Holy Days Archives - The Sacred Hearth

Yule log Ritual

Morningbird Book of Shadows, Holy Days, Ritual

This rite is to be performed at Yuletide using either a Yule Log candle holder or a Yule Log cake with three candles in it. If you use a Yule log cake, it’s a nice way to end the Yuletide feast. It can also be performed on the night of the Long Night’s Moon. The […]

Yuletide Traditions

Morningbird Book of Shadows, Holy Days

The feast of midwinter takes place on the Winter Solstice. It is not the middle of winter here, but really only a couple weeks in. Our winter lasts from pretty close to the end of November to April, though snow in October and April are quite common and frost can be expected in both September […]

Autumn Equinox Traditions

Morningbird Holy Days

The Autumn Equinox has been called the Witches’ Thanksgiving. It is the second (middle) of the three harvest festivals, beginning with the First Harvest and ending with Samhain, or the Last Harvest. The first harvest marked the beginning of the grain and small fruit harvest as well as the cutting and replanting of cool weather […]

First Harvest Reflections

Morningbird Holy Days, Homestead and Hearthcraft, Kitchen Witch Corner

The feast of the First Harvest is a feast of little bits. The garden is full of promise, but not full of ripe produce. We have some zucchini, an eggplant, maybe even a tomato, but hardly enough of anything to make a meal, but together, with a handful of herbs, couple eggs from the hens […]

Entertaining at Midwinter

Morningbird Holy Days, Kitchen Witch Corner

The Winter Solstice occurs sometime between December 20th and 22nd and is the shortest day and longest night of the year and the official start of winter, though some folks will feel that winter has set in long before its arrival and some of us are saying “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”. This time of […]

Thanksgiving

Morningbird Book of Shadows, Holy Days

Thanksgiving is an American secular (semi-Christian) holiday that celebrates the first harvest of some of the earliest settlers in North America which was shared by the indigenous people of the immediate area. Thanksgiving is not a Pagan holiday, and it is a contentious holiday for those who support indigenous rights, but it’s also an American […]

Taking Out the Garbage

Morningbird Holy Days

Lots of people hate the holidays. For me hate isn’t the right word. For me, the holidays are a struggle. And they are toxic. From Thanksgiving to Christmas it’s like one big anxiety attack. Not to mention every food trigger of my migraines (flashy lights, blinding sun shining off of snow) and fibromyalgia (ham, damp […]

Feast of Sacrifice

Morningbird Book of Shadows, Holy Days, Ritual

The Feast of Sacrifice celebrates the sacrifice that other living things- plant and animal- make so that we may live. An effigy is made out of materials on hand and stuffed with good things to eat. It is then “sacrificed” and the food is taken from it and made part of a ritual feast. There […]

The February Fast

Morningbird Book of Shadows, Holy Days

Tomorrow is our February Eve celebration. It’s easy enough to call it Imbolc if you like because it’s similar. But a little different. Now I have heard that Samhain is the Witches New Year, but this is not true for our family. We celebrate the Feast of the Dead then but February Eve is our […]

Cross Burning Rite

Morningbird Book of Shadows, Holy Days, Ritual

Although I am a Neo-Hellenic Pagan, I still perform this rite every Imbolc because it holds a special place in my heart. It was featured at the first public Pagan event I ever attended, one hosted by Celtic Druids. It is just so meaningful and I really do love it. For me it isn’t so […]