Midsummer Festival

Pagan - an umbrella covering anything nonChristian and nature based- customs & traditions have spanned every continent & every culture throughout time. Some of my favorites being Dia de los Muertos parades (Mexico), bannocks for Bridgid's Day (Ireland), and decorating trees at Yule (Germany - our "Christmas" tree in the U.S.). As the *Catholic Church expanded by helping conquer indigenous peoples, the Church burned, burried and destroyed libraries of knowledge, sacred groves, and oral traditions - nearly obliterating pagan religions in Ireland, Scotland, the modern day U.S., modern day Mexico, and throughout the various modern countries that the Aztecs and Mayans once ruled.

The modern push to revitalize the ancient religions has rekindled a surge of traditional ethnic festivals which incorporate the people's pagan practices, often mixed with newer Christian theology and symbology. To learn more about the Goddess and God we should embrace opportunities to learn more about how others celebrate them. As this is the time for Litha, try and find groups in your area who are hosting traditional celebrations. If you're in Central Texas the Tehuacana Creek Vineyards will be hosting a Midsummer Festival this Saturday, June 25, 2011.

The owners of this vineyard are Scandinavian and are proud to share their traditional foods, music, and dances - while selling wine of course - with anyone interested in attending. The Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers from Lindsborg, Kansas will be dancing around the Maypole in traditional Swedish dances and costumes. If you'll be in the area and are intereseted in attending, please check out their website at www.WacoWinery.com

Hope to see you there! If you're not in the area, please let us know what kind of events you attend in your area!


*Please note that the Church during those times was a corrupt, political machine so the actions of Church leadership back then does not mean that Christ and God blessed their actions. People have free will, so a person's deity doesn't dictate how they act, nor does a person's actions directly reflect on what their deity encourages.