(^182) A Wiccan Bible
Boedromion 14 Eleusian Mysteries—The Full Moon of this month marked the festival
of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Held as a one day festival annually but
expanded to nine days every fifth year. The Eleusinian Mysteries honor
Demeter and Persephone and were the most sacred of all the Greek
festivals.
Boedromion 16 Epidauria—Festival in honor of Asklepios.
Boedromion 27 Sacrifices are made to the Achelous, Athena, Gaia, Hermes, and the
Nymphs.
Boedromion 28 Sacred to all Chthonian deities.
Boedromion 29 Sacred to all Chthonian deities.
Boedromion 30 Dark Moon—Sacred to Hecate and all Chthonian deities.
Pyanepsion—October—September 19—October 17
Pyanepsion actual begins on the fourth new moon after Summer Solstice
Pyanepsion 1 Noumenia—Celebration of the new moon.
Pyanepsion 2 Sacred to Agathos Daimon.
Pyanepsion 3 Sacred to the Three Graces and Athena.
Pyanepsion 4 Sacred to Aphrodite, Hermes, Hercules, Eros.
Pyanepsion 5 Proerosiea—Festival honoring Demeter and Persephone connected with
the tending of farmland.
Pyanepsion 6 Sacred to Artemis.
Pyanepsion 7 Pyanepsia/Puanepsia—Festival honoring Apollo, Artemis and the
Horae. Offerings of fruit were made in hope that blessings would be
granted.
Pyanepsion 8 Oskhophoria—Festival in honor of Dionysus and Ariadne. Men dressed
as women symbolizing the feminine side of masculinity present in all
men. Women, carrying a sacrifice of a grand dinner, followed the
cross-dressed men to the ocean where the food was thrown as sacrifice
to Poseidon. Athletic games and general revelry followed, as did great
lovemaking by couples in their homes and groups in public temples. This
day is sacred to romantically involved couples as it celebrates the union
of Dionysus with Ariadne.
Theseia—A festival apart from Oskhophoria, which is far less frenzied.
At Theseia, a procession of children would participate in military/for-
mal games to honor Theseus (King of Athens). A feast of bread and
meat was prepared and shared with or given to the poor.
Pyanepsion 9 Stenia—The first day of Thesmophoria. Stenia was participated in by
married women and mothers. Men and single women did not attend. It
was the marking of Demeter’s mourning over the loss of her daughter
r WB Chap 10.p65 182 7/11/2003, 5:54 PM
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