August festival themes include: celebration of harvest, parade of lights, and travel of souls from their earthly incarnation to the afterlife and subsequent journeys back to the land of the living. The latter could represent a soul’s presence in the lives of loved ones and also a soul’s rejuvenation into other forms.
Green Corn Ceremony – Native American – Southern tribes in particular gave thanks for a bountiful harvest when corn ears became large enough for roasting. The Hopi see the goddess as the Corn Mother, symbolized by an ear of corn with four plump kernels at the end.
Lammas – Anglo-Saxon, British, Germanic, Celtic – The day of Loaf Mass when the first loaf of bread was baked and blessed from the first crop of wheat. It is a festival commemorating the origins and creators of agriculture, an advancement that allowed the establishment of community and flourishing culture. Prior to that, humankind was relegated to hunting and gathering and, therefore, roaming rather than settling. Harvest is the abundance that comes after a year of hard work. The festival is also related to the travel of the soul between the worlds of light and dark.
Tu Day – Nepalese – Women’s Day in Nepal where women stop working and celebrate themselves as goddess. It’s interesting that some scholars attribute the first planting of seeds, thus the beginning of agriculture, to women. The festival also honors the strong friendships among women.
Birthday of Isis – Egypt – Her birthday is called the Festival of Lights, and devotees lit candles and burned incense in her honor. Boats with torches traveled up the Nile to honor the powerful goddess.
Mundus Cereris – Romans and more modern Europeans but most likely originated with the ancient Etruscans – For three days out of the year (one in August, October, and November) the goddess Ceres was evoked to open the pit of the Underworld and allow the souls of the dead to visit with the living. Spirits were given the freedom to roam where they wished, and no business took place.
Most of us no longer depend on agriculture as the foremost sustaining factor in our lives. How can we honor the harvest in ways that have meaning to us? Here are some suggestions:
The harvest is a time of fulfillment after a long stretch of hard work. We need to take time to celebrate our accomplishments and give thanks for those who have helped us. Writers are not the only ones but are notorious for moving feverishly from one activity to another. We write “the end” and then skip merrily along with revisions, queries, submissions, edits, cover questionnaires, review quests, book release, marketing, social media, and starting the next book. Can’t we take a night and go out to dinner with family and friends just to go “yippee” over one of the major accomplishments, whether it’s writing “the end,” seeing the book released, or whatever is your favorite? Do you take the time to do that? I would love to hear about your spontaneous activities or rituals that enable you to give yourself a hearty pat on the back, as well as show gratitude to others.
Another thing we can do is call up a friend we haven’t seen in a while and visit a museum or have a girls’ spa day. Talk about shared interests and old times while getting the green face mask.
To strengthen our hearts and show our ongoing love and devotion, we can light a candle for a loved one who has passed from this world. One small flicker illuminates the night.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Great post! Except the examples you’ve given, many of which I had no idea about, I love the comparison you’ve made between the toilers of the land and the toilers of the “mind/word”.
Around here there was a tradition of celebrating harvest day. Especially at the end of September and beginning of October. There were large displays of stands with all kinds of vegetables and fruit. Grills were sizzling with sheep pastrami(yam,yam), pork steaks, and the traditional Romanian “mici” while the cups were filled with the new wine -“tulburel” called because though sweet and apparently harmless, it easily gets you drunk without being aware, troubling your mind. That’s the meaning of “tulburel”.
The tradition is no longer so powerful, though here people turned to being dependent on agriculture.
Thank you for sharing these with us, Flossie!
Your celebrations of harvest sound wonderful, Carmen– so festive and community oriented. I guess we would have to watch out for that new wine! Great tidbit for a historical romance. With Lammas I was struck with it celebrating the first wheat and the first loaf.
Great post as usual. I learn so much. This weekend there is an Indian related festival here I hope to see some… I rarely pat myself on the back but I do have some friends I love to pat
Ooh, I hope you get to attend the weekend festival, Cathy. They are usually so colorful, and I love the drumming. Pat pat– that’s for you!
Although I love fall and the coming time of harvest when everything is colorful, cozy and warm, I will miss summer. 🙁 You are so correct that as writers we rarely ever slow down to appreciate an accomplishment. It seems there is always a ton of work waiting around the corner once “the End” has been written. Maybe it’s time to “harvest” that energy and bask in the glow for a good day or two before we dive in on the next book or the next item on the edit/promotion list. I always tell myself that I’ll do (insert reward) after I finish (insert looming deadline). Of course there is always another deadline waiting to be addressed.
You’re motivating me to appreciate what I’ve harvested, FLossie! 🙂
We will definitely miss summer, especially the beach, the pool, the Snickerdoodles being able to stay up late, and the more relaxed atmosphere. I’m all for your idea of Harvesting the writing energy and then basking in the glow. Thank you for your suggestion and comments!
Very appropriate for me. I work with ISIS as my healing Goddess. Rituals, yes. I’ll write a blog to celebrate or just take time out to go shopping.
Isis is a powerful one for sure. I’m glad you take the time to recognize and enjoy your accomplishments– and they have been many, Ronnie, with more to come.