Thanksgiving and Holidays

With Thanksgiving being tomorrow, many Wiccan's are still unaware of holiday traditions.  Some wonder if regular Americanized holidays can still be practiced.  For the sake of Thanksgiving, some who practice Wicca look at it more as a day of being somber and remembering those who were killed during the settlement.  Then again, there are others who think and practice differently.  Thanksgiving is not focused around the idea that we killed Native Americans and ate a lot of food.  That may be a crude summary of how it originated, but Thanksgiving is about just what the name alludes to.  Be thankful for what you have.  It is about getting together with family and appreciating why you meet on every holiday, love.  Food just happens to be included.  If you want to stay strict to your Wiccan beliefs than reflect on the fact that the harvest and the Earth gave you plenty to be thankful for. 

Other Wiccan/Pagan  holidays/sabbats to look out for this upcoming year:

Yule: The winter solstice is a time for feasting and giving and is the original holiday that Christians modified into what is now Christmas.

Imbolc/Brigid's Day: Brigid is the Celtic Goddess of love, inspiration, and fertility.  Light a candle, say a blessing, and feast.  This is a holiday that is somewhat similar to Valentines Day.  This is the festival of light, fertility, and love.  Also called the Feast of Pan.

Ostara: End of March, Spring Equinox, This holiday can relate to Easter.  It is about beginnings, action, and earth.  This is the beginning of the spring year, which means gardens galore.  The Wiccans/Pagans celebrate this time as the world getting its natural color back.

Beltane: This takes place on the May Eve, April 30th.  This is actually one holiday that does not correlate with Christians because they had no reason to celebrate or modify it.  The Maypole and bonfires are apart of the ritual, and flowers being given to one another is a big part as well.  This is another fertility love holiday.  This is a Pagan holiday mainly.

Litha: Summer Solitice, June 20-23.  This is celebrated on the longest day of the year.  Having a fire, having a smile on your face, and just celebrating the Earth and the good seasons is what it is about.  

Lughnassadh: August 1st.  This is about harvest, and can be similar to an American Thanksgiving.  This time is meant to be more somber and relaxing with a peaceful candle and meal.  Celebration doesn't always have to be a party, but it can still be rejuvinating and fun.

Mabon: Fall equinox, Sept. 20-23.  This is not as popular or as widely celebrated.  It is very similar to the harvest celebration on the 1st of August.

Samhain: Oct 31.  This is often called Feast of the Dead, All Hallows, and of course Halloween.  Wiccan's felt this as a day where the physical and spiritual became separate in order to honor those who have passed.  So many concepts stigmas are attached to this holiday.

As you can tell, The Wiccan/Pagan faiths like to celebrate the Earth, fertility, and harvest.  It is almost as if the holidays are a constant version of Thanksgiving, because that is what these traditions do.  They are thankful and celebrate in attempts to give back. 

Enjoy the Holidays!iginal Holiday that the Christian religions modified into their own Christmas,

Wiccan Holiday Decor

Wicca, as an organized religion, is really very young, but the roots do go pretty far back in time. It is interesting to realize that Christmas is actually a kind of adaptation of the Pagan/Wiccan holiday of Yule. In modern times, Yule is observed as a cultural festival and also with religious rites by some Christians and by some Neopagans. It's fun to decorate and get ready for the holidays!

It is a tradition to decorate the Christmas/Holiday tree in many family, so why not get some Wiccan themed ornaments.  Anything from pentacles to the three of life make greats decorations.  There is an endless list. 

Also, wreaths are a great idea as well.  The circular design of wreaths symbolizes the life cycle. It is a celebration of renewal and rebirth, one of Yule's meanings. So, feel free to grab any fun holiday wreath to add some decor.

Great holiday candles are another way to heat up the holiday cheer too.

So many great ideas are out there! Even though Thanksgiving has yet to pass by, stores are getting their Christmas/Yule decorations set up.  Grab some with a great wiccan theme to incorporate your beliefs.