Samhain (Halloween) Event

by Vic Gray - Astro 353 Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:53

I think that if you held your gathering on the right days it would give them more meaning and more power.
Beltaine, Lammas (or Lughnasa), Samhain and Imbolc are Solar festivals occurring half way between the Solstices and the Equinoxes. The early Christian Church attempting to deny its origins, changed the Winter solstice into Christmas day, the Spring Equinox into Easter and other festivals into various saints days on Sundays near to their true dates, such as St Brigid's day (Imbolc). This was only partially successful and S May Day (Beltaine),Halloween (Samhain), , Lughnasa and Midsummers day( Summer solstice) re-emerged outside the Christian calendar. Confusion however remained and only Midsummer is now celebrated on the right day. Even if you take an alternative viewpoint that the Quarter days were Lunar festivals then the dates usually celebrated still make no sense. Anyone who has studied the alignments of standing stones and stone circles in depth has calculated that they are aligned to these solar midpoints.

By using dates for celebrations that are often as much as a week away from the actual solar midpoint you are denying the validity of the sacred sites themselves. and if you argue that it is only symbolic then we may as well build a replica of Tara some where else and celebrate there.

It may be too late to organise a different day this year so have a good day anyway ...but maybe in the future lets get it right and use the power of the stones on the right day.

Samhain 2007... 7th November
Imbolc 2008 ........Feb 3rd
Beltaine 2008 .....May 6th
Lammas 2008... 7th September
Samhain 2008... 7th November

by Neolithic Times Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:40

As nearby Newgrange ("The Winter Solstice Detector") is in all probably very closely connected with Tara in several ways, perhaps "Saturnalia" should also be included in the above list of feasts (at Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:53 above)?

"For much of life on earth, NATURE transmits an important signal on December 21st of each year. This is the day of The Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere."

"It is on this day that nature's annual cycle of decay and degeneration gently (and almost imperceptibly) switches large portions of its energies to those of the opposite process: regeneration, and the creation of new life."

More on the VERY ancient "Feast of Saturnalia" can be found via http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Saturnalia%2C+Newg...earch .

by Carmel - CST Thu Sep 27, 2007 12:12

Thank you for your very interesting input. The above 2 mails will be discussed at length over the weekend between members of CST and the Direct Action.

We realise that the majority of people are not interested in Pagan Festivals and more are not interested in the power of the stones unfortunately , so that is why we changed the name from Samhain Beacons to Halloween Fires or to a combination of both in order to appeal to as many people as possible to come out and object to the destruction in the valley. It would seem more feasible to hold the Banquet on a Saturday night and let anyone who wishes to celebrate in a Spiritual way hold their celebrations in whatever way they wish.

I agree with you that the exact dates should be acknowledged but like I said, it will be given further discussion :)

We have so far recieved an offer from a Fire Display Artist and a donation of Halloween decorations. I have also suggested asking people to bring glass jars with them in which to put a tea light and replicate the Aerial event with the letters in Fire! Samhain is a Fire Festival :) There are a few more ideas being considered so please feel free to make suggestions and contributions. There are a few weeks in which to bring this all together.

Blessings,
Carmel

Ps; No committments as yet from any Poets or Musicians!!!!

by John S. Sat Oct 11, 2008 17:15

I'm an American guy currently in Tralee and planning on touring around Ireland and visiting the Hill of Tara was on my list. The 3 November event sounds interesting. Is there a separate web page describing the event in more detail?

Assuming it isn't problem and the date is set (I ask because of the subsequent comments), I'll make arrangements to be there.

by - Sat Oct 11, 2008 19:47

http://www.savetara.com
http://www.tarapixie.net
http://wwwsacredireland.org

Dig in and help out, bring a song or a poem.(mobile Phone credit is good too)

:-)

by Eric Blair Wed Oct 15, 2008 14:15

Hi,
there's no tradition of lighting a samhain fire at Tara. The time for a fire at Tara is Midsummer. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but the timing is out of kilter with tradition, much as the motorway is

throw a log on for me,
EB

by Tara Tara Tara Wed Oct 15, 2008 17:49

This event happened last year. Sorry you missed it.

by Fred Johnston Thu Oct 16, 2008 16:01 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie

Best wishes and congratulations to all of you holding out at Tara. God bless.