Variants of Paganism Within the British traditions, one is likely to find variations of Pagan beliefs, largely differentiated by deity forms. The main groupings are as follows: A Neo-Pagans - Eclectic, largely unstructured groups and individuals who do not adhere to any specific pantheon. B Norse & Saxon - Those who worship the Germanic pantheon, including Odin (Woden), Freya, Thor etc.. Sometimes known as Odinists(1&2) C Druids - A revival of what was undoubtedly the pre- Christian priesthood of these isles as reported by the Romans. D Celtic - Those who worship the Celtic pantheon of Ireland, Wales and Scotland, including such deities as Lugh or Llew, Bride, Bridget, etc.. To be a Pagan therefore is to hold and believe in the sacredness of all things, to revere and respect all life and to cherish one s family and friends. What better principles for a teacher, social worker or parent? Notes 1 In Iceland, the Aesir (Odinic) faith has been reinstated (it was the only state religion until the year 1000) as a state recognized religion. If you are married by a Godi (priest), the marriage is legally binding in the same way as Church of England (Anglican) marriages in the UK (i.e., no civil registration is required ). 2 The days of the week are named after the Norse Gods and Goddesses they are sacred to:- Sun, Moon, Tiwaz, Woden, Thor, Freya and Sater. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pagan Year In celebrating Paganism as a religion, Pagans observe a seasonal cycle of festivals which follow the progress of life throughout the year. The emphasis is on the cyclic nature of life, i.e., birth, growth, harvest & having young, death and re-birth. There are eight major festivals in the year, all of which pre-date Christianity by many millenia and all but one of which have been adopted by Christianity. These are described below. SAMHAIN - 31ST OCTOBER (pronounced "sow-in"), also known by its Christian name of Hallowe en or All Hallows Eve, is the Pagan New Year. In both Pagan and Christian forms it is a festival of the dead when one remembers those who have gone before. In Latin countries, especially Latin-America, the "feast of the dead" side to the festival is a major Christian event; in Mexico families go out and picnic on the graves of their loved ones, the whole event has a carnival atmosphere mixing joy and sorrow. Here in the UK, the bonfire and celebratory part slipped a week to become Guy Fawkes night and the remembrance part a further week after the Wars to become Remembrance Day but the sentiments are the same though as those of the Pagan festival. Traditionally this was the time when animals were brought down to the low pastures and those animals which could not be overwintered were slaughtered, salted or smoked. YULE - 21ST DECEMBER (archaic form GEOLA pronounced "yula") the winter solstice, the Christian equivalent is Christmas. Marks the re- birth of the Sun as the Star Child, the Unconquered Sun - Sol Invicta. In Egypt, centuries before the birth of Christ, one sect of priests would rush out of their temples at midnight on the solstice and announce "the Sun is born of the Virgin"(1). The concept has been heavily borrowed by Christians to mark the birth of Jesus. It also marks the turning of the year from dark to light as the days now get longer. IMBOLC - 2ND FEBRUARY (also Oimelc) Christian equivalent is Candlemas. This festival marks the advance of the year away from winter and the first stirrings of spring as shown by the flowering of snowdrops and other early flowers, and the first lactations of ewes. Traditionally children would be born at this time. The Earth is awakening though winter may still have much force left. EOSTRE - 21ST MARCH, the Spring equinox, Christianized as Easter. The day and night are now in balance, winter is finally over, seeds are sown and the Earth begins to blossom. Dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon Fertility Goddess Eostre(2) whose sacred animal is the hare, whose symbol of fertility is the egg and who is a Lunar Goddess. Barely Christianized, (after all, the Crucifixion of Christ has nothing to do with Easter Eggs or Easter Bunnies(3)) as even the date of this the most important event in the Christian calendar is based upon the festival of a Pagan Lunar Goddess, as Easter is still calculated to be the Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox. BELTAIN - 1ST MAY (pronounced "bel-tinna") May Day. It is interesting to note that there is no Christian equivalent to Beltain but it has always been an important folk festival with maypole dancing and merrymaking. A major fire festival, it celebrates the "coming of age" of the Sun and his symbolic mating with the Earth Goddess to provide the harvest later in the year. In olden times it was a very important fertility festival. The timing was important as children conceived now would be born at Imbolc and therefore there would be fresh food and milk available for the lactating mother and the child would have the summer to develop before going through the hazards of winter. This was also the time when the animals were taken back to the high pastures, and shepherds would be away from their families for a long time. Beltain remains a time when couples, both those just starting on a life together and those of many years standing, turn to love. SUMMER SOLSTICE - 21ST JUNE (archaically Litha, but still sometimes used), Christian equivalent is St John the Baptist s day. The high point of the Solar Year, this day celebrates the Sun at his highest point. The wheel of the year now turns once more towards the dark of winter. The festival is often marked with bonfires and with symbolic contests of strength between teams or individuals representing Summer and Winter(4). LUGHNASADH - 1ST AUGUST (pronounced "loo-nasa") Lugh's Feast(5), Christianized as Lammas (literally loaf mass). This marks the beginning of the harvest, when the first sheaves are cut. AUTUMN EQUINOX - 21ST SEPTEMBER (archaically Modron) Christian equivalent is the Harvest Festival. Marks the end of the harvest, the cutting of the last sheaf and the final turning of the year from light to dark. Notes (1) See Frazer s "The Golden Bough" (2) Means East or Dawn. Possibly same as Astarte and Ishtar. (3) Hares in fact, rabbits were only introduced to Britain after 1066. (4) Games are usually things like tug-of-war or football where the whole town or village is involved. (5) Lugh is also known as Lug, Lud and by other phonetically similar names. London is named after the God Lugh as are such places as Lugate, Ludgate, Ludchurch, Ludlow, etc. (all in UK but most European countries have similarly named cities and towns). ... Pagan Federation - desdrw@cix.compulink.co.uk