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Post by Heron on Apr 21, 2016 14:39:42 GMT -1
Lorna, I agree with the principal of what you say about not listing festivals that none of us celebrate. It might be good perhaps to list potential inclusions inviting input from others, though perhaps not here on the main list, or at least not initially. It took me a bit of scrolling up and down to see what you have taken out, and I might have missed one or two, but it looks like Blodeuwedd, Manawaydan, Taranis, Lugus and Modron. As we thought it a good idea to include them originally, perhaps we should all be thinking about how we (or someone else) might contribute something.
But for now, yes, it's better to put up a list that we can respond to questions about and/or elaborate on if need be.
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Post by lorna on Apr 22, 2016 8:20:40 GMT -1
Ok... here are the ones that I have taken out that we could either think about instigating ourselves or finding others interested in taking the lead.
Blodeuwedd Festival of Blodeuwedd, a Welsh divinity created from flowers who was the beloved of Lleu and Gronw and later transformed into an owl by Gwydion.
Nodens The Temple of Nodens at Lydney Park opens on the 27th of March and closes on the 8th of June. This is a good time to visit to this sacred site to honour Nodens, god of hunting, healing and dreams.
Midsummer: Manannan / Manawydan On the Isle of Man, rent was paid in rushes to Manannan at midsummer. There is much cross over between Manannan and Manawydan. This is a good time to make an offering to the god of shore and sea.
Taranis Festival marking summer storms and honouring Taranis as god of thunder and of the wheel.
1st August: Lugus Festival for Lugus, god of crafts.
2nd November: All Soul's Day A day for honouring all our ancestors.
Saturday closest to the 11th in November: Alternative Armistice Day An alternative to Remembrance Sunday where we honour those who have died in war and contemplate ways of furthering peace.
Ceridwen Festival for Ceridwen, goddess of the cauldron.
25th December: Modron Festival honouring Modron and the mother goddesses and our maternal ancestors shared with (stolen from!) Anglo-Saxon tradition.
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Post by Dennis on Nov 4, 2017 0:03:10 GMT -1
This thread is now pretty far down the first page in the "Brython" forum. I found the "Brython Calendar" section of the Dun Brython website has lots of interesting info, and good content, but is a bit confusing, as it lacks two things the list in this thread has: 1) A short explanation of how the calendar is arranged / thought out. 2) A simple, concise list of festival names, dates or periods, and associated deities. I think it would be helpful for people new to the forum if both the explanation and list could be stickied somewhere, or included in the web site calendar section, or both. There's also a main heading at Caer Feddwyd (here) -- "Calendar". Is that something could be a "quick & easy" reference?
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Post by lorna on Nov 5, 2017 8:33:16 GMT -1
This thread is now pretty far down the first page in the "Brython" forum. I found the "Brython Calendar" section of the Dun Brython website has lots of interesting info, and good content, but is a bit confusing, as it lacks two things the list in this thread has: 1) A short explanation of how the calendar is arranged / thought out. 2) A simple, concise list of festival names, dates or periods, and associated deities. I think it would be helpful for people new to the forum if both the explanation and list could be stickied somewhere, or included in the web site calendar section, or both. There's also a main heading at Caer Feddwyd (here) -- "Calendar". Is that something could be a "quick & easy" reference? Yes - I see what you mean. We could do with perhaps an overview section on the calendar with an explanation of our six-fold year which is based around the pivotal dates of Calan Mai and Calan Gaeaf and the four seasons plus a list of the seasonal festivals and the deities associated with them. I initiated the work on the calendar so will try to get something sorted. The building of the calendar has changed a bit since this post began and is still a work in process...
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Post by lorna on Nov 10, 2017 19:47:33 GMT -1
In response to Dennis's feedback I've put together an overview for the calendar section on the website. It differs a bit from the draft at the beginning of this post as I have only kept the festivals current members actively celebrate rather than hypothetical ones we thought might be a good idea. Could you take a quick look and let me know if anything is missing or needs rewording. If not, Lee, would you like to post it to the site or would you prefer me to do it?
Brython Calendar Overview
Our calendar is represented by a six-spoked wheel. It is based around two pivotal points in the year within Brythonic tradition: Calan Mai and Calan Gaeaf, the four seasons, and festivals for individual deities. This page provides an overview of our celebrations.
Y Gwanwyn (Spring)
As the land awakens to life we acknowledge the first flowers, budding trees and new births of animals and birds. We mark the changes within our localities and honour deities associated with spring.
1st February: Brigantica Festival of Brigantia ‘High One’ based around hearth, home, forge, crafting and the sacred flame.
20th - 22nd March: Spring Equinox Festival acknowledging the balance of equal days and nights heading toward summer and seasonal changes.
Calan Mai (1st of May)
Calan Mai marks the end of winter and beginning of summer. It is a time of deep magic pivoting around the defeat of otherworldly and wintry forces and the celebration of life, love, and fertility.
Rhiannon and Pwyll Festival celebrating Rhiannon’s return from Annwn at Gorsedd Arberth into thisworld as a sovereignty goddess who takes Pwyll as her husband.
Gwyn, Gwythyr and Creiddylad Festival marking Gwyn’s battle with Gwythyr for Creiddylad. Gwythyr wins and enters a sacred marriage with Creiddylad bringing fertility to the land. Gwyn is defeated and retreats to Annwn.
Yr Haf (Summer)
As crops and fruits ripen beneath the summer sun and the land is at its most fertile we honour the spirits and deities of this season.
May/June: Bel and Belisama Festival honouring Bel as god of fire and sun and Belisama as goddess of shining waters and high summer.
Summer Solstice Festival celebrating the longest day and shortest night and the bounty of summer.
Summer Solstice: Maponos Festival for Maponos, god of youth, music and hunting.
Yr Hydref (Autumn)
As fruits and crops are harvested and the meadows mown we give thanks to their spirits. Leaf fall and decay are acknowledged as signs of the approaching dead season. We listen for the breath of winter.
1st August: Lugus and Rosmerta Festival for Lugus the many-skilled god and Rosmerta the cup-bearer.
Autumn Equinox Festival acknowledging the balance of equal days and nights heading toward winter and seasonal changes.
29th September: Gwyn’s Feast Festival celebrating the end of harvest and honouring Gwyn, a god of hunting and a ruler of Annwn and the dead.
Calan Gaeaf (First Day of Winter)
Nos Galan Gaeaf is an ysbrydnos 'spirit night' and the pivotal point when the powers of darkness and winter return to thisworld with the spirits of the dead. It is a time for honouring our ancestors, particularly those who have passed in the last year. Meals are cooked for the dead or offerings of food and libations made with prayers. Memories of the ancestors and ancestral stories are shared. Nos Galan Gaeaf was a night when glimpses of the future could be seen hence some of us practice divination.
Nos Galan Gaeaf: Gwyn’s Hunt Festival honouring Gwyn as he rides out with the huntsmen and hounds and Annwn to gather the souls of the dead.
Calan Gaeaf: Gwyn and Creiddylad Festival marking Creiddylad's return with Gwyn to Annwn to enter a sacred marriage explaining the the barrenness of the land.
First Dark Moon after Calan Gaeaf: Rhiannon’s return to Annwn Festival acknowledging Rhiannon’s return from thisworld to Annwn celebrating her role as psychopomp.
Y Gaeaf (Winter)
In Britain this is the darkest and coldest time of the year. Prior to electric lighting and heating our ancestors gathered to keep warm, feast, hold rites and tell stories. We keep these traditions alive and honour the deities of frost, ice, snow, death and the otherworld.
18th December: Eponalia Festival honouring the Horse Goddess Epona focusing on her role as psychopomp.
Winter Solstice Festival celebrating the longest night and shortest day and the stillness and darkness of winter.
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Post by Dennis on Nov 10, 2017 21:48:43 GMT -1
That's great, Lorna. Thanks.
I noticed a typo: "Rhiannon and Pwyll Festival celebrating Rhiannon’s return from Annwn at Gorsedd Arberth into thisworld as a sovereignty goddess who takes Pwyll as her husband."
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Post by lorna on Nov 11, 2017 7:40:43 GMT -1
A couple of us have been using thisworld in the same way as we use otherworld so they sit as a pair. Maybe they should both be capitalised to make sure it doesn't look like a typo. It's a shame we don't have a Brythonic name for thisworld to go with Annwn... Also a quick note since you last looked I added a festival for Gwyn and Creiddylad on Calan Gaeaf to balance with Calan Mai. If there any festivals you celebrate that you'd like to add to the calendar please let us know.
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Post by wolfgrin on Nov 11, 2017 14:46:11 GMT -1
It's a shame we don't have a Brythonic name for thisworld to go with Annwn... Interesting! What about reconstructing/reconnecting one?
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Post by Heron on Nov 12, 2017 9:21:42 GMT -1
A couple of us have been using thisworld in the same way as we use otherworld so they sit as a pair. Maybe they should both be capitalised to make sure it doesn't look like a typo. It's a shame we don't have a Brythonic name for thisworld to go with Annwn... Also a quick note since you last looked I added a festival for Gwyn and Creiddylad on Calan Gaeaf to balance with Calan Mai. If there any festivals you celebrate that you'd like to add to the calendar please let us know. Thanks for re-doing the calendar Lorna. This is an important outline of our yearly cycle so we do need to keep it prominent for enquirers. On an alternative to Thisworld, which I often use but not always with a feeling that it is the ideal word, there is a word which could be paired with Annwn, as I discuss in my current post on the Blog: One derivation of Annwn is that it means 'Un world' ('an + dwfn') so 'Thisworld' would simply be 'Dwfn' as Dafydd ap Gwilym used it in the 14th century , speaking of the passing of Summer from 'Dwfn' to 'Annwfn' as Winter takes the leaves from the trees. I'm not sure how viable that would be as a word that anyone else would understand without it being explained, which might be tiresome. But wolfgrin it would be a potential candidate for a reconnected word as you suggest.
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Post by Dennis on Nov 13, 2017 0:39:41 GMT -1
A couple of us have been using thisworld in the same way as we use otherworld so they sit as a pair. Maybe they should both be capitalised to make sure it doesn't look like a typo. It's a shame we don't have a Brythonic name for thisworld to go with Annwn... Also a quick note since you last looked I added a festival for Gwyn and Creiddylad on Calan Gaeaf to balance with Calan Mai. If there any festivals you celebrate that you'd like to add to the calendar please let us know. I think "the Otherworld" and "Thisworld" works allright.
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Post by lorna on Nov 17, 2017 12:22:47 GMT -1
I've managed to log in to the site and change the existing calendar to reflect this overview. However I've been unable to build a new page for the overview as it won't let me drag the image and text in. Lee or Heron is there any chance you could take a look?
I guess 'Dwfn' and 'Annwfn' could be used for Thisworld and Otherworld. Thisworld in Welsh is, I think, 'Y Byd Hwn'. Didn't Iolo Morganwg refer to Thisworld as 'Abred'? I guess he made that up. I'm not sure what it means.
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Post by Heron on Nov 19, 2017 21:31:44 GMT -1
I've managed to log in to the site and change the existing calendar to reflect this overview. However I've been unable to build a new page for the overview as it won't let me drag the image and text in. Lee or Heron is there any chance you could take a look? I've had a go at this Lorna. Take a look and see what you think. I guess 'Dwfn' and 'Annwfn' could be used for Thisworld and Otherworld. Thisworld in Welsh is, I think, 'Y Byd Hwn'. Didn't Iolo Morganwg refer to Thisworld as 'Abred'? I guess he made that up. I'm not sure what it means. 'Abred' originally meant 'deliverance' or 'release', but I think Iolo revived it to mean 'transformation' as in his Barddas: "Everything that exists has its beginning in Annwn; its transformation in Abred; its fulfilment in Heaven" (as far as I can make enough sense of it to translate the Welsh!) The word has also been used to mean 'chaos' or 'disorder' but I'm not sure if that derives from Iolo or not. Although 'Y byd hwn' is 'this world' if the two words were fused into a single compound word it would be usual to put the adjective first as in 'gwynfyd', literally 'blessed world', used to convey a perfect state of happiness and sometimes applied to 'Heaven'. I've seen 'arallfyd' as well as 'y byd arall' for 'otherworld' . 'But I don't think 'hwnfyd' or 'hynfyd' really works.
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Post by lorna on Nov 20, 2017 11:35:37 GMT -1
Thanks for adding the overview Heron - it looks good I'm *really* not familiar with Iolo's work and think I got the idea Abred may be Thisworld from it lying between Annwn and Gwynfyd. It says on Wikipedia - 'It discusses the "circles of being" from Annwn (lowest state, Hades or Fairyland) through circles of Abred (probation state), Gwynfyd (perfect liberty) and Ceugant (infinity).' I think unless one of us finds or is gifted a fitting name for Thisworld it might be easiest to stick with Thisworld for now!
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Post by caswallon on Oct 29, 2018 14:32:55 GMT -1
How very very interesting. So, (hello new member BTW) I also have an interest in creating a calendar. My starting position was slightly diffrent from yours though. What I was looking for in a calendar was; For it not to be based on a christian calendar. I wanted it to be a pagan calendar that modern practitioners could actually use to time rituals and celebrations. I wanted it to represent the cycles and seasons, to reflect the neo-pagan eight fold year. I wanted it to be rooted in ancient understanding, but not to claim that it is an ancient calendar. It is a contemporary calendar. What I came up with is a system of 7 rings of holes, with pages that can be moved each day. The Idea is based upon the theorised use of the Aubrey Holes at Stonehenge as a solar-lunar calendar, coupled with inspiration from other sources. for example, I looked a lot at the Coligay calendar, which is basically a metonic calendar. I found it hard to use though at the inter-callery months are varied. So I switched to a simpler metonic system, so I still had the same 19 year cycle alignments. the result is a simple wooden round board that I ritualistically move the pegs on each morning, capable of; - Marking Solar Events (solstice and equinox)
- Marking the quarter days
- Predicting Solar and Lunar Eclipses
- Displaying the Position of the Sun and the Moon in the sky, and relative to each other
- Tracking the 19 year metonic cycle, measuring the days months any years
- Predicting Lunar standstills.
the calendar, due to the need to move the sun peg at a specific speed, results in weeks or 7 or 6 days. So each festival is highlighted for a week. If you are interested in knowing more, then please checkout the prototype I created at www.druidcraftcalendar.co.uk, there is a thorough description there, that there is little point in repeating here. I am now fascinated by the possibility of adding additional festivals to my calendar, either on the sun ring as the current ones are, or as a specific day in a month which would vary year to year in relation to the solar year, as the months are reckoned based on a 12/13 month lunar year. Please remember this calendar is not set in stone (stone henge joke, forget it), it is an ongoing project, so things like Month and Day names are still up for debate, and I welcome any and all feedback.
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