by Selena Fox
Merry Solstice [traditional English, adapted]
We wish you a Merry Solstice, We wish you a Merry Solstice,
We wish you a Merry Solstice, and a Happy New Year!
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin,
We wish you a Merry Solstice, and a Happy New Year!
Deck the Halls [traditional Welsh Yuletide carol]
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
Don we now our gay apparel, Fa-la-la, Fa-la-la, Fa-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
See the blazing Yule before us, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
Follow me in merry measure, Fa-la-la, Fa-la-la, Fa-la-la.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
Fast away the old year passes, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
Sing we joyous all together, Fa-la-la, Fa-la-la, Fa-la-la.
Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa-la-la-la-la, Fa-la-la-la.
Lore and Rituals by Selena Fox
Summer Solstice, sometimes known as Midsummer, Litha, or St. John's Day, occurs in the middle of June. It is a celebration of the longest day of the year and the beginning of Summer. It has been a grand tribal gathering time since ancient times. This is a sacred time for honoring Mother Earth and the Sacred Sun. Colors are Yellow, Green, and Blue. It is a festival of community sharing and planetary service.
Workshop by Selena Fox
Signs of Spring - take a Nature walk with your attention focused on changes in the land, climate, creatures, plants. Reflect on yourself renewing as other parts of Nature your encounter are doing this.
Spring Cleaning - in & around home. Sweeping, scrubbing, smudging, burning, re-organizing, more.
Airing out the Home - opening windows and letting new air flow through and circulate.
Spring Home Blessings - consecrate with Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Spirit; bless threshold.
Home Altar Renewal - take off all objects, clean altar and area around it, assess what to keep & what to change, re-set, add Spring decorations.
Spring Decorations - place Spring symbols such as wreath and/or budding branches on or near front door, place symbolic and/or actual flowers, other symbols around home.
Egg Traditions - coloring, exchanges, hunts, games, decorations, foods, divinations
New Growth Choices Egg Rolling Divination - decorate a hardboiled egg with symbols of possible actions to bring about new growth; with intention, roll the egg to discover which to work with first.
Spring Tonic - infuse herbs in hot water to create a tea, drink it with intention of rejuvenation; use newly sprouted greens when available.
New Garb - purchase and/or create something new to wear - clothing, hat, shoes, necklace, or other item; wearing it as symbolic of new life spring forth.
Seeds Blessings - selecting seeds to be planted, blessing seeds, starting seeds.
Garden Blessings - clearing away debris, burying egg or other charm for abundance, envisioning abundant growth of plants in the garden.
Spring Meditations - working with one or more Spring images: Ostara, Green Gods/Goddesses, Flora, Maia, Demeter & Kore, Dionysus, Jack-in-Green, Balance of Day & Night, Flowers, Eggs, Baskets, Maypole, Greening/budding branches, Butterflies, Sunshine, others.
Festival Rites - Spring Equinox, Earth Day, Beltane; bonfires, greeting dawn, dance, processions, song.
Welcome Spring Chant
We Honor the Fertile Earth. We Honor the Warming Breezes.
We Honor the Waxing Light. We Honor the Nurturing Rains.
Welcome Spring, New Life to Bring, to Land, to Us, to All.
Welcome Spring, Rebirth we Sing, Within and 'Round Us All.
New Life Chant
New Life Spring Forth, New Life Spring Forth, New Life Spring Forth, Rise in Me!
Earth & Sky Chant
Mother Earth Renew Us, Father Sky Refresh Us!
Spring Equinox Chant
Time of Equal Nights & Equal Days.
Time to Welcome Spring in Sacred Ways.
Lore and Rituals by Selena Fox
Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara, occurs in the middle of March. It marks the beginning of Spring and the time when days and nights are of equal length. The Goddess manifests as Ostara or Eostre with her basket of eggs. She is accompanied by the Hare or Rabbit, a manifestation of the God. Green has been sacred to this Sabbat since ancient times, because it represents the greening of the land with vegetation. This is a festival of new growth.
by Selena Fox
Focus of Celebration:consider first your purpose(s) for the celebration, such as:
Timing of Celebration: pick a time that fits form of celebration and family patterns, such as:
On Solstice:
Near Solstice:
Length of Celebration:structure with age and attention range of family members in mind
Settings of Celebration: pick a suitable location; some options include:
Indoors in Family Home:
Outdoors:
Components of Celebration: select one or more that fits focus, timing, length, and setting
Yule Wreath
Solstice Feast
Candlelight Circle
Yule Log
Bell Ringing
Yule Tree
Winter Nature Communion
Solstice Stories
Gift Giving
by Selena Fox
Selena first publicly shared this poem on Solstice night 1994 during Circle's public Winter Solstice Celebration in Madison, Wisconsin.
It is the middle of December.
The nights are longer, the weather is colder, winter comes.
Celebration is at hand.
Renewing bonds of friendship.
Visiting with family and friends.
Exchanging gifts with loved ones.
Candles, Dolls, Cookies, Sweets, Holly, Wreaths of Green.
Surprises.
Courts close. Battles stop.
Time off from school and work.
Holiday Break.
Singing, Dancing, Games, Merry-Making.
Food ... Lots of Food and Drink.
Great Feasts and Parties.
To celebrate the Sun, the Land, the Ancient Ones, the great Circle of Nature.
To welcome in the Winter and the New Year.
To bring forth renewal, peace, and joy.
Solstice Present .... Solstice Past.
This is the legacy of Saturnalia,
weeklong Pagan Winter Solstice Festival of Ancient Rome.
Saturnalia, your spirit and these traditions live on
in the world today
in Christmas feasts and New Year's parties,
in our Winter Solstice celebration tonight.
Bless our connection with the ancients.
Bless our connection with each other.
Bless our connection with future generations.
We rejoice.
Io, Saturnalia!
Io, Saturnalia!
Io, Saturnalia!
by Selena Fox
Article by Selena Fox
Samhain, popularly known as Halloween, occurs in late October and early November. For most Wiccan practitioners, this is the New Year, and a time for letting go of the old and looking ahead to the new. It marks the end of the harvest season. Since ancient times, Pagans have paid their respects to departed loved ones, ancestors, and guides in the Spirit World at Samhain. The Goddess manifests as the Crone and the God as the Horned Hunter and Lord of Death. Sacred colors are Black and Orange. It is the festival of endings and transformation.
Lore and Rituals by Selena Fox
Lammas, or Lughnassad, occurs in late July and early August. It is marks the middle of Summer and the beginning of the harvest. It is the first of three harvest festivals and is usually associated with ripening grain. It heralds the coming of Autumn. The Goddess manifests as Demeter, Ceres, Corn Mother, and other agricultural Goddesses. The God manifests as Lugh, John Barleycorn, and vegetation Gods. Colors are Golden Yellow, Orange, Green, and Light Brown. It is a festival of plenty and prosperity.