Sacred Festivals and Sacred Spaces: Exploring Pagan Holidays

The book "Pagan Holidays" is a comprehensive guide to the celebrations and traditions of various pagan holidays. It explores the history, rituals, and symbolism behind these ancient festivals, offering readers a deeper understanding of their significance in pagan religions. The author delves into the origins of each holiday, tracing their roots back to pre-Christian times and highlighting their connections to nature and the cycles of the seasons. Through detailed descriptions and personal anecdotes, the book brings to life the magic and beauty of pagan celebrations. It covers a wide range of holidays, including the solstices and equinoxes, as well as lesser-known festivals such as Beltane, Samhain, and Lammas. Each holiday is explored in its own chapter, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the unique customs and rituals associated with each event.

Enchant has also hired a number of local bands to perform every night, including Moonshine Society, The Experience band, Micah Robinson and 1Identity Band.

Still, it s hard to forget you re in a baseball stadium a selling point for Nats fans like myself, but perhaps a distraction for those wishing for a fully immersive experience. Parents with a combination of tweens, teens and younger kids can strategically split up to work around ride-height restrictions, then regroup for a snack or meal.

Each holiday is explored in its own chapter, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the unique customs and rituals associated with each event. In addition to providing historical and cultural context, "Pagan Holidays" also offers practical tips and suggestions for individuals interested in incorporating these traditions into their own lives. The author discusses various ways to celebrate each holiday, from small personal rituals to larger community gatherings.

I Went To Enchant, The Christmas-Themed Extravaganza Inside Nationals Park

The screech reverberated off the concrete walls of the Nationals Park concourse like a banshee trapped inside a Metro car. Mr. Claus himself had just come into view, back-lit by a giant crescent moon and surrounded by a snaking line of children shivering with either cold or uncontainable excitement.

But it wasn't a sugar-addled six-year-old shrieking the jolly old man's name. Reader, it was me.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. I had planned to approach Enchant, the winter spectacular that has taken over D.C.'s ballpark for the next month, with my typical journalistic rigor, urbane cynicism and Jewish disregard for Christmas excess.

But after chugging a supersized hot chocolate topped with a mountain of whipped cream and receiving a very special chocolate coin wrapped in gold from a friendly elf, my feebly-constructed barricades fell like a pile of presents under the tree. My body became a vessel for decades worth of pent-up holiday spirit. I was Christmas.

Nationals Park, as seen from left-center field. Mikaela Lefrak/WAMU hide caption

The winter extravaganza features "the world's largest" Christmas light maze. Visitors must wander through it to locate Santa's nine lost reindeer. Along the way, they'll battle distraction by dozens of Instagram-worthy light installations, including a 100-foot-tall tree, giant snowflakes and an enormous diamond engagement ring. Up in the stadium's upper levels, twinkling lights dot the stands to create a "starry night" effect.

It's undeniably lovely, and romantic as heck. Justin Birch, Enchant's director of business development, tells me they average about 50 engagements per season at each location. There were three engagements on D.C.'s first night alone.

Still, it's hard to forget you're in a baseball stadium — a selling point for Nats fans like myself, but perhaps a distraction for those wishing for a fully immersive experience. At one particularly surreal moment, I watched carollers in cloaks and top hats perform in front of a shuttered hot dog stand.

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me. two Nats dogs and a bag of peanuts?? Mikaela Lefrak/WAMU hide caption

Enchant's founder, Kevin Johnston, set up his first light maze in his father's backyard in Vancouver, Canada nearly a dozen years ago. He then expanded to Major League ballparks in Seattle, Washington, and St. Petersburg, Florida, which typically sit empty during the off-season. Enchant has a three-year contract at Nationals Park and will expand to four more cities next year.

"We want this to be a D.C. event, not an event in D.C.," Birch said. He noted that 96% of the 390 Enchant staff members are from the Washington region. Many of them also work in food services and security at Nationals games.

Enchant has also hired a number of local bands to perform every night, including Moonshine Society, The Experience band, Micah Robinson and 1Identity Band.

The 100-foot tree is taller than the one at Rockefeller Center, I was told more than once. Oh, and then there's the ring. Mikaela Lefrak/WAMU hide caption

It's not all magic and sugar plum fairies. For one, Enchant's price point can be prohibitively expensive. Weekend tickets for a family of four cost about $100. Once inside, the sirens of Christmas consumerism will immediately begin to call your name. There's a holiday market packed with local vendors, a 10,000 square-foot ice-skating path (skate rentals not included in the price of admission), and warm drinks to buy at every turn.

A resourceful visitor could construct a meal from the free chocolate coins handed out by friendly elves, but those looking for actual protein might have to cough up $12 for sustenance like the Enchant-themed half smoke from Ben's Chili Bowl. The unassuming half smoke has been doused in sour cream and sprinkled with green and red bell peppers, because hashtag Christmas.

I'm not going to lie to you — it's pretty tasty.

N-A-T-S Nats Nats Nats woo! Mikaela Lefrak/WAMU hide caption

Enchant is probably best experienced along with actual children, but I was far from the only childless adult walking around with a big goofy grin on my big dumb face. At one point I spotted a fellow adult woman posing for a picture with Mrs. Claus in the Christmas matron's "reading nook." I wandered over in time to catch Mrs. Claus offering to snap a photo of the woman, Ashley Sarris, with her companion Isaac Lutkoff.

"She's so sweet," Sarris said. "This is wonderful."

After about two hours my sugar high started wearing off and my mittened fingers began to resemble tiny icicles. I headed toward the exit, but not before snagging another chocolate coin from an elf. "Isn't this just Chanukah gelt?" I mumbled to myself as I pulled off the gold wrapper. My Enchant-induced innocence was clearly fading fast, so I turned around for one last look at the lights before the magic disappeared entirely.

The giant Christmas tree twinkled at me from center field. A happy couple strolled by with mugs of mulled wine. A weeping toddler begged her parents for a stuffed animal from the holiday market.

And with that, it was time to go.

Told you I saw Santa. Mikaela Lefrak/WAMU hide caption

Enchant runs through Dec. 29.

This allows readers to find inspiration and ideas that resonate with their own spiritual beliefs and practices. Whether readers are new to paganism or have been practicing for years, "Pagan Holidays" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring and celebrating the rich tapestry of pagan traditions. Its accessible and informative style makes it an enjoyable read for both novice and experienced practitioners alike. Through its exploration of ancient customs and contemporary adaptations, the book serves as a bridge between the past and the present, allowing readers to connect with the timeless wisdom and beauty of pagan holidays..

Reviews for "Lammas: Harvesting Abundance and Giving Thanks"

1) Sarah - 2 stars

I was really disappointed with "Pagan Holidays Book". I was expecting a comprehensive and informative guide to pagan holidays, but instead I got a very brief overview of each holiday without any depth or historical context. The author also didn't include any personal anecdotes or experiences, which would have added some interest and depth to the book. Overall, I found it to be lacking in substance and not worth my time or money.

2) John - 1 star

I would not recommend "Pagan Holidays Book" to anyone interested in learning about pagan holidays. The book was poorly organized and the information provided was very basic and superficial. There were also numerous spelling and grammatical errors throughout, which made it difficult to read and understand. I was expecting a well-researched and well-written book, but unfortunately, this was not the case. Save your money and look for a better resource on pagan holidays.

3) Emily - 2 stars

I found "Pagan Holidays Book" to be quite disappointing. The information provided was very basic and didn't provide any new insights or perspectives on pagan holidays. The book also lacked visual aids or illustrations, which would have made it more engaging and visually appealing. Additionally, I found the writing style to be dry and uninspiring. Overall, I was not satisfied with this book and would not recommend it to others who are looking to expand their knowledge on pagan holidays.

4) Mark - 3 stars

I have mixed feelings about "Pagan Holidays Book". On one hand, I appreciated the brevity and simplicity of the information provided. It was a quick and easy read, which could be helpful for someone who is completely new to pagan holidays. However, I found that the book lacked depth and didn't go into enough detail on the various holidays. It felt more like a general overview rather than a comprehensive guide. If you're looking for a basic introduction to pagan holidays, this book might suffice. But if you're looking for in-depth knowledge, you'll likely be disappointed.

5) Laura - 2 stars

I was expecting more from "Pagan Holidays Book". While it did provide a brief overview of the different pagan holidays, I found the information to be very surface-level and lacking in detail. I was hoping for a more in-depth exploration of the history, traditions, and significance of each holiday. Additionally, the book was poorly edited and contained numerous spelling and grammatical errors. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about pagan holidays, as there are better resources available.

The Pagan Holiday Calendar: Marking the Sacred Days of the Year