Paganism is experiencing a worldwide revival as extra individuals are reconnecting with nature. Cities comparable to New Orleans, US; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Drogheda, Eire, have commercialized their pagan festivals. Nevertheless, there are nonetheless locations the place historic celebrations proceed of their authentic kind, preserved as locally-kept secrets and techniques handed down by means of generations.
These festivals protect age-old customs, which regularly originate from traditions and practices that predate the arrival of Christianity. Whereas the extra critical pagan festivals noticed at present encompass Mabon and Xmas, these 5 lesser-known festivals are a superb alternative to expertise the tradition of the local people and achieve insights into pagan custom.
1. The Burryman Procession, South Queensferry, Scotland
Coated solely in prickly burdock seedheads and adorned with a crown of flowers, the Burryman and his procession of bagpipe gamers and bell ringers have walked the streets of South Queensferry each August for over 9 hundred years, making this the oldest pageant in Scotland. The oldest official document of the Burryman Competition goes again to 1687, when the pageant was formally acknowledged. Though the which means behind this custom is unknown, the Burryman is believed to be the Scottish interpretation of the Inexperienced Man, a pagan nature spirit representing rebirth and fertility, and whose presence wards off evil.
Solely a male born in South Queensferry can turn into the Burryman. Thought of an awesome honor, these chosen typically maintain the place for a few years. Within the weeks main as much as the procession, the chosen man should hand-pick the hundreds of burrs that can be used for his costume. The burrs are then caught on to cloth panels, and on the morning of the massive day, the panels are rigorously utilized to the person till he’s absolutely engulfed in a go well with of burrs. The Burryman is aided by a workforce of assistants, who maintain his arms propped up on embellished staffs and escort him as he hobbles slowly by means of the city, a journey that lasts for 9 hours. Alongside the way in which, onlookers bestow the Burryman with presents of cash and drams of whisky in order that he’ll deliver them good luck.
The place and when?
The Burryman Procession is held on the second Friday of August in South Queensferry, Scotland.
2. Fêtes de L’Ours (Competition of the Bears), Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, Pyrénées-Orientales, France
Symbolic of the age-old battle between man and nature, the wild custom of the Fêtes de L’Ours has been held in Pyrenees villages for hundreds of years, tracing its origins again to the arctolatry – or bear cult worship – practiced by pre-Christian Basques. In Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, host to the oldest of the bear festivals, members reenact the legend of a younger shepherdess kidnapped by a lecherous bear. The younger lady prayed for defense of her advantage to the close by Notre Dame du Coral cathedral, which vastly displeased the bear. For 9 days he howled in revulsion exterior of his cave, attracting the eye of close by woodcutters, in addition to a farm boy and the hermit of Notre Dame du Coral. Whereas the farm boy and the hermit got here to the shepherdess’ rescue, the woodcutters tracked down and killed the bear.
The pageant begins at Fort Lagarde on the hill above the village, the place a feast is held for the boys who’ve been chosen to play the bears. The chosen are then sewn into sheepskin costumes, and each seen patch of pores and skin is blackened with a thick combination of oil and soot. Wielding lengthy wood staffs, the costumed bears set free a deafening roar and race down the hill, tackling individuals – girls appear to draw probably the most consideration – alongside the way in which, smearing their victims with soot. Down into the village’s winding maze of cobbled streets, the bears are pursued by hunters into the village sq., the place they’re lastly chained up and “shaved,” returning to their human varieties. The festivities shut with individuals dancing in a frenzy till somebody lets off a single gunshot, signaling the festivities are coming to a detailed.
The place and when?
The Fêtes de L’Ours is held on the second Sunday in February in Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, France. Remember to put on outdated garments – likelihood is you’ll get attacked!
3. Harvest House, Whalton, England
Till about 100 years in the past, it was a typical follow in rural communities all through the UK to have fun a bountiful harvest with a ritual referred to as the Harvest House. On the finish of the season, the final of the corn sheaves could be reduce down and normal into the likeness of a girl, referred to as the Kern Child. Wearing a sublime white robe, ribbons and flowers woven into the ears of corn bursting from her head, the Kern Child could be hoisted onto the highest of a big pole; the neighborhood would collect spherical and dance beneath the effigy, then take pleasure in an awesome feast – farmers and laborers sharing the identical desk.
The custom of the Harvest House is believed to have originated in historic Rome. In honor of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, farmers would weave dolls out of the final of the gathered corn and show them of their fields. The dolls served as vessels to carry Ceres after the fields have been reaped in order that her spirit wouldn’t go astray.
At the moment, the village of Whalton in northern England is the final stronghold of this historic customized, holding a bonfire – or Baal hearth – to mark the tip of the harvest, and since 2016 it has been residence to a 15ft Kern Child. The pageant, along with having most of the trappings you’d count on from a harvest pageant, additionally sometimes has basic automotive displays and different fascinating shows.
The place and when?
The Baal Fireplace and Kern Child dance are held on July 4 in Whalton, England.
4. Fasnacht, Kriens, Switzerland
Throughout the month of Lent, Switzerland comes alive with a wild cacophony of masquerades, pageants, and marching bands, dispelling the oppressive spirits of winter and permitting for one final indulgence earlier than fasting begins on Ash Wednesday. Carnival – or Fasnacht – has been celebrated in Switzerland for hundreds of years, and though fashionable Fasnachts favor elaborate costumes and popular culture motifs, traditionally members wore outdated garments and simplistic hand-carved wood masks. The pageant dates again to 1376 and is a acknowledged cultural occasion by UNESCO.
Town of Kriens has preserved these masking traditions. The earliest identified Kriens masks – or Hübelimasken – date again to the eighteenth century and have been crudely made with rudimentary options. The Hübelimasken grew to become extra subtle over time and commenced combining pagan symbolism with caricatures of frequent figures from the area. This finally led to the creation of the 4 beloved characters distinctive to the Kriens Fasnacht: “Wöschwyb” – the washerwoman; “Krienser Deckel” – the French soldier; “Buuremaa” – the farmer; and “Bärnerwiib” – the Bernese courtesan. Every character has its personal distinct persona: the cheeky Wöschwyb likes to gossip, whereas the lascivious Bärnerwiib lifts up her skirts and purrs on the crowd. The Krienser Deckel, along with his elongated hat of red-painted tree bark, performs the twin position of villainous soldier and forest spirit, whereas the grumpy Buuremaa stomps alongside the parade route, horrifying onlookers. Up to now, solely males have been concerned in Fasnacht, nonetheless at present all genders are allowed to take part.
The place and when?
Fasnacht is held between Soiled Thursday and Carnival Tuesday, previous to Ash Wednesday, in Kriens, Switzerland.
5. Gody Zywieckie, Zywiec, Poland
Within the pre-dawn darkish on New Yr’s day, within the mountain city of Zywiec, a troop of colorfully-dressed males in conical hats and sheepskin masks race alongside the streets. These males are referred to as the Grandfathers – or Jukace –come to usher within the festivities of Gody Zywieckie, an historic Slavic-pagan masquerade, heralding the tip of winter.
The Jukace start working on New Yr’s Eve, going from occasion to occasion, accepting presents of vodka, sweets, and cash in return for good blessings. After attending a 5am Mass, the Jukace resume their sojourn across the metropolis, leaping, dancing, and cracking their whips, embracing passersby and shouting well-wishes into the chilly morning air. Gody Zywieckie culminates at midday with a parade within the middle of the town.
The Jukace are seen as figures of excellent luck, their working symbolic of chasing away unhealthy spirits and the outdated yr. Nevertheless, the origins of the characters are unknown. A well-liked native legend is that through the Deluge of 1655, Zywiec Highlanders dressed up as monsters and charged down the mountainside, horrifying the invading Swedish military with their otherworldly appears and the crack of their whips, and allowed King John II Casimir of Poland to flee.
To turn into a Jukace is an arduous course of; potential candidates begin as younger as eight years outdated and work their approach up the ranks of masquerade characters – Babka (outdated girl), Chimney Sweep, Imp – to turn into a Jukace. Even then, solely bachelors are eligible and should endure checks for power, agility, and reminiscence to find out whether or not or not they’re proper for the position.
The place and when?
Gody Zywieckie is widely known on New Yr’s Eve and New Yr’s Day in Zywiec, Poland.
Pagan festivals: dates, suggestions and etiquette
What dates do pagans observe for celebration and worship?
There is no such thing as a singly accepted calendar for pagan holidays and ritualistic celebrations. Similar to there’s some discrepancy between varied Christian sects over the observance of Christmas, with some celebrating the vacation in January and never December, there are additionally discrepancies over what holidays are noticed and when pagans have fun them. However, you should utilize the Wheel of the Yr as a common information as to when and the way pagans select to follow their religion on their holidays.
The Wheel of the Yr divides the calendar into eight key factors, comparable to Imbolc, Litha, Samhain and Xmas. Every celebration honors the altering seasons, nature and the spirits surrounding us. For vacationers looking for to expertise wealthy, time-honored traditions, these festivals present a significant connection to historical past and the pure world.
A number of smaller festivals and celebrations are inside these bigger, excessive holy days, comparable to Imbolc and Samhain. Imbolc is often noticed in early February, whereas Samhain is noticed on what most individuals name Halloween, October thirty first. These main holidays are referred to as Larger Sabbats (the pagan phrase for a vacation), whereas the photo voltaic festivals are referred to as Lesser Sabbats, which embody Ostara and Xmas.
In 2025, the key holidays of the pagan Wheel of the Yr will fall on the next dates:
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Lammas (Lughnasadh/Lughnasa): August 1st
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Mabon (Fall Equinox): September twenty first
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Samhain (All Hallows): October thirty first
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Xmas (Winter Solstice): December twenty first
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Imbolc (Candlemas): February 2nd
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Ostara (Spring Equinox): March twenty first
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Beltane (Might Day): Might 1st
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Litha/Midsummer: June twenty first
Between these holidays are a number of small festivals and feast days, which might be location-specific or tied to pre-Christian cultures. However these much less distinguished festivals aren’t as universally acknowledged as the key pagan holidays listed above and are extra obscure and domestically noticed.
A few of these celebrations embody the next:
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Tschäggättu, Switzerland:
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Rauhnacht, Germany
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Dionysia, Greece
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Saturnalia, Rome/Greece
Whereas many of those festivals are initially from Europe, many individuals throughout the globe of all races select so as to add these celebrations to their pagan calendar.
Are Pagan festivals open to anybody who needs to take part?
In most situations, anybody who needs to attend a pagan occasion, pageant or Sabbat is welcome to affix. The truth is, many Wiccans and neo-pagan teams wish to have new individuals come to their occasions as a result of it dispels a few of the rumors that encompass their practices. Newbies can discover teams internet hosting meet-ups on social media, blogs and different on-line media, and there aren’t any strict guidelines you have to observe to attend most conferences.
What do I must learn about pagan pageant etiquette?
Respect is crucial in pagan communities, and plenty of practitioners place nice worth on the precept of asking for permission. For many pagans and Wiccans, a central tenet of their perception is: “Do what you’ll, so long as it harms none.” This guiding philosophy encourages private freedom but in addition emphasizes the significance of mindfulness and consideration for others and the pure world.
So when planning to go to a pagan pageant or sabbat, it’s sensible to maintain just a few issues in thoughts, so that you might be respectful:
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All the time ask permission: by no means contact another person’s magic or ritualistic objects. This may very well be their crystals, wands, crystal balls, tarot playing cards or every other objects they’ve with them. Many pagans consider these gadgets have particular powers and might turn into contaminated when others deal with or use them.
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Be trustworthy: pagan communities recognize honesty. They need you to talk up and never really feel pressured to do one thing you are uncomfortable with.
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Shield their privateness: paganism is rising in recognition across the globe, however it’s nonetheless on the fringes of society. Some pagans are open about their religion, however many nonetheless fear about how their faith might impression their lives. When and in the event that they pronounce their religion to the world is their resolution, so by no means share the id of a pagan except they inform you you possibly can.
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