Liber ab Solemnitas (The Book of Holidays)^199
presents (especially to family members), making sacrifice (especially to
the poor), and making a distinct effort at removing the barriers of class.
Masters served the serving class and merriment for all was the rule. The
underlying message was that thanks be given to god (in this case Saturn
and his wife Ops), so considering the fact that the date given changes
from year to year (depending on the date beginning the year) we see
that December 25th (Christmas) often falls smack dab in the middle of
the Roman Pagan celebration of Saturnalia. This I feel makes the rebel-
lion against so called Christian traditions—which are actually Pagan tra-
ditions—rather silly.
December 19 The Opalia—Honoring Ops. This holiday was held in the middle of the
Saturnalia. Where Saturnalia is a celebration of the marriage of Saturn
and Ops, this day was a celebration that focused on Ops, especially in
her role as wife.
December 19 Day of Children—Honoring Juventas. This day is known as the Day of
Children or Festival of Youth. Although it honored Juventas, goddess
who presides over boy’s ascension into manhood, this holiday keys on
the maiden and master stages of life and not the transition into adult-
hood. This is a day to give our children presents and enjoy their youth,
realizing it dwindles day by day. The cultural celebrations this time of
year fit right into the Wiccan religion and Pagan way of life.
December 21 Sacred to Ceres, Divalia, and Hercules.
December 22 Sacred to Lares.
December 23 The Larentalia—Honoring Acca Larentia. The last day of the Saturnalia
honoring Acca Larentia in her uninhibited aspect.
December 25 Observation of Winter Solstice—The actual date changed year to year.
Winter Solstice The Angeronalia—Honoring Angerona.
This holiday celebrates the goddess of secrets. Celebration centered
around games in which no one speaks.Modern Wiccan Holidays
When considering the ancient Pagan holidays, we see something really interesting
starting to emerge. When we consider the eight Sabbats in conjunction with these many
ancient Pagan holidays, we see that although the standard eight holidays have become
almost universal in the modern Wiccan movement, there is very little about their rigid
structure that is from the practices of the pre-Christian Pagans. Instead, we see that
what we consider the eight Sabbats is more of an amalgam of ancient ways combined
with the new. Consider how many books have told us that Winter Solstice, which is a
specific and measurable day, is the same as Alban Arthan, Day of Children, Mother’s
Night, and Saturnalia? And yet, Alban Arthan, Day of Children, Mother’s Night, and
Saturnalia were celebrated in time of old as distinctly separate events on distinctly sepa-
rate days. What gives?r WB Chap 10.p65 199 7/11/2003, 5:54 PM