In a dimly lit forest, on a moonless night, a witch emerges from the shadows, carrying a flickering lantern. Her hunched figure casts eerie shadows on the twisted trees that surround her. With each step, her gnarled staff taps the ground, creating an unsettling rhythm that echoes through the stillness of the night. The witch's flickering lantern seems to hold a mysterious power, its pale light wavering as if it were alive. It illuminates her path, guiding her through the dense undergrowth and revealing the hidden secrets of the woodland. Its erratic glow dances across her weathered face, emphasizing the lines of wisdom etched upon it.
The cutting of the first sheaves took place at dawn and was an important ceremony. The night before, the scythe making the all-important cut would be sharpened, decorated with ribbons and blessed with sacrificial blood.
So, while Lammas is celebrated for one day in modern times, then it would have lasted long enough to make time for feasting and celebrating in amongst the toil. From the Middle Ages to the Victorian era, Harvest Festival was colloquially known as Horkey or Hoakey, and would involve drinking and merriment, with a Harvest Supper feast taking place in a barn or the town square.
Its erratic glow dances across her weathered face, emphasizing the lines of wisdom etched upon it. The flickering lantern is more than just a source of light; it is a symbol of the witch's ancient knowledge and connection to the spiritual realm. It is said that the lantern contains the soul of a long-departed ancestor, channeling their wisdom and energy.
4 historic pagan customs for the summer's first harvest
Originating in Ireland, Lughnassadh was a celebration in honour of Lugh, a Celtic god associated with the Sun who was also believed to be a powerful warrior and a master craftsman. Sitting midway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox, it was originally initiated by the closest full moon.
Today it is also widely celebrated across England and Scotland on 1st August as Lammas (Feast of the First Fruits), a name first documented in Anglo-Saxon chronicles around 921. It has also been referred to as Hlaef-Mass or Loaf Mass, particularly fitting as first and foremost, this is a festival of harvest and thanksgiving.
Read more about: Ancient History
Party like a Pagan: 5 ways to celebrate the summer solstice
by Rachel Littlewood
1. First night
In order to have a harvest festival first they need to have a harvest and so preparations would begin at sunset which marked the start of the Celtic day. It was an incredibly bad omen to harvest any grain before Lughnassadh, as it meant that the previous harvests had run short and people were starving.
The cutting of the first sheaves took place at dawn and was an important ceremony. The night before, the scythe making the all-important cut would be sharpened, decorated with ribbons and blessed with sacrificial blood.
Bringing in the harvest was a huge job with men, women, and children all playing their part, from cutting, sorting, and grinding the grain to properly preparing and storing enough to last through the winter. So, while Lammas is celebrated for one day in modern times, then it would have lasted long enough to make time for feasting and celebrating in amongst the toil. All work and no play is definitely not the pagan way!
Read more about: Popular Culture
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2. Three weddings and a funeral
There are mixed theories on why early August became Lugh’s feast day. One suggests that it marked his wedding and a huge feast was thrown in honour of him and his new bride. However, Lugh is fabled to have taken three brides and a mistress so this seems unlikely. More popular is the opinion that it marks a funeral celebration in honour of his adoptive mother, the goddess Tailtiu who is said to have died of exhaustion after she had cleared the lands of Ireland to make way for arable crops.
Lugh wasn’t the only one indulging in a marriage or three. Lammas fairs were held over this time to trade livestock, hire and fire servants, drink, visit craftsmen, and perhaps get handfasted. Handfasting remains the Pagan union most similar to a modern-day marriage and those attending the fair could opt for a trial run lasting a year and a day before making it more permanent.
For some even that was too much commitment, so those only interested in the honeymoon period could be joined as Lammas Brothers and Sisters, a sexual union lasting only the 11 days of the fair.
Read more about: Ancient History
The Wheel of the Year: the calendar of pagan festivals explained
by James Brigden
3. Breaking bread
This Celtic sun god don’t want none unless you got buns hun! So, by the end of the first day of harvest, those sacred first sheaves would already be ground into flour and baked into beautiful loaves to take centre stage at the feast.
Baked goods, such as cornbread and fruit-laden bara brith, were common at the feast table alongside summer fruits, and libations like whisky which, being made of grain, was a particular favourite. Another familiar figure in English celebrations is the gingerbread man. He represented the divine victim sacrificing himself each year so that the people may survive the winter and is known as John Barleycorn, or The Green Man.
Read more about: British History
6 pagan festivals we still celebrate today
4. Children of the corn
While this is a festival of thanksgiving, historically it was also considered a time of polarity, ideal for course correction. If some crops had failed there was still time to encourage others or to exchange trades and crafts at the fair for grain and livestock. It also made it a popular time for sympathetic magic, planting their name beneath pansies on Lughnassadh if they’d been disappointed in love for example. But perhaps the most common for this festival is the corn dolly.
Made from corn husks or stalks fashioned into a poppet, left open at the base for a skirt or split and tied into legs, it was traditional to tell a corn dolly their wishes, secrets, and problems as they crafted. They then kept it somewhere such as their bedchamber to make those wishes come true, or problems go away. Those made from the last corn cut were considered especially powerful as they held the corn spirit and would take a place of honour at the feast table and be buried in spring to let the spirit return to its work.
Similarly, Corn Kings were made from thick bundles of straw for a ritualistic, if somewhat treacherous game. Participants would throw a sickle at the figure and the winner would be whoever succeeded in beheading it. While the winner took pride of place at the ensuing feast, the Corn King would be burnt to release him back to the earth to rest and begin his work anew come spring.
by James Brigden
The flickering light represents the constant struggle between darkness and enlightenment, a reminder of the delicate balance that she must maintain in her magical practice. As she traverses deeper into the forest, the witch's presence evokes a sense of both fear and reverence among the woodland creatures. They pause in their nocturnal activities, their eyes fixated on her as if sensing the power that she possesses. The flickering lantern seems to draw them closer, as if offering guidance and protection to those who seek it. In the midst of her journey, the witch comes upon a small clearing, bathed in the soft glow of the full moon. She pauses, her flickering lantern casting an ethereal light that dances among the trees. In this moment, she feels at one with the natural world around her, connected to the ancient forces that govern it. With a wave of her hand, the flickering lantern's glow intensifies, illuminating the clearing with a burst of otherworldly light. The spirits of the forest gather, drawn to the energy she emanates. Together, they perform a ritual of healing and renewal, using the flickering lantern as a conduit for their collective power. As dawn approaches, the witch extinguishes the flickering lantern, its dim light fading into nothingness. She leaves the clearing, her purpose fulfilled for the night. The forest returns to its stillness, but the memory of the flickering lantern lingers, a testament to the witch's presence and the magic she possesses. In the days to come, whispers of the witch with a flickering lantern spread throughout the land. Some fear her, associating her with dark enchantments and malevolence. Others revere her, seeking her wisdom and guidance in times of need. But in the heart of the forest, the witch continues her solitary journey, her flickering lantern a symbol of her eternal connection to the mystical world that surrounds her..
Reviews for "The Witch with a Flickering Lantern: A Symbol of the Supernatural"
1. Robert - 2/5 stars
I was really excited to read "Witch with a flickering lantern" as I am a fan of supernatural stories. However, I found this book to be quite disappointing. The plot was weak and predictable, with very little suspense or excitement. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. Additionally, the writing style was clumsy and often awkward. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Lisa - 2/5 stars
I had high hopes for "Witch with a flickering lantern", but it failed to live up to my expectations. The story felt repetitive and dragged on for too long. The main character lacked development and her actions seemed forced and unrealistic. The dialogue was also stilted and unconvincing, making it difficult to engage with the characters or become invested in the plot. I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in the outcome. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book.
3. Michael - 1/5 stars
I found "Witch with a flickering lantern" to be a complete waste of time. The story lacked originality and felt like a poor imitation of other supernatural novels. The pacing was slow and the plot had no clear direction. Additionally, the writing was bland and lacked any sort of personality. I struggled to finish this book as it failed to hold my attention. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written supernatural tale.