Hellenistic holiday calendars?

[EricLeif]

For the past few years I have become more and more studied in my faith and have wanted to show greater and greater reverence for the gods and goddesses of the pantheon but being the only Hellenist I know I have found it very hard to find a calendars or anyone who knows the holidays of the Hellenistic Revival. I did find one site last week that I am not entirely sure on the validity of http://www.Hellenion.org/calendar.html which has a fairly detailed calendar, but I don't know if i should keep looking or not.

Without having a set calendar to follow I have found that my worship has seemed very unstructured and I often found myself participating in the Wiccan and Celtic holidays of those around me with none of my own to celebrate. I do have to admit though I had awesome friends who would incorporate moments of prayer to my gods and goddesses into their holidays but I think it is now time to find my own calendar.

[Elani Temperance]

For the past few years I have become more and more studied in my faith and have wanted to show greater and greater reverence for the gods and goddesses of the pantheon but being the only Hellenist I know I have found it very hard to find a calendars or anyone who knows the holidays of the Hellenistic Revival. I did find one site last week that I am not entirely sure on the validity of http://www.Hellenion.org/calendar.html which has a fairly detailed calendar, but I don't know if i should keep looking or not.

Without having a set calendar to follow I have found that my worship has seemed very unstructured and I often found myself participating in the Wiccan and Celtic holidays of those around me with none of my own to celebrate. I do have to admit though I had awesome friends who would incorporate moments of prayer to my gods and goddesses into their holidays but I think it is now time to find my own calendar.

Hellenion is a good organization and their calendar is good as well. You can find mine at the link below, which gets updated when research calls for it.

http://baringtheaegis.blogspot.com/p/festivals-by-month.html

The current date, both modern as well as ancient Hellenic, is always displayed in one of the boxes to the side. For more detailed instructions, please see here:

http://baringtheaegis.blogspot.com/2013/07/reader-question-how-to-read-hellenic.html

[EricLeif]

Hellenion is a good organization and their calendar is good as well. You can find mine at the link below, which gets updated when research calls for it.

http://baringtheaegis.blogspot.com/p/festivals-by-month.html

The current date, both modern as well as ancient Hellenic, is always displayed in one of the boxes to the side. For more detailed instructions, please see here:

http://baringtheaegis.blogspot.com/2013/07/reader-question-how-to-read-hellenic.html

Thank you so much for the quick response. I do love the fact that you have it as a Google Calendar which makes it so easy to move things to my personal calendar but I did have a few questions about certain events I see on there that I'm not sure of. Like from my research I know that Khalkeia comes up on the 30th but on the google calendar you have Impure Day starting, is that another name for Khalkeia or a different event? and I have several others, but I didn't know if you would want to be bombarded by them all at once.

[Elani Temperance]

Thank you so much for the quick response. I do love the fact that you have it as a Google Calendar which makes it so easy to move things to my personal calendar but I did have a few questions about certain events I see on there that I'm not sure of. Like from my research I know that Khalkeia comes up on the 30th but on the google calendar you have Impure Day starting, is that another name for Khalkeia or a different event? and I have several others, but I didn't know if you would want to be bombarded by them all at once.

The Khalkeia falls on the 30 of Pyanepsia, meaning on the same date as the Hene kai Nea (or Hekate's Deipnon). That would be... sundown november 3 to sundown november 4 this year. It's never an easy thing to figure out ;-) I'm currently without a laptop making updating the calendar a pain, but I want to do the coming month today.

Feel free to ask your questions :-) I do not mind bombardments at all.

[RandallS]

I do love the fact that you have it as a Google Calendar which makes it so easy to move things to my personal calendar....

I had not actually noticed that before. That probably makes it the most useful version of a Hellenic festival calendar out there.

[Elani Temperance]

I had not actually noticed that before. That probably makes it the most useful version of a Hellenic festival calendar out there.

 
Thank you I have just finished updated my Google Calendar up 'till the new Hellenic year per Athens--which is June 28, 2014.

[EricLeif]

Feel free to ask your questions :-) I do not mind bombardments at all.

Ok then I guess my first question is: I see several repeating weekly events. What are those?

I had not actually noticed that before. That probably makes it the most useful version of a Hellenic festival calendar out there.

Yes it makes it awesome

Thank you I have just finished updated my Google Calendar up 'till the new Hellenic year per Athens--which is June 28, 2014.

Awesome I'm starting to move the events over to my calendar.

[Elani Temperance]

Ok then I guess my first question is: I see several repeating weekly events. What are those?

 Repeating weekly events...? Weeks are a Roman thing, but I think you are refering to the 'Mên kata Theion', the sacred month. These are sacred days that repeat monthly. They aren't festivals per se, but were observed by most in the city state. Some of the ones on the agenda are well-documented, from others we only know for sure one family observed it--in general, the further we get into the month, the less sure we are; especially the first eight days are well documented and were very important.

Over arching, the ancient Hellenic calendar works in cycles; a monthly cycle within a yearly cycle within a four year cycle. Repetition is key because it insures the Gods get Their due. This is why I advise people who are starting out to observe every event on the calendar, even if it's just by reading a quick wiki entry about it. This way, the cycles and the value of the calendar will become clear; both to the ancient Hellenes as the modern Hellenist.

Does this answer your question? Next? ;-)

[EricLeif]

Repeating weekly events...? Weeks are a Roman thing, but I think you are refering to the 'Mên kata Theion', the sacred month. These are sacred days that repeat monthly. They aren't festivals per se, but were observed by most in the city state. Some of the ones on the agenda are well-documented, from others we only know for sure one family observed it--in general, the further we get into the month, the less sure we are; especially the first eight days are well documented and were very important.

Over arching, the ancient Hellenic calendar works in cycles; a monthly cycle within a yearly cycle within a four year cycle. Repetition is key because it insures the Gods get Their due. This is why I advise people who are starting out to observe every event on the calendar, even if it's just by reading a quick wiki entry about it. This way, the cycles and the value of the calendar will become clear; both to the ancient Hellenes as the modern Hellenist.

Does this answer your question? Next? ;-)

Ok i'm starting to see what you are saying, seeing Athena or Apollon on the calendar twice in a month is what is confusing me since the Hellenic is offset. Ok then next question is where is the best spot to look at each event on the calendar?

[Elani Temperance]

Ok i'm starting to see what you are saying, seeing Athena or Apollon on the calendar twice in a month is what is confusing me since the Hellenic is offset. Ok then next question is where is the best spot to look at each event on the calendar?

I'm afraid I don't understand that question. You mean for more information? Or its placement on the solar calendar? Or something else?

And I get how the double names are confusing. Some of the names are, indeed, double, but that is the information we have. Also note that some are part of the sacred month, some are festivals, and some are sacrifices (minor festivals) from non-Athenian locations. This can make reading the calendar a little more murky sometimes.

[EricLeif]

I'm afraid I don't understand that question. You mean for more information? Or its placement on the solar calendar? Or something else?

And I get how the double names are confusing. Some of the names are, indeed, double, but that is the information we have. Also note that some are part of the sacred month, some are festivals, and some are sacrifices (minor festivals) from non-Athenian locations. This can make reading the calendar a little more murky sometimes.

I guess more information on each event would be the first step then the next would be trying to decider which ones are part of the sacred month, then the festival's, and last the non-Anthenian

[Elani Temperance]

I guess more information on each event would be the first step then the next would be trying to decider which ones are part of the sacred month, then the festival's, and last the non-Anthenian

That is easily remedied. The first link I gave you, to my blog? It has a listing of the sacred month first, then if you scroll down to the right month (which is also on the Google Caledar), you will find the festivals and sacrifices. Sacrifices are always marked 'sacrifice to... at...'. Most of the events are linked to blog posts. For the others, the Hellenion link you have shoukd be able to help, or type '[name of festival] temenos' into Google to get taken to their entry on festivals.

[EricLeif]

That is easily remedied. The first link I gave you, to my blog? It has a listing of the sacred month first, then if you scroll down to the right month (which is also on the Google Caledar), you will find the festivals and sacrifices. Sacrifices are always marked 'sacrifice to... at...'. Most of the events are linked to blog posts. For the others, the Hellenion link you have shoukd be able to help, or type '[name of festival] temenos' into Google to get taken to their entry on festivals.

Man all the upcoming research! You have no idea how exciting this is for me after having such a hard time for the last few years to get really into my faith without knowing the right days and festivals. And now to have this before me is opening all these new doors and new questions, especially since I can now focus on the hellenistic practices over supplementing with Wiccan ones. All the new questions about what to do, when and how.

[Elani Temperance]

Man all the upcoming research! You have no idea how exciting this is for me after having such a hard time for the last few years to get really into my faith without knowing the right days and festivals. And now to have this before me is opening all these new doors and new questions, especially since I can now focus on the hellenistic practices over supplementing with Wiccan ones. All the new questions about what to do, when and how.

Enjoy the ride! It is a wild one ;-) I've been in your position so I know how you feel. If you need help, you can always ask, either here, through PM or my gmail e-mail address 'baring.the.aegis'. Also, please remember you don't have to figure out every festival in your first full year; take your time. It'll all fall into place.

[drekfletch]

In addition to Hellenion's calendar which is based on the city of Athens', and Elani's which I believe is less so but still Attic; Rhuadan used to have his calendar available (I think it still is).  His is based upon Boeotia, a region north of Attica.

Ancient calendars are a messy business.