Wicca Holidays 2023 In the Wiccan religion, the year is divided into several holidays, also known as Sabbats. These Sabbats celebrate the changing seasons and the cycles of nature. In 2023, Wiccans will observe eight major holidays, each with its unique significance and rituals. The first holiday of the year is Imbolc, which falls on February 1st. Imbolc marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is a time to celebrate the growing light and the awakening of the Earth.
The plots to these movies scarcely bear discussion. The overall story involves mad scientist/super criminal Dr. Krupp (played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda) — professionally known as “The Bat” — and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca’s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the “treasure of Aztecs.” This — and the translation of the inscriptions — requires the unwilling help of Dr. Eduardo Almada (Ramón Gay), his fiancée, Flor, their assorted family members and the comic relief hanger-on, Pinacate (Crox Alvarado). Kidnappings, hypnosis, death threats, a death chamber full of snakes, and a wonderful jailbreak involving toy machine-guns that clearly don’t fire anything ensue. The second film, The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957), throws in a masked wrestler called The Angel, who tools around in a 1954 MG TF — apparently mindless of the potential for an Isadora Duncan demise with his cape fluttering perilously near the wire wheel knock-offs. He turns out to be…well, we’ll leave that to the film’s skillful plotting. Mostly, he just shows up and strikes wrestler poses. The third film only mentions him once in passing. How quickly they forget.
Krupp played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda professionally known as The Bat and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the treasure of Aztecs. I wouldn t call them good, but, boy, are they ever goofy fun with a maniacal super criminal, a masked wrestler, secret treasure, hypnotism, a snake pit, a really slow-moving mummy and, well, you get the idea.
It is a time to celebrate the growing light and the awakening of the Earth. Wiccans may perform rituals to honor the goddess Brigid, who represents the elements of fire and hearth. Next comes Ostara, celebrated on March 21st, which coincides with the spring equinox.
The Curse of the Aztec Mummy / The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy
In Brief: It's a double dose of Mexican mummy horror — The Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy — and the films provide just the kind of entertainment those titles suggest. I wouldn't call them good, but, boy, are they ever goofy fun — with a maniacal super criminal, a masked wrestler, secret treasure, hypnotism, a snake pit, a really slow-moving mummy and, well, you get the idea.
While it is true that Mexican horror movies of the 1950s and early 1960s are perhaps the last (largely) unexplored area of classic horror cinema, it should immediately be noted that the Aztec Mummy trilogy has nothing at all to do with classic anything—except perhaps classic bad cinema. These films are not at all in the same league as the Abel Salazar productions—though his brother, Alfredo, had a hand in writing these. OK, so all Mexican horror is…well, a little on the goofy side. The Aztec Mummy movies, however, are somewhere in between amusingly screwy and flat-out crazy. All in all, the biggest identifying quality of the film is the difficulty in believing that these movies were written by adults. The feeling is more that they must have been dreamed up by schoolboys over the course of an afternoon or less. Like the better Mexican horrors, they steal wildly from the old Universal films, but whether the folks making them understood what they were copying is open to question.
You may wonder why the first film of the series is being skipped in favor of the back-to-back sequels. Well, that’s pretty simple: There doesn’t appear to be a watchable copy of The Aztec Mummy (1957). The scenes involving the Mummy himself are do dark that it’s almost impossible to tell what’s going on. But it doesn’t really matter because you get to see most of the first film as flashbacks in the sequels. (The third film, in fact, opens with nearly 20 minutes of flashbacks. In short, you’re missing nothing by not seeing the first movie.) Even without the first film, these two films include two doses of the supposed Aztec ceremony (they spent good money on all those peacock feathers and you’re going to see them!) where the Mummy, Popoca (Angelo De Steffani), is condemned to guarding a cheesy-looking breastplate and bracelet for eternity, along with his forbidden sweetie, Xochitl (Rosita Arenas), who is put to death for mousing around with Popoca. (All this is revealed by Xochtil’s current incarnation, Flor, under hypnosis.) This consists of some ear-splitting music, much dancing about and a song so bad I doubt it would have even charted on Aztec hit parade. We do, however, learn — based on the evidence — that the ancient Aztecs appear to have invented dry ice. (There’s educational value, see?) The third film, in fact, opens with nearly 20 minutes of flashbacks. In short, you’re missing nothing by not seeing the first movie — apart from another bout of the Aztec ceremony.
The plots to these movies scarcely bear discussion. The overall story involves mad scientist/super criminal Dr. Krupp (played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda) — professionally known as “The Bat” — and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca’s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the “treasure of Aztecs.” This — and the translation of the inscriptions — requires the unwilling help of Dr. Eduardo Almada (Ramón Gay), his fiancée, Flor, their assorted family members and the comic relief hanger-on, Pinacate (Crox Alvarado). Kidnappings, hypnosis, death threats, a death chamber full of snakes, and a wonderful jailbreak involving toy machine-guns that clearly don’t fire anything ensue. The second film, The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957), throws in a masked wrestler called The Angel, who tools around in a 1954 MG TF — apparently mindless of the potential for an Isadora Duncan demise with his cape fluttering perilously near the wire wheel knock-offs. He turns out to be…well, we’ll leave that to the film’s skillful plotting. Mostly, he just shows up and strikes wrestler poses. The third film only mentions him once in passing. How quickly they forget.
The final film, The Aztec Mummy vs. the Human Robot (1958) is easily the dumbest of the lot, which also means it may just be the most entertaining. Though released the following year, it supposedly takes place five years later — with The Bat up to his old tricks, except now he’s invented a radium-infused robot with a dead guy inside. When I was a kid, I used to spend summers with my grandmother in Concord, NC, and up (or down) the road was a family with a couple of kids I didn’t much like, but who were about my age. One of them had built himself a cardboard robot suit, which memory assures me was more impressive and believable than the one in this movie. In other words, this robot is divinely amusing. Whether or not — even with his deadly radium touch — he’s a match for Popoca remains to be seen. And you’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy Thursday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.
SHAREAbout Ken Hanke
Head film critic for Mountain Xpress from December 2000 until his death in June 2016. Author of books "Ken Russell's Films," "Charlie Chan at the Movies," "A Critical Guide to Horror Film Series," "Tim Burton: An Unauthorized Biography of the Filmmaker."
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Ostara is a time of balance, as day and night are of equal length. It symbolizes fertility, growth, and new beginnings. Wiccans may engage in rituals that honor the god and goddess, as well as perform activities such as planting seeds or creating art. Beltane, occurring on May 1st, marks the beginning of summer. It is a joyous celebration of life, love, and fertility. Wiccans may perform rituals that involve dancing around a maypole, lighting bonfires, and gathering wildflowers. Beltane is a time of merriment and embracing the sensual aspects of life. Litha, also known as the summer solstice, falls on June 21st. It is the longest day of the year and represents the peak of the sun's power. Wiccans may engage in rituals that focus on harnessing this solar energy and celebrating the abundance of the Earth. Litha is a time to appreciate the beauty of nature and connect with the elements. Lammas, occurring on August 1st, is the first harvest festival of the year. It is a time to give thanks for the bounty of the Earth and share the abundance with others. Wiccans may perform rituals that involve baking bread, making corn dollies, and feasting on seasonal fruits and vegetables. Mabon, celebrated on September 21st, marks the autumn equinox. It is a time of balance, as day and night are again of equal length. Mabon represents the second harvest and the beginning of the dark half of the year. Wiccans may perform rituals that focus on gratitude, reflection, and preservation. Samhain, occurring on October 31st, is perhaps the most well-known Wiccan holiday. It is the Wiccan New Year and a time to honor the ancestors and the spirits of the departed. Samhain is associated with death and rebirth, as well as divination and magic. Wiccans may perform rituals that involve bonfires, leaving offerings for the spirits, and practicing divination. Finally, Yule, celebrated on December 21st, is the winter solstice. It is the shortest day of the year and represents the rebirth of the sun. Yule is a time of introspection and celebrating the return of light. Wiccans may perform rituals that involve lighting candles, decorating trees, and exchanging gifts. Overall, the Wiccan holidays in 2023 offer a calendar of celebrations that connect Wiccans with the cycles of nature and the spiritual significance of each season. These holidays provide opportunities for reflection, gratitude, and connection with the divine forces that shape the world around us..
Reviews for "Harnessing the Power of Wiccan Sigils and Symbols"
1. Jane Smith - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Wicca Holidayys 2023". The storyline was all over the place and it felt like the author was just trying to include as many Wiccan rituals and beliefs as possible without any coherence. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. Additionally, the writing style was clunky and filled with unnecessary jargon, which made it a chore to read. Overall, I found it to be a frustrating and unsatisfying experience.
2. Michael Johnson - 2 stars
As someone who practices Wicca, I was excited to read "Wicca Holidayys 2023" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The author's portrayal of Wiccan practices and traditions felt inaccurate and superficial. It seemed like they had done a quick internet search on Wicca and tried to incorporate random elements into the story without understanding their significance. The lack of authenticity made the whole book feel forced and gimmicky. I was also hoping for a well-written plot and strong character development, but both were severely lacking. Overall, I was unimpressed with this book and would not recommend it to fellow Wiccans or anyone looking for a well-crafted story.
3. Samantha Adams - 2 stars
"Wicca Holidayys 2023" was a disappointment for me. The premise seemed promising, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took forever for anything interesting or engaging to happen. The characters felt one-dimensional and cliché, lacking the complexity and depth that I was hoping for. Additionally, the writing style was awkward and clunky, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. I wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't live up to its potential.