Solstices, Equinoxes, & Moon Ceremonies
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Introduction
Vernal (Spring) Equinox
Autumnal (Fall) Equinox
Summer Solstice (Also Known As Midsummer Night & Litha)
Winter (Yule) Solstice
Imbolc (Candlemas)
Beltane (May Day)
Lughnasadh (Lammas)
Samhain (All Soul’s Day, All Saints Day, All Hallows, Hallowe’en)
Summary
Moon Worship & Rituals
Creating Your Own Rituals
Conclusion
Written by Nicole Yalsovac
Introduction
For thousands of centuries people have celebrated festivals associated with yearly cycles. The observance of these various holidays help validate humanity’s dependence on the energy of the earth and planets, and reaffirm our interconnectedness with the animal, plant and astronomical realms. These festivals and rituals allow us to identify with and honor our source of life, and mark the passage of time in our lives. These various seasonal festivals continue to be celebrated throughout the world. You will see that the traditions and rituals for many of these festivals have been assimilated into Christian holidays.
There are eight significant times throughout the year that are recognized as special festivities and rituals. These dates are generally believed to have originated with the Druids and became an essential aspect of Celtic culture. These pagan rituals are also referred to as Sabbats. Four of the eight holidays are solar, associated with the sun, and the other four are lunar, influenced by the moon. It was felt that these created a balance between masculine and feminine powers, since the masculine Yang energy is represented by the sun and feminine Yin energy by the moon.
In this course we will discuss ceremonies associated with the four seasons, the sun and the moon. We will present some historical background, traditions and rituals practiced both in ancient and modern times.
The four solar festivals, based on astronomical sightings are:
Spring Equinox (called Alban Eilir by the Druids) on or near March 21
Summer Solstice (Alban Hefin) on or near June 21
Autumnal Equinox (Alban Elfed) on or near September 21
Winter Equinox (Alban Arthan) on or near December 21
The four lunar holidays are:
Imbolc on February 2
Beltane on May 1
Lughnasadh on August 1
Samhain on October 31
Since these dates originated in the Northern Hemisphere, they apply only in that hemisphere. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you just reverse the dates. For example Summer Solstice would be in December instead of June, Autumnal Equinox would be in March instead of September. September would be the Spring Equinox and so on.
Equinoxes refer to equality between day and night; the hours of light and dark are equal during this time. Although the Spring and Autumnal Equinoxes are balanced in light and dark, the Spring Equinox marks the beginning in the expansion of the sun’s power, the Autumnal Equinox marks the start of its decline. Solstices pertain to the power of the sun at its strongest and weakest. At the Summer Solstice, the sun gives maximum light, as this is the longest day of the year, and Winter Solstice is the day with the least amount of sunlight, the shortest day of the year.
It is evident, from megaliths, stone circles, pyramids and other ancient structures throughout the world, that these days were calculated and observed by the way in which the various structure’s points were oriented to the sunrise and sunset, to the solstices and equinoxes. Stonehenge in England is a well-known example of an ancient structure that, as many theorize, is an astronomical observatory. Another lesser-known, but more remarkable structure is Newgrange in Ireland. This structure is thought to be 5,000 years old, which is older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids. It is a huge circular stone megalith with a design that receives a shaft of sunlight deep into its central chamber precisely at dawn on winter solstice. This shaft of light illuminates a stone basin that is surrounded by carvings of solar shapes, spirals and eye shapes. Even though little is known about other uses of some of these structures, it is obvious that marking the movement of the sun and moon and the yearly cycles held immense spiritual importance to these cultures.