The pagan holidays are annual celebrations that originated in ancient civilizations before the rise of major religions like Christianity and Islam. These holidays were typically based on natural events and agricultural cycles and were often tied to religious or spiritual beliefs. They were considered sacred times during which people would come together to honor and appease their gods or spirits. One of the most well-known pagan holidays is the summer solstice, also known as Midsummer. This holiday, which falls around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, marks the longest day of the year. It was traditionally celebrated with bonfires, feasting, dancing, and rituals designed to bring about good luck and fertility.
How to Become Pagan Clergy
Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal.
Updated on August 21, 2019We get many emails from people who want to know what they have to do to become Pagan clergy. In most Pagan religions, the priesthood is accessible to anyone who’s willing to put the time and energy into it - but the requirements tend to vary, depending on both your tradition and the legal requirements of the place where you live. Please keep in mind that all of the information below is general, and if you have a question about the requirements of a specific tradition, you'll need to ask the people who are part of it.
It was traditionally celebrated with bonfires, feasting, dancing, and rituals designed to bring about good luck and fertility. The summer solstice is still observed in modern times, with events like the Stonehenge Summer Solstice Festival drawing thousands of people. Another important pagan holiday is Halloween, also known as Samhain.
Who Can Be Clergy?
In general, either women or men may become priests/priestesses/clergy in modern Pagan religions. Anyone who wishes to learn and study, and commit to a life of service can advance into a ministerial position. In some groups, these individuals are referred to as High Priest or High Priestess, Arch Priest or Priestess, or even Lord and Lady. Some traditions opt to use the term Reverend. The title will vary depending on the tenets of your tradition, but for the purpose of this article, we’ll simply use the designation of High Priest/ess or HPs.
Typically, the title of High Priestess is one that's given to you by someone else -- specifically, someone who's got more knowledge and experience than you. While that doesn't mean that a solitary can't learn enough to be a HPs, what it does sometimes mean is that you'll find advantages in learning from a mentor at some point.
This holiday is celebrated on October 31st and is believed to be a time when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is thinnest. It was traditionally marked by bonfires, divination rituals, and feasting, and it was believed that the spirits of the dead would return to earth during this time. Modern Halloween celebrations often include costumes, trick-or-treating, and other festive activities. One pagan holiday that has been Christianized is Christmas. The date of December 25th was originally the pagan holiday of Saturnalia, a festival honoring the Roman god Saturn. When Christianity became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire, the holiday was repurposed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many Christmas traditions, such as the decorating of trees, the giving of gifts, and the lighting of candles, have their roots in ancient pagan celebrations. Overall, the pagan holidays provide a glimpse into the ancient belief systems and cultural practices of civilizations that predated the major world religions. While many of these holidays have been Christianized or incorporated into other religious traditions, they still retain elements of their pagan origins. Today, they continue to be celebrated in various forms across the globe, reminding us of the ancient connections.
Reviews for "Pagan Holidays and the Natural Rhythms of the Earth"
1. John - 2/5 - I found "The pagan nolidays" to be quite disappointing. The plot was disjointed and hard to follow, with too many characters and subplots that didn't seem to connect. I was hoping for a gripping mystery, but instead, I got a convoluted mess. The writing style was also lacking, with overly descriptive passages that slowed the pacing to a crawl. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you enjoy being thoroughly confused and frustrated.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "The pagan nolidays" was a complete waste of time. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to become immersed in the story. Additionally, the author seemed more interested in showing off their vocabulary than crafting a compelling narrative. I struggled to finish this book and felt no sense of satisfaction or resolution at the end. Save yourself the trouble and pick up something else.
3. Michael - 2/5 - As a fan of thrillers, I was excited to read "The pagan nolidays." However, I was sorely disappointed. The pacing was slow, and there were long stretches where nothing of consequence seemed to happen. The suspenseful moments were few and far between, and when they finally arrived, they fell flat due to lackluster execution. The plot twists were predictable and felt forced, and the ending left me feeling underwhelmed. I expected much more from this book, and unfortunately, it failed to deliver.
4. Emily - 3/5 - While "The pagan nolidays" had its moments, overall, I was left unsatisfied. The concept was unique and promising, but the execution fell short. The story lacked depth and felt superficial, and the characters were one-dimensional. Additionally, there were too many unnecessary scenes and details that didn't contribute to the overall narrative. However, the writing style was engaging, and the few moments of action were well-crafted. It had the potential to be a captivating read, but it ultimately left me feeling disappointed.