Monday morning, and the equinox is later this week. It’s tempting to think that our ancestors simply honoured the equinox as a turning point, if it weren’t for the fact that among the Celts at least, their main festivals were ‘between points’ or cross-quarters (sometimes also called quarter days).
Samhain, Imbolg, Beltane and Lughnasadh occur roughly half way between the four astronomically based festivals of the two solstices (Yule and Litha) and the two equinoxes (Mabon and Ostara).
Many pagans insist on celebrating either four cross-quarter festivals or the four astronomical ones, reckoning that this is more historically correct. Wiccans usually celebrate all eight. I’m not sure that following a pagan path has to be historically accurate – if I felt it was that important I’d probably just go and join some re-enactment society and wave a sword about or something.
Besides, I’m all in favour of celebrations generally – I’ll celebrate just about anything given half a chance, so I go for the eight, and occasionally add in local festivals too. I don’t like any month of the year to feel left out!
And anyway, I’m not at all sure that our ancestors did only celebrate four main festivals. For a start, all eight have been Christianised at some point. Samhain became part of the All Saints/All Souls celebrations, Yule became St Thomas’ Day (on the solstice itself) and Christmas (which took over the Mithras celebrations on the 25th December). Imbolg became Candlemas, both festivals of light; Ostara became Easter; while Mabon became Michaelmas, Litha became St John’s Day on 24th June, and Lughnasadh became Lammas with its bread baking and cattle fairs. Beltane on May 1st is a little different – it always seems to have retained much of its pagan character to the extent that Oliver Cromwell banned it in the 17th century.
Weirdly, many of these festivals have retained their pagan character, in spite of the Church’s efforts to write over them. There is a certain ‘feel’ in the air still around the pagan festivals, and if you are really sensitive you will actually feel that year ‘changing gears’ as it approaches each one. Once the Autumn Equinox (Michaelmas, Mabon, whatever you want to call it) comes around, you feel things ‘tilt’ slightly as we begin the long haul into winter.
We may have forgotten much about our pagan past. It certainly hasn’t forgotten us.
Seeking the Green by Tylluan Penry, published soon by Capall Bann. For more info please watch this space!
And I agree that we have to be circumspect before dashing in and getting carried away with what our ancestors did and didn't do. Even the term 'Celt' is not entirely clear, since there is evidence of Celtic culture over most of Europe and some parts of Asia. Perhaps I shouldn't have used it....
In years to come I strongly suspect his work will be regarded much as Margaret Murray's work is nowadays.
I'm not being argumentative but the evidence for the four pagan quarters is mainly modern and the ancient Celts didn't have a homogenised practice. Most of it seems to have been very local and differed widely. Thje Victorians invented much of what we now think of as surviving pagan celebrations. Ronald Hutton discusses this at great length in 'The Stations of the Sun'. A pity but like most modern Wiccan practice - it has nothing to do with history and a lot to do with harking back to a so-called golden age. Enough.