Pagan Blog Project: Eriu

The other Day I talked about the festival to Eriu that I celebrate. This time I thought to talk more about the Goddess herself as she is one of the main Gaelic deities that I honor.

Eriu has two other sisters, Fotla and Banba; though some stories put her having the Moriggan as sisters as well. Like many female goddesses in Ireland she is a sovereignty goddess. Though she and her three sisters are sovereignty goddess of all of Ireland. Eriu is the reason why Ireland is known in Irish as Eiru, Her sister's names give a more poetic form to the island as well.

The myth of how this came to be also illustrates one of the theories of the dead in Irish thought. When the Millisens came to Ireland, their leader Donn met with Eriu and her two sisters. He asked them for his support in coming to Ireland, and each sister gave their support though Eriu gave the most. However, Donn was an arrogant man who insulted her and her sisters. So for Donn's inhospitality he became the first person to die in Ireland.

Eriu is also associated with Flaith Érenn within the story Baile in Scáil. Here, She gives Conn the cup of sovereignty. Micheal Enright in her book Lady with the mead cup, that this is a reflex of an older ritual in which a woman acts as both prophet and king-maker. Again, showing Eriu's link to Ireland as a whole.

So I honor her by remembering my own heritage; such as supporting in what ever way I can to preserve the Irish Language. But also by looking to help take care of Ireland. Charities that can help reforest, clean and in general take care of the land are something that is one way of honoring her.

Lá Fhéile Eriu

This past Monday was celebrated as Saint Patricks day by a lot of Americans, and Catholics who honor that particular saint. For me however the day is my feast for the Goddess Eriu. In America at the very least, around this time it is more of a celebration of Irish Culture and thus I have felt that it was the right time to honor the goddess of Ireland.

Eriu is the goddess of Ireland. It is her name that the island of Ireland is named after. She met the first humans, the Millesians who ventured to Ireland and met with Donn their leader. Donn sought Eriu and her sisters supporter for his conquest of Ireland. Eriu was the one to give the most support, but when Donn insulted her, he was the first to die. thus why one of the places we can go to when we die is the House of Donn.

In honor of this day, I honor Eriu and the culture of Ireland. It is a day of singing songs and feasting. I honor her by memorizing an Irish song by memory. It can be any folk song, but it has to be an Irish one. This year, I have chosen to sing the Foggy Dew.

Celebrating my ancestors and Irish culture is a big part of this day. I also honor my ancestors. While this is a minor festival, and one I have sort of made up so I recognize that it is UPG. However, it is important to help connect to the culture of Ireland.

PBP: Eusebeia

For this week of pagan blog project, I have decided to talk about one of the pillars of Hellenismos, Eusebeia. What is Eusebia? It in short means piety and being pious. Though it also means showing reverence to the Theoi and other divinities. This means providing offerings and libations to the gods and goddesses.

The Discourse of Epictetus translated by George Long says "...he who takes care to desire as he ought and to avoid as he ought, at the same time also cares after piety. But to make libations and to sacrifice and to offer first-fruits according to the custom of our fathers, purely and not meanly nor carelessly nor scantily nor above our ability, is a thing which belongs to all to do." thus one can see it means following custom, reverence, and providing with offerings.

Reverence for the gods

One of the aspects of Eusebia is reverence for the gods. "Worship the Gods (Θεους σεβου)" and "Follow the Gods(Έπου ϴεωι του)". The second maxim, Follow the Gods, is the first maxim on the list. These are to help make sure that keep the thought of honoring the gods in every aspect of our life.

The Discourse above mentions about keeping to the rituals. This is one thing I work on doing. Each morning and night providing the offerings, same when it is days dedicated to other divinities. It may not be grand, but I keep them within my heart. The Delphic maxim that says "Give what you have (Εχων χαριζου)" is one that I keep in my mind.

My Festival Year

Below is my festival year. I am relying upon the Athenian or Attica Calendar for the greek aspects of my worship as it is the most common calendar used among the Hellenic polytheistic community. The main exception to this is that I don't have up the women's festivals as they are for women. I also have the Gaelic Festivals that I also celebrate. I also put the name of the Gregorian month in parentheses to help myself.

Monthly Observances

• 1st day: Noumenia – new moon festival
• 2nd day: Agathos Daimon
• 3rd day: Athēna
• 4th day: Aphroditē, Hermēs, Hēraklēs, Erōs
• 6th day: Artemis
• 7th day: Apollōn
• 8th day: Poseidōn and Thēseús
• last day – Hena Kai Nea, the ‘old and the new’, or Hekatē’s Deipnon (Hekatē’s Dinner), Hekatē

Festivals by Month

Hekatombaiōn(July)

• 4 - Aphrodisia - festival of Aphrodite and Peitho (Persuasion)
• 12 - Kronia - festival in honor of Kronos
• 16 / 15-16 - Sunoikia - community festival in Athens. Sacred to Athena. Two-day celebration every other year.
• 21 - Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, (Hekate &) Artemis at Erchia
• 23rd-30th – Panathēnaia: This festival climaxes on the 28th and is in celebration of Athena’s birth.

Metageitniōn(August)

• 1-3: Lughnasa: festival to Lugh and his foster mother Tailtiu
• 16th – Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, Hekatē, and Artemis.
• 19th – Sacrifice to the Hērōines.
• 20th – Sacrifice to Hēra Thelkhinia.
• 25th – Sacrifice to Zeus Epoptes.

Boedromiōn(September)

• 2 - Niketeria - festival in honor of Athena, Nike, and perhaps Poseidon
• 3 - Plataia - festival of reconciliation, sacred to Hera Daidala
• 4th – Sacrifice to Basile.
• 5th – Genesia: Festival of the Dead
• 6th – Sacrifice to Artemis Agrotera
• 12th – Dēmokratia: Festival to honor democracy.
• 15th-21st – Eleusinian Mysteries: (also the Great Mysteries) Rites celebrating Persephonē and Dēmētēr.
• 17th – Epidauria: Festival to honor Asklēpios.
• 27th – Sacrifices to the Nymphai, Akhelōos, Hermēs, Athēna, and Gaia.

Puanepsiōn(October)

• 6 - Proerosia - agricultural festival for Demeter
• 7 - Pyanepsia - festival in honor of Apollon and Theseu
• 8 - Theseia - festival in honor of Theseus
• 19th-21st – Apaturia: paternity festival
• 30th – Khalkeia: Festival to honor Athēna and Hēphaistos.
• 31 - Samhain: Festival of the Dead

Maimakteriōn(November)

• 1-2 - Samhain: Festival of the Dead
• Last week – Pompaia: Festival honoring Zeus Meilikhos.

Poseideōn(December)

• 8 - Poseidea - festival in honor of Poseidon
• 16 - Sacrifice to Zeus Horios
• 26th – Haloa: Fertility festival for Dionysos and Dēmētēr.

Gameliōn(January)

• 8th – Sacrifices to Apollōn Apotropaios, Apollōn Nymphegetes, and the Nymphai.
• 9th – Sacrifice to Athēna
• 12-15 - Lenaia - festival in honor of Dionysus in the Attic deme of Limnai
• 27th – Theogamia: Celebration honoring the marriage of Hēra and Zeus. Also sacrifices to Kourotrophos, Hēra, Zeus Teleius, and Poseidōn

Anthestēriōn(February)

• Imbolc: Festival to Brighid
• 2 - Sacrifice to Dionysus at Erchia
• 11-13 - Anthesteria - wine festival in honor of Dionysus
• 20-26 - Lesser Mysteries in preparation for the Eleusinian Mysteries
• 23 - Diasia - festival in honor of Zeus Meilichios

Elapheboliōn(March)

• 6 - Elaphebolia - festival in honor of Artemis
• 8 - Asklepieia - in honor of Asklēpiós
• 10-16 - Greater (City) Dionysia in honor of Dionysus
• 15 - Sacrifice to Kronos
• 17 - Lá Fhéile Eriu - a festival in honor of Eriu
• 18 – Pandia: Festival to honor Zeus.

Mounukhiōn(April)

• 6 - Delphinia - in honor of Artemis, and perhaps Apollon and Theseus
• 16 - Mounikhia - festival in honor of Artemis as the moon Goddess and Mistress of the animals
• 19 - Olympieia - festival in honor of Olympian Zeus
• 20 - Sacrifice to Leucaspis at Erchia
• 21 - Sacrifice to Tritopatores at Erchia

Thargeliōn(May)

• 4 - Sacrifice to Leto, Pythian Apollon, Zeus, Hermes & Dioskuri at Erchia
• 6-7 - Thargelia - birthday of Apollon and Artemis
• 16 - Sacrifice to Zeus Epakrios
• 19th – Festival to honor the Thracian Goddess Bendis.
• 25 - Plynteria - festival of washing, where the statue of athena was removed from the city of Athens to be cleaned. Auspicious day.

Skirophōriōn(June)

• 3 - Arrephōria: Festival honoring Athena.
• 3 - Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, Athena Polias, Aglaurus, Zeus Polieus, Poseidon & possibly Pandrosos at Erchia
• 14 - Dipolieia/Bouphonia - festival in honor of Zeus Poleius
• Midsummer - Lá Fhéile Manannán: festival for Manannán mac Lir