#pyanepsia

An ancient Athenian festival of reflection, harvest, myth, and thanks.

What is it?

On the Hellenion calendar (which is free to download on their site), September 23 marks the first day of the month, starting Pyanopsia (Πυανέψια). The ancient Greek festival for Apollo, held on the 7th day (Sept. 29th) of the month marks Pyanepsion. Each month the 7th day is dedicated to Apollo. This month continues until October 22, 2025, which marks the beginning of the next month, Maimakterion.

It honors:

Apollo, God of prophecy, light, music, healing.

Theseus, who vowed thanks to Apollo for safe passage before facing the Minotaur.

It’s a celebration of harvest, gratitude, and protection as the seasons turn.

How was it celebrated?

Panspermia → a communal stew made of beans, grains, and seeds was cooked as an offering and shared.

Eiresione → a decorated olive or laurel branch, wrapped in wool, hung with fruits, pastries, honey, wine. Carried in procession and placed at Apollo’s temple and or at the doorway of homes.

Offerings → jars of honey, oil, wine, seasonal fruit.

Songs → children would sing hymns as they carried the eiresione, celebrating renewal and abundance.

Purpose & Meaning

Thanksgiving → for the harvest, for Apollo’s blessings for safety.

Renewal → the eiresione marks an end to scarcity and a prayer for abundance.

Myth & Memory → a time of remembrance of Theseus’s legend and to Apollo’s protection.

Celebrating Today

If you want to honor Pyanopsia in a modern way:

Cook a bean and grain stew (panspermia) and set aside a portion as an offering.

Create an eiresione with a branch, yarn/wool, seasonal fruit, honey, or symbolic items — hang it on your door or altar.

Offer honey, olive oil, figs, or wine to Apollo.

Share or retell myths of Theseus and or hymns to Apollo.

Reflect on gratitude — the blessings you’ve received this year, and what protection you seek as the darker months begin.

Why it still matters

Even today, Pyanopsia resonates as a festival of gratitude, abundance, and protection. It’s about pausing with the harvest season, honoring the cycles of nature, and giving thanks for what we have while preparing for the months ahead.

Here are some resources to further help you in learning and celebrating:

Pyanepsia – Hellenion

HellenicGods.org - PYANEPSIA - ΠΥΑΝΕΨΙΑ

Pyanepsion - 4th Month of the Ancient Greek Attic Calendar - Greeker than the Greeks

Pyanopsia | Ancient, Rituals, Celebrations | Britannica

Pyanopsia Explained

Pyanopsia - Wikipedia

Why I include the other video:

While I'm not that knowledgeable about it all, it seems the myth of Theseus and Ariadne is a complex one that includes various accounts and interpretations. While Ariadne is often credited with helping Theseus defeat the Minotaur, the exact details of the events can vary across different versions of the myth. Some accounts suggest that Ariadne, rather than Theseus, killed the Minotaur, while others focus on Theseus's role in the battle.

It is widely accepted that Ariadne provided Theseus with the ball of thread, which he used to navigate the labyrinth and escape the Minotaur. The narrative of Ariadne's involvement in the Minotaur's defeat is a significant part of Greek mythology, symbolizing the balance between hope and despair.

[ @trans-hypn0-slut have some information on Apollo days! Enjoy!]

Pyanopsia

"a festival in honour of Apollo, held at Athens on the seventh day of the month of Pyanopsion (October)"

This festival was brought about by Theseus, who promised Apollon a festival/feast if he were to defeat the Minotaur and safely travel to Attica from Delos.

Traditionally, it was celebrated with offerings of meals, jars of honey, olive oil, or laurel. In modern day, we can still use those things as offerings for Apollo. It is encouraged to sing hymns, read his myths, and create an eiresione for the festivities.

Theophania

"The Theophania were intended as a celebration of the return of Apollo to Delphi from which he was believed to be absent during the winter months."

This festival is not widely known about, simply because there isn't much information about it either! Given its context, it can be assumed that Theophania was generally honoring and welcoming Apollo to Delphi from his time away. This is believed to be celebrated on March 21st, the Spring Equinox, with his departing date on December 21st, the Winter Solstice.

Traditionally, it appears that the festival was mostly about displaying an image of Apollo in a sanctuary to worshippers. Today, we can celebrate with fresh offerings, revamping his altar, and perhaps communing with Apollon if he allows it.

Thargelia

"The Athenian Thargelia festival dedicated to both Artemis and Apollo is most famous for picking two scapegoats (φάρμακοι) that were driven out of town to rid it of sins and plagues."

This festival is Artemis and Apollo's birthday, celebrated on the 7th day of Thargelion (May 7th). Though, for clarification, Artemis is actually celebrated on the 6th.

Traditionally, sources say that on the 6th negativity is to be driven out. On the 7th, positivity and goodness is brought in! Disease seems to be a focus during Thargelia, as well as being thankful for Apollo in general. Purification is deeply rooted in this holiday, so in modern day cleansing and feasting can be done. More information on modern festivities can be found in the references!

References:

Here is my wildly inexpertly-crafted eiresione, made from a fallen apple branch, wound with wool I spun (also inexpertly :)) last year, with small vials of wine, olive oil and honey tied onto it.

“The eiresione brings figs and cakes, honey golden-sweet, oil to anoint us, and good strong wine to make us sleep.” (Traditional chant)

On 7 Pyanepsion in Attica, Apollo was honored at the Pyanepsia (Pyanopsia, Puanepsia), a festival that takes its name from a dish of beans and grains traditionally offered and eaten on this occasion. (Parker,Polytheism 185) Other customs associated with the Pyanepsia include the making and display of the eireisione, an olive branch decorated with wool and hung with other items, possibly including fruit, bread, honey, oil and wine (204), which was offered at Apollo’s temple as well as being hung at private homes after being carried through the streets by troupes of boys (480). Several myths were attached to the Pyanepsia, including the tale of Theseus’ return from Crete, when he and his men offered the last of their stores to the god—a porridge of beans and grains (382). Another Athenian festival observed on this day was the Oskhophoria, honoring Dionysos.

I’ve posted my ritual for Pyanepsia at my other blog.

A PDF version of the ritual script is available here.

References

Pyanepsia is on its way and I’m getting ready to make the eiresione.

Apple branch, check. (Olives are so far from native to my region that it isn’t even funny. Apples we have. And a good strong wind just gifted me a nice branch from the tree in my yard. :))

Wool, check. (I’ve got enough roving in my spinning bin to have my choice of colors.)

Olive oil, check.

Red wine, check.