The Wiccan holidays calendar for 2023 includes a number of significant dates and celebrations for practitioners of Wicca. Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion that follows the cycles of nature and honors the divine in various forms. One of the most important Wiccan holidays is Imbolc, which occurs on February 2. It marks the beginning of spring and is a time to honor the goddess Brigid and the return of the light. People may light candles and make offerings to Brigid during this time. In March, the holiday of Ostara takes place.
I mean, for people like me, the role isn’t any different. Obviously, I’m gonna do a baby blessing, I’m gonna do a Handfasting when people want to get married. I will do a funeral –all that stuff that people traditionally did. Plus, right now, I’ve got tinctures laid up in the dining room that I have to remember to go in and shake everyday, so that they’re gonna be good next month.
I can tell them what works for me and what doesn t work for me, and encourage them to do those things that they feel like they re drawn to do, that maybe don t have the courage or the confidence to try. But for people like me, it s not necessarily a religious thing, though it is connected with spirits and with spirit things, but it s not necessarily a religion.
In March, the holiday of Ostara takes place. This holiday celebrates the spring equinox and the balance between light and dark. It is a time of new beginnings and fertility.
Interview With An Appalachian Village Witch
H. Byron Ballard is a practicing witch in Asheville, North Carolina and the author of four books about the craft, including her latest, Small Magics: Practical Secrets from an Appalachian Village Witch.
Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Ballard about the spirits and cryptids of Appalachia.
Lynch: Byron, first, thanks for coming on inside Appalachia. It’s a pleasure to speak to you. It’s not very often I get to speak to an actual Appalachian village which, so…you may be the first.
Ballard: (Laughs) I don’t know. You know, I listen to the show, and I am pretty sure you probably talked to a witch or two already. They just might not identify that way.
Lynch: Just as a kind of get a getting to know you sort of thing, how did you become such a thing? How did you become an Appalachian village witch?
Ballard: Well, I mean, I took that on as a branding thing, just to be honest. I mean, I’m Appalachian, multiple generations back. And I’ve been a witch my whole life. My mother’s family all identified themselves and were identified with that word back to like, five generations, that I know of.
So, I’ve always been that and then, when it came time for me to, to kind of have, a hat rack to hang all my hats on, that felt like a good one. So, I called myself the village witch.
And I know some people who function as village witches in Britain. One of them contacted me, and she was like, “Well, what exactly is that you do that you think you’re a village witch?”
And I said, “Well, I go out, and I bless the cornfields. And I used to bless the tobacco crop, and I’ll come out and clear your house if it’s got some uncomfortable in it. And I’ll bless your babies, and I’ll, you know, bury your grandma, and, you know, all that stuff.”
And my friend said, “Oh, well, no. That’s exactly what a village witch does.”
And I said, “Well, yeah.”
Lynch: Witchcraft or being a witch in the 21st century: how is that different than being a witch in the 20th century or even the 19th Century?
Ballard: I would say it’s less threatening than it used to be. But in some places, it’s still just as threatening.
Um, how is the role different? It’s a really good question.
I mean, for people like me, the role isn’t any different. Obviously, I’m gonna do a baby blessing, I’m gonna do a Handfasting when people want to get married. I will do a funeral –all that stuff that people traditionally did. Plus, right now, I’ve got tinctures laid up in the dining room that I have to remember to go in and shake everyday, so that they’re gonna be good next month.
So, I do a lot of the similar things, but something that we have the ability to do now, and the privilege to do is that I can openly talk about it, and I can openly teach it to other people.
So, people don’t have to rely on reading a book. Though, I mean, I’m a writer. I want people to read all the books, but I can teach people face to face. I can tell them what works for me and what doesn’t work for me, and encourage them to do those things that they feel like they’re drawn to do, that maybe don’t have the courage or the confidence to try.
So that’s one big difference.
But the practice itself, I don’t know that it’s really changed. We joke about –there’s ceremonial magic and then there’s what I do, which is sort of, I reach in my pockets and see what’s in my pockets. I go pull a little plantain and some rabbit back and stir it all together.
And for some people, there is a sense of witchcraft being a very high-ordered religion. And you will hear some people talk about that they are a member of a witchcraft, religious tradition.
But for people like me, it’s not necessarily a religious thing, though it is connected with spirits and with spirit things, but it’s not necessarily a religion.
Lynch: Let’s talk a little about folklore. Places like the United Kingdom have pixies, and elves in Europe. We have goblins, haints and the Mothman. Don’t forget the Mothman.
Did we bring our fairies and spirits over with us when we immigrated from Europe or wherever? Or were they already here?
Ballard: I’m gonna say yes to both of those, because I think already there are spirits that are attached to land. And these are some of the oldest mountains in the world. How could they not have spirits attached to them? But I also think that a lot of my people, certainly they brought some of that with them, and they absolutely brought the folklore with them.
But now you bring up Mothman, and I’ve got a question for you. Are all cryptids man, I mean, there’s the Boojum, there’s Mothman, there’s the New Jersey Devil… are they all boys?
That was Appalachian village witch, H. Byron Ballard speaking with Bill Lynch. You can hear the rest of that interview and more on Inside Appalachia, Sunday mornings at 7 and Sunday evenings at 6 on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Tags Related to This Article
- Appalachia
- Appalachian Folklore
- Appalachian Village Witch
- Arts & Culture
- Cryptids
- witchcraft
So, I do a lot of the similar things, but something that we have the ability to do now, and the privilege to do is that I can openly talk about it, and I can openly teach it to other people.
Many Wiccans may plant seeds and decorate eggs as part of their celebrations. Beltane is the major holiday in May, occurring on the 1st. It marks the beginning of summer and celebrates the fertility of the Earth. Many Wiccans may choose to hold outdoor rituals, dance around maypoles, and may even engage in more intimate celebrations of love and union. In June, Litha is celebrated, which is also known as the summer solstice. This is the longest day of the year and is a time to celebrate the sun and its power. Bonfires and outdoor rituals are common during this holiday. Lughnasadh is celebrated in August and marks the first harvest of the year. It is a time to give thanks for the abundance of the Earth and to prepare for the coming autumn. Many Wiccans may create altars with fruits and grains as offerings. The most well-known Wiccan holiday, Samhain, takes place on October 31. It is also known as Halloween and is a time to honor the ancestors and the spirits of the dead. Many Wiccans may hold ceremonies to communicate with the spirits and may set up altars with photos and mementos of loved ones who have passed away. Lastly, Yule is celebrated in December and marks the winter solstice. It is a time to celebrate the return of the light and honor the rebirth of the sun. Many Wiccans may decorate their homes with evergreens and light candles to symbolize the return of warmth and light. Overall, the Wiccan holidays calendar for 2023 is a diverse and meaningful collection of celebrations that honor the cycles of nature and the divine forces at work in the world..
Reviews for "Wiccan Holidays: Connecting with the Goddess in 2023"
1. John - 2 stars - As someone who follows a different religious tradition, I found this calendar to be rather confusing and not very helpful. The explanations for each holiday were vague and didn't provide enough context for me to understand the significance of the celebrations. Additionally, the layout was disorganized, making it difficult to find specific dates and information. Overall, I would not recommend this calendar to anyone who is not familiar with Wiccan holidays.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I was really disappointed with this calendar. The artwork on the cover was beautiful, but that's about the only positive thing I can say. The dates of the holidays were not clearly marked, and the descriptions of each holiday were lacking in detail. I was hoping to learn more about Wiccan traditions and beliefs, but this calendar didn't provide the information I was looking for. I think there are better resources out there for those interested in learning about Wiccan holidays.
3. Mark - 2 stars - I purchased this calendar with the hopes of incorporating Wiccan holidays into my personal spiritual practice. However, I was disappointed with the lack of diversity in the holidays included. It seemed to focus mainly on the popular holidays like Samhain and Beltane, without giving much attention to the lesser-known celebrations. Additionally, the descriptions for each holiday were too brief and left me wanting more information. I would have preferred a calendar that provided a more comprehensive overview of Wiccan holidays throughout the year.
4. Emily - 1 star - The Wiccan holidays calendar for 2023 was a complete letdown for me. The descriptions of each holiday were overly simplistic, providing little insight into the cultural and historical significance of the celebrations. It felt like a missed opportunity to educate people about Wiccan traditions. The layout of the calendar was also poorly designed, making it difficult to read and find specific dates. I would not recommend this calendar to anyone interested in learning about Wiccan holidays.