Reviving Lupercalia: Wolves, Romance, and Rituals of a Forgotten Festival. 

Said to be the Roman origin of Valentine’s Day, Lupercalia is a festival dedicated to cleansing the spirit and promoting fertility. Literature lovers may know it as the setting for Act One of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. This ancient feriae, or festival, was celebrated by Romans from the very birth of the city until it was outlawed by Pope Gelasius I in 494 CE. Centuries after its erasure, modern pagans and witches are bringing back this ancient celebration. 

Roman Origins
To understand the origins of Lupercalia, you must first understand the legend of the founding of Rome. It is believed that two twins, Romulus and Remus, who were abandoned by their parents, sought refuge in the Lupercal Cave on Palatine Hill. There they were suckled by a she-wolf, called lupa in Latin. One of the twins, Romulus would later become the founder of Rome, but not after many battles with his twin brother. A festival was created to celebrate the story of the twins and the founding of Rome, and this became known as Lupercalia.  

Some sources name February 15th as the official festival day, while others say that it took place over several days, usually February 13th-15th. During Lupercalia, Sodales Luperci, a “priestly college” made mostly of aristocrats, would perform a purification ritual for the entire city. Since March is considered the New Year on the Roman calendar, the month of February was dedicated to purification in preparation for the coming year. The priests would sacrifice two animals at the Lupercal Cave, typically a goat, a symbol of fertility and abundance, and a dog, said to be the enemy of the wolf. The priests would ritually smear the blood across their foreheads before taking part in a large feast. Once they had plenty of food and wine, the Luperci would run through the city, usually naked, with makeshift whips made from the hide of the animal sacrifices. They would playfully strike anyone they met with their whips, and women were encouraged to bear their backs for the strikes to ensure fertility in the coming year.  

Finding Modern Meaning

As the Catholic Church took over Roman life, the festival was forced into a more “modest” expression. The Luperci started wearing clothing and the whips became more painful and mean-spirited. Eventually, the festival was outlawed entirely for its impure associations. Even so, the holiday is making its comeback with modern pagans and witches. Many celebrate Lupercalia in place of the secular Valentine’s Day, which maintains much of the symbolic aspects of the ancient festival. Today, pagans use this festival to purify their homes and workplaces as well as practice sex magic with their partners or themselves.  

As fertility was a large theme of Lupercalia, those trying to conceive may take advantage of this time to perform a fertility bath or candle ritual. However, fertility magic was not only used for human fertility; the ancient Romans would also perform rituals for agricultural fertility around Lupercalia. If you have a garden, you may spend time ritually cleaning it up and blessing it to ensure an abundant
harvest this year. Many Roman gods were associated with Lupercalia, making it a great holiday to connect with a deity of your choice. The most common figure is Faunus, but ancient texts also suggest Mars, Juno, Pan, Lupercus, and Bacchus were all celebrated during this time. The festival of Lupercalia is an excellent reason to host a lavish feast and perform group rituals in honor of these gods. Some good ingredients for any Lupercalia rituals would include goat’s milk, red wine, basil, rose petals, and red raspberry leaf. You can gather all ritual supplies from our pagan supply store: visit us online or in our Asheville. NC brick and mortar store.

Imbolc Celebrations: Honoring Brigid's Presence

Concluding our deity series, we turn our focus to Brigid, the Celtic goddess revered in Irish traditions for her associations with healing, poetry, and smithcraft. This blog post is also the first in a series about pagan celebrations and holidays. We celebrate Brigid during Imbolc,  marked by the Sun's return and the gradual thawing of the Earth in the Northern hemisphere.

The Celtic Sun Goddess

For centuries, Brigid has held a significant place in Ireland's religious history and mythology. She also appears in other cultures with Celtic origins, bearing the same aspects as the Irish deity. Witches, druids, and pagans recognize her as Brigid, Brighid, or Briggidda. A Sun goddess governing healing, smithcraft, and poetry, she also carries associations with fertility. Intriguingly, Brigid's aspects bear similarities to Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland's patron saint. Although researchers dispute whether or not they are the same entity, evidence shows that many attributes of Brigid were assimilated into the Catholic saint's narrative. Her iconic Brigid Cross is used by both pagans and Christians around this time of year. Usually made of rushes or grass, devotees hang the cross above the doorways of homes or businesses. Brigid is closely associated with the dawn in historically Celtic regions, and the cow and the ewe are common symbols of her. 

Brigid in Connection with Imbolc

Imbolc, an ancient Celtic fire festival observed annually on February 1st, stands as the third sabbat on the Wiccan wheel of the year. Marking the halfway point of winter, Imbolc rejoices in the imminent return of the Sun: it is this time of year when the days are getting noticeably longer, and the first of the spring flowers start to poke through the ground. Imbolc has long been intertwined with Brigid.
For an agrarian society such as ancient Ireland, Imbolc is the dawn of the new farming year and a sign that the cold, barren winter is ending. Brigid, believed to facilitate the healing of the earth and usher in the light, holds a central role during Imbolc.

Observing Imbolc and Honoring Brigid

If you would like to take part in this ancient tradition, there are many ways to get started. You can start with a simple offering of milk or cheese to Brigid, or you can use our Brigid Offering & Spell Kit to make your own offering. You can also fashion a Brigid Cross for yourself and hang it over the doorway of your home to ward off evil and to welcome in the light. Ingredients to use in your spell craft might include blackberry leaves, chamomile, dandelion, and acorns. As Imbolc is a fire festival, take this opportunity to light a hearth fire, or simply use a candle if that is what is available to you. You can also go outside and harvest decorations for your altar such as snowdrops, crocus, or other seasonal flowers. Explore our Imbolc Sabbat Box for further inspiration, which you can get through our online store or at our brick-and-mortar location in Asheville. Join us in honoring Brigid and embracing the magic of Imbolc.

Imbolc (Candlemas, Brigid’s Day) is traditionally celebrated Jan 31-Feb 2, the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.

Imbolc is a festival that honors Brigid (Brighid, Bride, Brigit), a beloved pagan Goddess who was woven into the Christian church as St Bridget. In Kildare, Ireland, a women's only shrine was kept to her where nineteen nuns tended her continually burning sacred flame. She is a Goddess of healing (healers, medicine, spiritual healing) and inspiration (poets, poetry, creativity, prophecy, arts). She brings fertility to the land and its people.

Colors of the Season

White for purity and the color of milk.

Green for spring and healing.

Red for fire and creativity.

Gold for warmth of the sun and the color of grain.

Plants of the Season

Blackberry is Sacred to Brigid; the leaves and berries are used to attract prosperity and healing. Dandelion “the little notched of Bride”, snowdrop, crocus, acorns, oak tree, oat, chamomile, broom, shamrock, rushes, straw.

Imbolc Symbols

Fire - flames, candles, hearth, Brigid’s cross.

Water - cauldron, springs, wells, snow.

Grains- corn & oat sheaves for making Brigid wheels, Bridie dollies, Brigid's bed.

Animals- white cow with red ears, wolf, snake, swan, lamb.

Suggestions for celebration

Bless candles for use in future rituals and workings during the upcoming year.

Make Brigid wheels, placing the wheel above or on the door to bless the home & burning last year’s wheel. Also known as a Brigid's Cross it is traditional fire wheel symbol of protection.

Make a Brigid Doll is an old tradition which can be included in a ceremony and or placed in 'Bride's Bed' to bring fertility and good fortune to the home.

Put out food and drink for Brigid on Her eve (buttered bread, milk, grains, seeds).

Remove Yuletide greens from your home & burning. 

Imbolc Ritual

Decorate your altar with the colors and plants associated with the festival. Include a symbol of the season, such as a representation of a snowflake, a white flower, a Brigid’s wheel, or dollies. If you live in a region with snow, put some in a container and place on the altar. The melted snow can used for the water during the circle casting

Anoint candles with the Brigid Oil.

Light the candles and incense and cast the Circle.

"This is the time of the feast of torches,

when every lamp blazes and shines

to welcome the rebirth of the God.

I celebrate the Goddess,

I celebrate the God.

All the Earth celebrates

Beneath its mantle of sleep."

Take one of the lighted candles and slowly walk around the circle clockwise. You may want to read or recite a favorite poem.

Stop before the altar, holding up the candle. Gaze at its flame.

Visualize your life blossoming with creativity, with renewed energy and strength.

Celebrate with a simple feast of bread, butter, honey, and tea.

The circle is released.

Blessed Imbolc 

References

Farrar, Janet & Stewart (1987). The Witches Goddess.

Green, Miranda (1995). Celtic Goddesses.

Weber, Courtney (2015). Brigid: History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess

Cunningham, Scott (1988). Wicca A Guide for The Solitary Practitioner (pages 130 - 131).

 

Connecting with Frau Holle, The Winter Goddess. 

Among the enchanting figures that emerge during Yuletide is the Germanic character of Frau Holle. She is a powerful deity of the woods and the domestic sphere and is well known for her role in
The Wild Hunt. With her folklore comes a range of old traditions that echo many of our modern holiday customs, making her the perfect deity to connect with this Yule season.  

Frau Holle’s Origins and Folklore

Frau Holle is known by several names throughout Northern and Central Europe: Holda, Hulda, and Frau Perchta are a few. Her character appears in both Norse and Germanic pagan folklore. In
Scandinavia, she is a goddess of the woods and nature, and she is closely associated with evergreen plants such as holly and mistletoe. In other parts of Europe, she is also associated with fertility and domesticity and rules over activities such as housekeeping, weaving, and spinning. Some fairy tales and folk legends portray Frau Holle as an old crone or a toothless hag, and others depict her as a young and beautiful maiden.

Frau Holle and the Yule Season

Frau Holle is intimately connected with the winter season and especially snowfall. Some believe when Frau Holle shakes out
her mattresses, white feathers fall to earth. She is said to bring gifts to women on the Winter Solstice, and many Germanic cultures hold a feast in honor of her. Frau Holle is said to be active toward the end of December into January when the days officially start to get longer. This aspect of Frau Holle is associated with the return of light, and thus joy and celebration, but she also has a dark side as well. In places where she is known as Frau Perchta, she has an army of Perchten, lost souls who closely resemble Krampus. These spirits ride with Frau Perchta in The Wild Hunt. As we discussed in our last blog post, the Wild Hunt is a cavalcade of spirits who ride on the winter storms of the Yule season. Both Odin and Frau Holle are figures closely associated with The Wild Hunt, although there are some variations among different cultures about who actually leads the Wild Hunt. Some groups depict Frau Holle as the leader of the hunt, bringing her Perchten and the souls of unbaptized children with her. Others believe Odin leads the hunt, and Frau Holle is the prize being hunted.

Honoring Frau Holle Today

If you feel a connection to Frau Holle, you can easily welcome her into your space by bringing in evergreen plans like holly, pine, and mistletoe. Because of her close connection with snow, practicing a bit of snow magic can be a great way to call on her energy. You can also use our Spell & Offering Kit to make your offering to Frau Holle. The kit includes herbs, anointing oil, a candle, and spell ideas to help you get started. As with any deity ruling over the domestic sphere, completing domestic chores will honor Frau Holle. You can also work on crafts during your winter rituals. Spinning, weaving, sewing, and knitting are all great options to connect with Frau Holle. If you want to lean into tradition, you can host a feast in Frau Holle’s name. This is typically done on or around December 25th. If you wish to begin working with Frau Holle during the Yule season, you can find everything you need in our online store, or you can visit us in person to get more guidance from one of our staff members.

Yule is the festival of the Winter Solstice, on or about December 21, the shortest day, and the longest night of the year. Celtic pagan traditions celebrated with the symbolic  battle between the Oak King who represents light (summer) and the Holly King who represents dark (winter) , the lighting of large bonfires to keep evil spirits from their crops through the dark months, and feasting.

Traditions and Symbols

Decorating the Yule tree, representing the Tree of Life, with pinecones, berries, fruit, coins, and corn to represent the hope for abundance and prosperity in the new year.

Burning of a Yule log, anointed with wassail, to symbolize the continual hearth fire and prevent bad spirits from entering the home.

Lighting candles to lure back the sun.

Harvesting and hanging mistletoe, representing the fertility of the goddess and the seed of the Oak King, above doorways for protection.

Hanging bells to banish the negative and call in the positive.

A ritual at sunrise to welcome the light and warmth of the sun back to the land.

Colors of the Season

Red for the waning Holly King

Green for the waxing Oak King.

White for purity and the hope of new light.

Silver for the Moon.

Gold for the Sun.

Plants of the Season

Bay Leaves represent prosperity, luck, and success.

Evergreens are brought indoors to symbolize life, rebirth, renewal.

Holly Leaves, symbolic of the Holly King, symbolize hope and the red berries represent potency. Mistletoe’s green leaves symbolize fertility and its white berries the seed of the Oak King.

The Yule tree represents the Tree of Life and traditionally was decorated with the gift’s pagans wanted to receive from the Gods. Seasonal fruits and nuts like acorns, pecans, walnuts, oranges, and apples.   

Yule Ritual

Yule is a time of reflection during the long nights of the winter. As the trees and flowers go through their cycles of death and rebirth it is an opportunity to examine are own personal cycles of letting go of the old and bringing in the new.

A suggested ritual to help you celebrate your rebirth this Yule.

Clearing is a way of taking out the old and making the space for the new to enter our lives. Begin by lighting the Yule incense (included in your box) in a heat proof container. Walk around your home, while burning the incense, requesting energies that do not belong to you to leave and stay away.

Once you feel your space is cleared of unwanted energies, begin at the entrance of the room, and with the bell (included in your box) in your right hand, slowly move around the room in a clockwise motion, ringing the bell in a light but quick rhythm. Allow the bell to sound as it will. Voice your intentions for what you want to bring into your life  loudly and joyously. Let the bell lead you around the house. Ringing a bell will quickly change the way your home feels and help to manifest your intentions.

Decorate your altar and home with symbols of the season. Make yourself a cup of mulled wine or cider and light your candle. Think of all your accomplishments and ways you plan to adapt to strengthen yourself in the upcoming months. Express your gratitude for your achievements and what is to come. Many pagans stay up on the Winter Solstice to greet the rising Sun with the ringing of bells.

 Discover Odin, the Norse God of War and Wisdom

 As we draw closer to the Yule season, the figure of Odin becomes prominent in our holiday celebrations. This important figure in Norse mythology is known today through folklore as well as pop culture. In this blog post, we will discuss the history of this god of war and
wisdom as well as his associations with Yule.  

Odin’s Origins in Northern Europe.

Odin can be traced through the long history of Northern Europe, from the Roman occupation through the Viking age. Thus, he has
varied attributes and a rich mythology. In most instances, he functions as a god of war, wisdom, and poetry. Other spellings of his name include Wodan, Woden, or Wotan. He is also called the
one-eyed Allfather, the other eye he gave up in exchange for wisdom. He was often depicted with wolves or ravens, or riding through the sky on the back of his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir.

In heroic literature, he was the protector of heroes. Before a war, Odin was called upon to offer advice and gifts. In some Germanic cultures, he would also determine whether certain battles or individual warriors would be victorious or not. After a battle, Odin
would have his Valkyries scavenge the battlefield to bring the souls of the slain to his warrior paradise, Valhalla. From this practice, Odin became closely associated with the dead, which is apparent during Yuletide.

Odin, Yule, and the Wild Hunt.

Odin’s association with the Yule season dates far back to old Norse and Germanic pagan traditions. One of the most famous legends is that of The Wild Hunt, a phenomenon where an army of spirits rides
the winter storms of the Yule season. The Wild Hunt is made up of the spirits of those who experienced untimely death, whether from illness, accidents, or of course, battles. Included also are animals associated with death, land spirits, and deities, Odin being one of them. If you venture outside in the darkness of mid-winter nights, you might spot this horde in the sky, or worse, be picked up by one of the spirits and dropped miles away from your home. Sometimes members of the hunt would enter towns and homes to cause chaos.  

There are some contradictions in historical texts on who exactly leads this Wild Hunt every year; some believe it is Frau Holle, who we will discuss in the next blog post, and others believe it is Odin. Nonetheless, we can conclude that, due to his close associations with the dead and his reputation for riding through the sky, Odin plays an important role in the Wild Hunt.

Connect with Odin.

Yule is the perfect time to connect with Odin since his presence is ever more prominent during this season. Many will start celebrating this season with well-known traditions such as decorating an
evergreen tree or preparing a Yule log. You can find ways to incorporate Odin into these practices by using icons such as ravens or wolves to call him into your space. You can also use ingredients in your seasonal witchcraft such as tobacco, ash or elm leaves and bark, or chamomile. Leaving out food offerings is also popular during Yule; common offerings would include bread, crab apples,
and cured meats.  

Other activities you could try during this season would be throwing runes, which have their roots in Norse traditions. You could also build an altar and light a candle for Odin on the Winter Solstice.
Our Odin Offering & Spell Kit includes anything you may need to get started on your journey with Odin. You can buy this and other supplies for the Yule season from our online store, or visit us in person at our brick-and-mortar store.