Foods: Fruits-Pears, Apples, Oranges. Ginger Tea, Cider, Pork.
Herbs and Flowers: Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Ceder, Bay, Juniper, Rosemary, Pine.
Incense: Lilac, Bayberry, Cedar, Pine, Rosemary.
Sacred Gemstone: Topaz
Also know as: oimelc, Canlemas, St Brigit's Day.
Imbolc means in the belly of the Mother because that is where seeds are beginning to stir as it is spring. Another name for this holiday is Oimelc, meaning milk of ewes since it is also the traditional lambing season in the old world.
Traditional Foods: All foods from the Dairy including cheese or sour cream etc... Also onions, garlic and chives are fine.
Herbs and Flowers: Violet, Primrose, snowdrop, Rowan, All of the first flowers of the year.
Incense: Lilac
Sacred Gemstone: Amethyst
Also known as: Lady Day, Alban Eiler(Druidic)
As Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy(Sacred Marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals.
Traditional Foods: Leafy green Vegetables, Dairy foods, Nuts such as pumpkin, sunflower and Pine. Flower dishes and sprouts.
Incense: Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Floral of any type.
Sacred Gemstone: Jasper.
Also known as: Roodmas, Walpurga, May Day.
Beltane means Fire of Bel, Belinos being one name for the Sun God, Whose coronation feast we noe celebrate. As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails.
Traditional Foods: Dairy product, Oatmeal Cookies and Cakes or Marigold Custard.
Herbs and Flowers: Lily of the Valley, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, St. John's Wort, Woodruff and all Flowers.
Incense: Bayberry, Frankincense, Lilac, Rose
Sacred Gemstone: Agate