Today was our joint celebration of Puanepsia and Oskhophoria. The two fall side by side on the Athenian calendar, and at our oikos they appear to be merging into a new festival with elements of both as we honor the "changing of the guard" as Apollon goes to Hyperborea and Dionysos returns to Delphi.
We made eirisioni from branches taken from the backyard, decorated with ribbons, bay leaves, and other items in some cases. One participant incorporated grapevine. Since there actually was a child in attendance today, the child distributed the eirisioni to everyone present, a slightly more traditional method than our usual "musical eirisioni."
After the theoxenia, which included everything from a turkey-zucchini stir-fry to lentil-kale soup to sweet bread to grapes, not to mention both white grape juice and wine, there was a "fashion show" of those participants who had chosen to honor Dionysos' androgynous aspect by dressing as the opposite gender, an element we've been incorporating for the past couple of years.
That's it for now. Next up will be the Genesia on the 28th, Panaia on November 11th, and Pompaia on November 25th.
Peace,
Diane
