Pine Cone Ornaments

For those who may be interested in making pine cone ornaments for a Pan tree, here is how we did them at HTAZP this year.

First, decorate a bunch of pine cones, which we had done at Panaia:

Then, find some sort of decorative pipe cleaners.  Our hieros had found some that actually looked like pine branches and others that were gold.  Wrap a pipe cleaner around the top tier or so of one of your pine cones:

Then bring the two ends together and twist them to form a secure loop:





And there you have it: a pine cone you can hang on your Pan tree or wherever you wish.

Anthesteria

Anthesteria is a 3-day festival to Dionysos. The first day celebrates His birth, the second his wedding to Ariadne, and the third celebrates his descent to the underworld to retrieve His mother Semele, who had died during His birth. All of the dead are said to take advantage of this opportunity to venture out of Hades' realm, and so thanks is also offered to Hermes for guiding them back.

Anthesteria 2014

Anthesteria 2017

Rural Dionysia

The Rural Dionysia is a celebration of the several ways in which Dionysos has survived attempts to destroy Him.  In ancient times, part of this celebration involved a procession with a large phallus, representing the one part of Him that Athena saved from the Titans.  In modern times, there are many innovative ways to carry on the spirit of this tradition. 

Kheimonia

The Kheimonia is our celebration of the changing of seasons at the Winter Solstice.  As it is a time marked mainly by the position of the sun in the sky, Helios, and therefore also Selene, are honored.  At the Hellenic Temple of Apollon, Zeus, and Pan, we also honor the temple Patrons at this time. 

Over the years, this festival has grown to encompass Demeter's Haloa and the Rural Dionysia as well, and so cakes and candies representing life-giving organs are made, and a very Dionysian ring-toss (ahem) has become a traditional game.  In the interest of both including these elements and not excluding children of temple members, this has become a two-part festival, with the first half of the day being child-friendly and the latter half adult-oriented.

This is separate from the Pompaia, during which we ask for protection during the winter.  Instead, this is a celebration of the change of season and the return of lengthening days.

Kheimonia 2013

Kheimonia 2014

Kheimonia 2016

Kheimonia 2017

Dendraia

Because pine is Pan's sacred tree, some Pan children have seen it to be appropriate to decorate a tree in His honor, particularly during the time of year when the "polis" at large is also decorating pine trees.

HTAZP holds a festival and informal ritual on this date to celebrate this event. As the reason the pine is sacred to Pan relates to the nymph Pitys, she is also honored on this occasion.

Each participant brings an ornament for the tree, and libations of spring water are made to help keep it healthy if a live tree is used.  In 2011, we used pine cones that had been decorated and offered at Panaia as part of the decorations as well.  Suggestions for how to make such ornaments can be found here.  It is ideal for a potted tree to be used, however if this is impractical, a false tree or cut tree can be used, provided that the tree be thanked for its sacrifice.

Dendraia 2011

Dendraia 2012

Dendraia 2013

Dendraia 2014

Dendraia 2016 (part 1)

Pompaia: Protecting the House

The ancient Pompaia was a procession around the city with a Dion Kodion, a sheepskin blessed to Zeus which absorbs miasma.  The modern observance may utilize a similarly blessed fleece or perhaps an item made of wool dedicated for that purpose.  Various other offerings are also made to Zeus asking Him to be gentle during the coming winter months.

Writings also suggest Hermes, or at least His staff, was also involved in this festival.

Pompaia 2011

Pompaia 2012

Pompaia 2014

Panaia: Pan's Birthday

The Panaia is a modern festival celebrating the birthday of Pan.  The actual date is Maimakterion 1 (following the ancient calendar) and therefore the exact date can change based on the lunar cycle.  The festival starts with a theoxenia to Pan with the main offering typically being lamb.  Pine cones may be decorated to be put on Pan's tree at the Dendraia, His next festival, and games may be played. A drum circle or other musical offering is often a part of the celebration as well.

Panaia 2011

Panaia 2012

Panaia 2013

Panaia 2015

Panaia 2016

Panaia 2017