#eleusinia

~ 15-18 Metageitnion ~

Unrelated to Eleusinian Mysteries, Eleusinia similarly celebrated Demeter as the Goddess of the Harvest. On these days a thanksgiving was held to honor the Goddess. Commonly, grain and wheat as well as baked good were given in offering.

Eleusinia did not take place every year. The festival takes place every two years; once on the last year of the Olympiad as Greater Eleusinia, and once on the second year of the Olympiad as Eleusinia. Greater Eleusinia held the only difference of a larger and complex observance to Demeter.

Both festivals consisted of games held with prizes, a procession and a sacrifice. Winners were said to take home large amounts of grain.

Traditional Offerings:

- Grain/Wheat or Baked Goods

- Imagery of Demeter

- Hymns to Demeter

- Libations to Demeter

Traditional Acts:

- Hymns to Demeter

- Libations to Demeter

- Playing of games observed in Ancient Greece (such as footraces or wrestling)

20th of August- Eleusinia | Attic Calendar

Δημητηρ (Demeter) was the Olympian goddess of agriculture, grain and bread who sustained mankind with the earth's rich bounty. She presided over the foremost of the Mystery Cults which promised its intiates the path to a blessed afterlife in the realm of Elysium. Demeter was depicted as a mature woman, often wearing a crown and bearing sheafs of wheat or a cornucopia (horn of plenty), and a torch.

Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter 1 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th or 6th B.C.) :

"I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter reverend goddess (semne thea)--of her and her trim-ankled daughter [Persephone] whom Aidoneus (Haides) rapt away . . . Right blessed is he among men on earth whom they freely love: soon they do send Ploutos (Plutus, Wealth) as guest to his great house, Ploutos (Wealth) who gives wealth to mortal men. And now, queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and sea-girt Paros and rocky Antron, queen (potnia), giver of good gifts (aglaodoros), bringer of seasons (horephoros), lady (anassa) Deo, be gracious, you and your daughter all beauteous Persephone, and for my song grant me heart-cheering substance."

On the festival:

Eleusinia, ancient Greek festival in honour of Demeter (the goddess of agriculture), unconnected with the Eleusinian Mysteries despite the similarity of names. The Eleusinia, which included games and contests, was held every two years, probably in the month of Metageitnion (August–September). Every second festival had a particularly elaborate observance and was known as the Great Eleusinia. Its purpose was thanksgiving and sacrifice to Demeter for the gift of grain.

Source

Currently working on my own version of the adapted Attic calendar! So far I only have January, but February is almost done as well. Fair warning, this goes in depth about what the festivals/celebrations are and how to commemorate, so this post is gigantic. Attention: This is for the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE!

⛧ [10/01/24] [Hekatombion 40th] - Hekate Deipnon

WHAT IS IT & WAYS TO CELEBRATE: It takes place at the end of the Lunar month. Hekate means "bringer of light", so at the darkest part of the month, we prepare our homes for the transition to a new month and offer her a meal. Think of it as a mini new year; clean/cleanse your house (especially altars), get rid of things you don't want to bring into next month (physical, spiritual, etc), and leave Hekate an offering at sundown (preferably a meal, but if you can't afford to waste food, just give her something else. Maybe bury or burn it if you can). Here's a list of good offerings (best left outside or at her altar, if you have one for her):

Anthesteria

Festival of Dionysus and wine

Time- January 11th-13th

The souls of the dead come from the underworld and walk abroad. People would chew on hawthorn or buckthorn and besmear their doors with tar to protect themselves from evil.

Day 1- Pithoigia (The Jar opening)

The jars of wine from last year are opened.

Day 2- Choës (The Pouring)

People dress gaily and gave rounds of drinks to acquaintances and friends. Drinking contests are held to see who can drink the fastest. Drinks where also poured on the graves of the deceased.

Day 3- Chytroi (The Pots)

Fruit is offered to Hermès and the souls of the dead, who where then bidden to depart.

Apaturia

Days of discussion

Time- 11th-13th of mid-October to mid-November

Day 1- Dorpia

A festival is held at a persons house.

Day 2- Anarrhysis

A sacrifice is made. In modern day we will count this as a gift giving day. (In Ancient Greece they offered goat and ox heads)

Day 3- Kureōtis

A day of offerings, such as hair.

Dionysia

A festival of theatrical performances of dramatic tragedies and comedies.

Time- is split into 2 parts through out the year

Rural Dionysia

Held in December-January. It celebrates the cultivation of vines. A mini parade is held of girls and boys holding baskets of long bread, other offerings, jars of water, and jars of wine. After the Pompe, the mini parade is called, they have dancing and singing contests and dithyrambs where sung too.

City Dionysia

Held 3 months after The Rural Dionysia. Offerings are given to Dionysus to prevent a plague affecting the male genitalia.

Eleusinia

Festival of games

Time- held every 2 years in the middle of August and September.

The Eleusinia is a festival in honour of Demeter. Every other festival is known as The Great Eleusinia it’s purpose was thanksgiving and sacrifice to Demeter for the gift of grain. The festival consists of games and contests. They don’t have a specific theme.

Panathenaea

A celebration of Athena via games incorporating religious festival, ceremonies, athletic competitions, and cultural events.

Time- The Great Panathenaea is held every 4 years and the lesser is held every year, but both are in June though

The Great Panathenaea

This is just a more magnificent display of The Lesser Panathenaea.

1. The Musical Contest

• Is only held at The Greater Panathenaea. In modern times the best speaking of an excerpt of the Iliad and the odyssey would win the contest.

2. The Gymnastic Contest

• Is only held at The Greater Panathenaea. 3 groups of 12-15, 16-19, and 20 and above compete. A race is the only recorded event.

3. The Equestrian Contest

• Is only held at The Greater Panathenaea. A horse chariot race between 2 people. I’m modern day it would not be horses.

4. The Smaller Contests

• The Pyrrhic dance

• I’m modern times it would be a dance competition based on remembering choreography.

• The Procession and Sacrifices

• The procession is a showing of all the victors. At the end of the procession everyone that participated in the events offers and sacrifice/offering to the gods.

• The Officials of the Festival

• The chosen, up to, 10 organize the musical, gymnastics, and equestrian contests of the festival. They would also choose the prizes.

Thargelia

An agricultural festival held in honour of Apollo and Artemis.

Time- May 24th and 25th annually

Day 1

The first fruits of the earth are offered to ward off pestilence and convince Apollo to not give excessive heat. I’m modern day you would also throw a rock in the sea or large body of water.

Day 2

Olive branches bound by wool were affixed by doors of houses. Choruses of men and boys take part in a musical Contest which the prize is a tripod. Adopted people are prayed for to be adopted and taken into a loving home.

Thesmophoria

A festival honouring Demeter and her daughter Persephone.

Time- late October for 3 days annually

The festival was held to celebrated in order to promote fertility, both human and agricultural. It was celebrated by other women and men were forbidden to see the rites.

I am a man by birth so I will not read or write about any of the rites and rituals.

I researched all of these in one night and I’m also very new to fully embracing Hellenic polytheism. If there is anything wrong or needs to be corrected please comment or message me. Also yes I know that using Wikipedia as a source isn’t that great but most things where very confusing to read.

Sources:

On August the 1st we celebrate the sixth sabbath of the wheel of the year, we celebrate Demeter and the Eleusinia Festival, we celebrate the sacrifice of the horned god, we make bread to honour and thank mother nature for everything that she offered us.