On the holy night, a witch roamed the streets with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. The air was filled with a sense of mystery and enchantment as she danced under the moonlight. With her flowing black robes, adorned with silver stars, and a pointed hat atop her head, the witch captured the attention of all who crossed her path. Whispers and murmurs filled the night as people marveled at the supernatural presence among them. Some were fearful, clutching their loved ones tightly, while others were filled with curiosity and awe. The witch's mere existence seemed to defy the laws of nature, invoking a sense of both dread and fascination.
As it was the end of the harvest season food was abundant, with many wild crops such as mushrooms, berries and nuts supplementing more traditional ones. Harvests like apples and grapes would be split between food and wine or cider production. A previous year’s vintage would be on standby to be enjoyed alongside the first ale from Lammas’ harvests during the evening’s feast.
In Cornwall, Elder leaves were incorporated for protection, with Rowan wreaths placed over the doorways to cattle pens to keep them safe through winter. If this is how springtime can make us feel today, imagine what it must have been like thousands of years ago before the invention of central heating or supermarkets.
The witch's mere existence seemed to defy the laws of nature, invoking a sense of both dread and fascination. As she continued her nocturnal journey, the witch cast spells that transformed the ordinary into extraordinary. Simple pumpkins transformed into carriages, and broomsticks levitated at her command.
5 pagan traditions for celebrating the autumn equinox
Mabon, or the autumnal equinox, nestles neatly between the sun-ripened cavorting of Lammas and the darker death-tinged feasts of Samhain. While the specific date of the Equinox shifts slightly each year it occurs around 20th-22nd September and marks the second point in the year when both day and night are of equal length.
It’s both the second Equinox and second harvest festival in the Pagan party calendar, so from Hedgewitch to High Priest there’s really no excuse for a faux pas. Without further ado, prepare to celebrate this autumn equinox like an expert!
Read more about: Popular Culture
Ancient rituals that mark the start of autumn
1. Dusters at dawn
Being a celestial event means two things, firstly it’s going global. As with the solstices, there is evidence documenting equinox celebrations from all over the world for thousands of years. Secondly, the party at sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury start at sunrise. Is it even a Pagan sabbat if someone isn’t up at the crack of dawn?
Similar to Lammas, this Equinox is primarily a celebration of thanksgiving; but one key difference is that, traditionally, people would also take stock of what no longer serves them, physically and spiritually. In the same way that spring cleaning is associated with the spring equinox, people would declutter at Mabon making way for the necessary resources and resilience to take them through the approaching winter.
Read more about: British History
Mabon: The pagan festival that marks the autumn equinox
2. The guest list
There are many players in the Pagan pantheon, and even when only considering those from the UK, it can be hard to know who to give a sacrificial shout-out. American author Aidan Kelly named this sabbat ‘Mabon’ in 1970 and many Pagans globally refer to it as such. Mabon is the Welsh God of Youth, also hailed as the divine child. Perhaps more relevantly the son of Modron - the name many British Pagans use for this celebration, as she is the Goddess of motherhood often depicted with bread, fruit, and babies. Ireland’s Earth Mother is Banba (Banbha), who ruled with her sisters Fodla and Ériu.
The triumvirate of Goddesses reigning through the year is a repeating theme across British Paganism with Maiden, Mother, and Crone aspects welcomed and worshipped in turn. At the autumn equinox when harvests draw to a close, the bountiful Mother aspect prepares to give way to the harsh wisdom of the Crone.
Many British Pagan Gods are linked with growth and sunlight and so play a smaller role in autumnal sabbats. But there are those such as Arwen, Welsh God of stags, dogs, and hunting or Cernunnos, the horned Celtic God of hunting, fertility and wild things, wwhoseimportance increased at this time, particularly before people had livestock to sustain them through winter.
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When is the autumn equinox in 2023?
by Jamie Dwelly
3. Nail the decor
The theme for this sabbatical shebang is one of balance between light and dark both physically, with the equality of day and night, and spiritually. The double spiral has been used since neolithic times to represent this and is often partnered with the cornucopia or overflowing horn of plenty on the altar.
Trees would be left outside for the time being but were still decorated with hanging bells, chimes and ‘clooties’. Beautiful wreaths of grape vines, ivy, and autumn leaves would be attached to doors. In Cornwall, Elder leaves were incorporated for protection, with Rowan wreaths placed over the doorways to cattle pens to keep them safe through winter.
Read more about: Ancient History
The Wheel of the Year: the calendar of pagan festivals explained
by James Brigden
4. Don’t forget the nibbles
As it was the end of the harvest season food was abundant, with many wild crops such as mushrooms, berries and nuts supplementing more traditional ones. Harvests like apples and grapes would be split between food and wine or cider production. A previous year’s vintage would be on standby to be enjoyed alongside the first ale from Lammas’ harvests during the evening’s feast.
With this abundance comes the need for some precautions to be taken. This food still needed to last through the winter and so it was a time when fruits and vegetables would be preserved. Herbal tinctures and remedies such as rosehip syrup, which is still used today for coughs, would also be prepared in large batches.
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Samhain and the pagan roots of Halloween
5. Slaughterhouse rules
This was seen as an auspicious time for animals to be slaughtered not only to provide meat and blood sacrifices for the equinox celebrations but to be preserved for winter rations. It also helped ensure that there would be enough food for the remaining livestock.
The ritual of cakes and ale was also repeated across many Pagan cultures. It was a ritual for health, prosperity, and fertility with the cakes and ale first being blessed. The cake represented earth and the material world while the ale embodied the spirits of fire, water, and air.
Every pro-party planner knows to get the next event in quickly and our Pagan predecessors were no different. For all the celebrating at equinox, it also marked the approach of something much bigger. Preparations would begin for the late October/early November full moon when the Crone held sway and the sacred feast of Samhain kept all manner of nasties away.
Similar to Lammas, this Equinox is primarily a celebration of thanksgiving; but one key difference is that, traditionally, people would also take stock of what no longer serves them, physically and spiritually. In the same way that spring cleaning is associated with the spring equinox, people would declutter at Mabon making way for the necessary resources and resilience to take them through the approaching winter.
The night took on an otherworldly ambiance, with flashes of color and sparks of magic illuminating every corner. But for all her powers and spells, the witch was not wicked. She possessed a kind heart, using her magic to bring smiles and joy to those who had lost hope. With a gentle touch, she healed wounds and brought comfort to troubled souls. Her presence on this holy night was a reminder that even those shrouded in darkness can bring light into the world. As the night grew older, the witch's magic began to fade, and she returned to the shadows from whence she came. Her final act was a grand spectacle, as she soared into the sky on her broomstick, disappearing among the stars. The night was left in silence, with only the echo of her laughter lingering in the air. The witch on the holy night was a symbol of the extraordinary possibilities that exist beyond the mundane. She reminded us that beauty can be found in darkness, and that magic lies within each of us, waiting to be awakened. And as the people returned to their homes, they carried with them the memory of the witch's enchantment, forever changed by her presence on that sacred night..
Reviews for "Holy Night Witchcraft: A Guide to Spells and Incantations"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars - I have to say, I found "Witch on the Holy Night" to be extremely disappointing. The plot starts off promising, but quickly becomes convoluted and hard to follow. The characters are one-dimensional and lack any depth or development. The writing style is also very underwhelming, lacking any sort of originality or creativity. Overall, I was left feeling bored and unsatisfied with this book. I would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch on the Holy Night," but I found it to be quite mediocre. The story had potential, but it never reached its full potential. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of dull and uneventful scenes followed by rushed and confusing moments. The dialogue was also quite cringeworthy, with unrealistic and forced exchanges between the characters. The ending was unsatisfying and left many loose ends. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this book.
3. Mark - 2 out of 5 stars - "Witch on the Holy Night" had an interesting concept, but it fell flat for me. The writing style was dry and lacked any sort of emotional connection. The characters felt like cardboard cutouts instead of fully fleshed out individuals. The plot was predictable and lacked any surprises or twists. Additionally, the pacing was slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Jessica - 1 out of 5 stars - I struggled to finish "Witch on the Holy Night." The story felt disjointed and lacked a cohesive narrative thread. The characters were shallow and unrelatable, making it difficult to care about their fates. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with more questions than answers. The writing style was dull and lacked any sort of spark or creativity. Overall, I found this book to be a chore to read and would not recommend it to others.