My First Greek Festival Of The Year!

Χαιρετισμοί (Greetings!)

I have talked before on this blog about Ancient Greek festivals... and I just went to my own local, 18th Annual Greek Festival hosted by our very own St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church~ http://www.stnicholasgreekfest.com This was actually my third time attending a Greek Fest. I went to two last year. LOVE THEM!

As I walked into the festival, joining a throng of revelers, I couldn't help but imagine stepping leather sandal bound feet onto the ancient stone-paved plateia and agora in a Greek coastal town. The authentic music danced in and out of my ears, lifting my already elevated spirits. Laughter and smiles criss-crossed the crowded tent, braided tightly with threads of interesting conversation.

After touring the church, I visited the vendors hawking authentic Greek cuisine~ everything from Gyros with Tzatziki and Dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and Spanikopita(spinach wrapped in Phyllo) and Moussaka (layers of eggplant, potatoes, meat sauce, and cream sauce)... to... Loukoumades (warm, honey dough fritters) and Baklava and other assorted pastries.

I found a seat near the open-ended area of the tent, eagerly anticipating the show I knew was coming. Then I was delightfully entertained by  a group of Greek youngsters dancing traditional dances.

All in all I had a great time. And, I look forward to going to more this year if I can!
Σας ευχαριστώ (I Thank You!)

The Ancient Greek Celebrations of Artemis and What They Mean To You

As most of you know, the title of my debut novel is Caenus and The Quiver of Artemis. What you may not know is that I LOVE ARTEMIS!!! She's a bold, take-no-prisoners, huntress!! And, I can dig it! Aggressive women are the spice of life. Twin sister of beloved Apollo, and never far from her silver bow and poisoned arrows, she embodies a grab-life-by-the-horns kind of attitude.

So it comes to the ancient Greek months and festivals that celebrate her. Elaphebolian is the ancient Greek month of roughly Mid-February to Mid-March, while Mounykhion stretched from Mid-March to Mid-April. In any case, what we're talking about is Winter's giving way to Spring.

And as with springtime everywhere, festivals abound. In your town, you may attend Spring Fling or Wing Fling... or it might be a Beer Festival or Azalea Festival... My personal favorite is a local tradition called Greek Festival!! Hmmm, I wonder why...? But, I digress.

The festivals in ancient Greece during Elaphebolion and Mounykhion celebrated our dear Artemis, Moon Goddess, Lady of Beasts.  The festivals included processions, holy purifications, sacrifices,  libations, and feasts. Of course, the feasts had some well cooked venison in honor of the deer slayer. Heck yeah! What's not to like about that?

The spring season of Greek Festivals is commencing soon. In my humble opinion, you should look in your area to see if a Greek Festival is coming, and if so GO BUY YOUR TICKETS!! It will be woth it, I promise.

Ancient Greek Lunar Months of Maimakterion and Poseideon

Maimakterion (lunar month from our current November to December) began the winter season. Thus, citizens prayed to Zeus to calm his blustering winds. A sheep was sacrificed and it's fleece considered magical.

Maimakterion gave way to Poseideon (lunar month from December to January). The eighth day of the lunar month was sacred to, who else... Poseidon!

A festival waged on in his honor recognizing the importance of the sea. It is interesting to note that the number eight was significant to Poseidon. The festival honoring him was held on the eighth day of the month. Eight letters spelled Poseidon. Later, the planet named Neptune (Poseidon's Roman equivalent), was the eighth planet from the sun.

In the last half of Poseideon, A Dionysian festival was held, including a procession of men carrying phallus, men carrying cakes, and revelling singers. An icon of the God of Libation was brought into the city's center to represent Dionysis coming.

Toward the end of the month, another larger festival roared to life in which women danced around a giant phallus. Later in the evening, men were admitted and a great orgy took place for the remainder of the night. And we wonder where we got our wild New Year's Eve celebrations from?