August
The eight month in the current Gregorian calendar and the
third month of summers rule, derives its name from
Augustus (Augustus Caesar).
The traditional birthstone amulets of august are the
peridot and the sardonyx; and the gladiolus and the poppy
are the months traditional flowers.
August is shared by the astrological signs of Leo the
lion and Virgo the virgin, and is sacred to the following
pagan deities: Ceres, the Corn Mother, Demeter, John
Barleycorn, Lugh, and all goddess who preside over
agriculture.
During the month of august, the great solar wheel of the
year is turned to Lammas one of the four Grand Sabbats
celebrated each year by wiccans and modern witches
throughout the world.
August 1st
On this day the Lammas Sabbat is celebrated by Wiccans
and Witches throughout the world. Lammas (which is also
known as lughnasadh, August Eve, and the first festival
of Harvest) marks the start of the sacred union of the
goddess and horned god is honoured. The making of corn
dollies (small figures fashioned from braided straw) is a
centuries old pagan custom which is carried on by many
modern witches ys part of the Lammas Sabbat rite. The
corn dollies are placed on the Sabbat altar to represent
the mother goddess who presides over the harvest. It is
customary on each lammas to make or buy a new corn dolly
and then burn the old one from the past year for good
luck.
On this day in the country of Macedonian, neo-pagans
celebrate the day of the dryads, an annual nature
festival dedicated to the maiden spirits who inhabit and
rule over forests and trees.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter
Colour: Peach
Moon Sign: Capricorn
Incense: Sage
August 2nd
Porcingula (Native American)
On this day, the feast of anahita is celebrated in honour
of the ancient Persian goddess anahita, a deity
associated with love and lunar powers.
Lady Godiva Day is celebrated annually on this date in
the village of Coventry, England, with a medieval-style
parade led by a nude woman on horseback.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter
Colour: Violet
Moon Sign: Capricorn
Incense: Lavender
Drimes (Greek)
The harvest season begins on this date in Japan with an annual festival called the Aomori Nebuta. Bamboo effigies with grotesquely painted faces are paraded through the streets in order to drive way the spirits of sleep.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter
Colour: Rose
Moon Sign: Capricorn
Moon Enters Aquarius 12:53am
Incense: Basil
Crook Islands Constitution Celebrations
Each year on this date it was believed that the waters of Scotland's Loch-mo-naire became chargd with the miraculous magical powers to heal all who drink it or bathed in it, for many years it was a custom for those who visited the Loch-mo-Naire to toss in a coin of silver as an offering to the benevolent spirits that dwelled within the lake.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Full Moon 12:56am
Colour: Blue
Moon Sign: Aquarius
Incense: Ylang Ylang
Benediction of the Sea (French)
Many folks still believe in this ancient superstition: if you make a secret wish while looking up at the new moon (which will normally begin on or near this date in August), your wish will be granted before the year is through.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Third Quarter
Colour: Gold
Moon Sign: Aquarius
Moon Enters Pieces 1:30pm
Incense: Thyme
Hiroshima Peace Ceremony
On this date in the year 1817, a huge creature described as a sea-serpent was spotted in the ocean near the Gloucester harbour in Massachusetts. Coincidentally, on this same date in the year 1948, a similar creature was spotted by the crew of the British naval frigate Daedalus.
This day is sacred to the Cherokee Earth-Goddess Elihino and her sister igaehindvo, the sacred goddess of the sun.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Third Quarter
Colour: White
Moon Sign: Pieces
Incense: Vanilla
Republic Day (Ivory Coast)
In ancient Egypt, the cow-headed goddess Hathor was honoured on this day by annual festival known as Breaking the Nile. The festival, which was dedicated to all water and river goddesses, celebrated the rising of the fertile waters of the mystical river Nile.
In ancient Greece, the annual mourning ceremony called the Adonia was held on this date in honour of the dying hero-god Adonis.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Third Quarter
Colour: Black
Moon Sign: Pieces
Incense: Musk
Dog Days (Japan)
According to the Christian church calendar, the Virgin Mary was born on this day.
The Eve of the Festival of Venus was celebrated annually on this date by ancient Romans. On this night the goddess of love and beauty was honoured and invoked with prayers, love songs, libations, and passionate lovemaking. It was also a time when sorceresses performed all forms of love magic and marriage-mate divinations.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Third Quarter
Colour: Yellow
Moon Sign: Pieces
Moon enters Aries 2:05am
Incense: Sage
Nagasaki Peace Ceremony
On this date many wiccans from around the world celebrate the annual Feast of the Fire Spirits. Dried mandrake root or yarrow herb is cast into fires as offerings to the salamanders.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Third Quarter
Colour: White
Moon Sign: Aries
Incense: Chrysanthemum
St. Lawrence's Day
A centuries old festival called Ghanta Karna Day is celebrated annually around this time of august in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal. The event celebrates the death of Ghanta Karna, a blood-thirsty Hindu demon who haunts crossroads and is the sworn enemy of the god Vidhnu.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Third Quarter
Colour: Pink
Moon Sign: Aries
Moon enters Taurus 1:23pm
Incense: Ginger
On this day, an Irish fertility festival known as the Puck Fair begins. The medieval-style festival which pays homage to the mischievous sprite Robin Goodfellow, Continues for three consecutive Days.
Odduduha, the "Mother of All Gods", is honoured on this day by followers of the Santeria religion in Africa and South America.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Third Quarter
Colour: Grey
Moon Sign: Taurus
Incense: Patchouli
Fiesta of Santa Clara
The goddess Isis and her search for Osiris (her brother and consort) is commemorated on this day by the Lychnapsia (Festival of the Lights of Isis.) dried rose petals and vervain are burned in small cauldron pots or incense burners as offerings to Isis and green candles are lit in her honour.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Fourth Quarter
Colour: Orange
Moon Sign: Taurus
Moon enters Gemini 9:59pm
Incense: Cinnamon
Woman's Day
On this date, the major pagan festival of Hecate is traditionally held at moonrise. Hecate, the mysterious goddess of darkness and protecteress of all witches, is a personification of the Moon and the dark aspect of the female principle.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Fourth Quarter
Colour: Grey
Moon Sign: Gemini
Incense: Maple
Festival at Sassari
Every year on this date, a "burryman" (a man wearing a costume of thistle burrs, and representing an ancient fertility god) walks through the streets in many of the fishing villages along the coast of Scotland, collecting donations from villagers. The origin of the burryman remains a mystery.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Fourth Quarter
Colour: Grey
Moon Sign: Gemini
Incense: Poplar
Assumption Day
Festival of Vesta. The ancient roman goddess of the hearth was honoured annually on this date in ancient times. Many modern witches light six red candles and cast herbs into hearth-fires on this day to honour Vesta and to receive her blessings for family and home.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Fourth Quarter
Colour: White
Moon Sign: Gemini
Moon enters Cancer 2:55am
Incense: Geranium
Festivals of Minstrels (European)
Salem heritage Day in Massachusetts
On this day in the year 1987, the first Harmonic Convergence was observed world-wide during the Grand Trine (the alignment of all nine planets). The event, which lasted for two consecutive days, as believed to be the beginning of five years of piece and spiritual personification. Thousands of New Age enthusiasts gathered at various sacred sites to dance, chant, meditate and tune into the positive energies of the earth and the universe.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Third Quarter
Colour: Peach
Moon Sign: Cancer
Incense: Thyme
Festival of Diana. Every year on this date, the goddess of chastity , hunting and the moon was honoured by the ancient Romans.
This special day of feasting, mirth and magic-making for many Dianic Wiccans, since Diana is the most sacred Goddess of their tradition.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: Fourth Quarter
Colour: Peach
Moon Sign: Cancer
Moon enters Leo 4:25am
Incense: Clove
St. Helens Day
On this date , the annual Festival of Hungry Ghosts is celebrated throughout China with burnt offerings to the spirits of the dead.
On this date in the year 1634, a parish priest named Father Urbain Grandier was found guilty of bewitching a group of nuns at a convent in Loudun, France, and causing them to be possessed by demons. He was condemned to be tortured then burned alive in the public square of Saint Croix.
Waning Moon
Moon Phases: New Moon 9:55pm
Colour: Brown
Moon Sign: Leo
Incense: Cedar
In ancient Rome, a wine-harvest celebration known as the Vinalia Rustica was held each year on this date. It was dedicated to the goddess Venus of the Grape Vine and also to Minerva.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: First Quarter
Colour: Gold
Moon Sign: Leo
Moon enters Virgo 3:53am
Incense: Nutmeg
Constitution Day (Hungarian)
On this date in the year 1612, ten women and men known as the Lancashire Witches were executed on the gallows in one of England's most famous Witch trials of the seventeenth century. Ironically the nine year old girl who had supplied the court with incriminating evidence against the witches was herself found guilty of witchcraft twenty two years later and was executed in the second great Witch trial of Lancashire.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: First Quarter
Colour: Gray
Moon Sign: Virgo
Incense: Maple
The Consualia a harvest festival celebrating the storing of the new crop, was held annually on this date by the anciant romans. Also celebrated on this date was the muscular diety Hercules, who was honoured with a sacrifice at one of his shrines in the city of Rome. His annual festival was called Heraclia.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: First Quarter
Colour: Red
Moon Sign: Virgo
Moon enters Libra 3:19am
Incense: Basil
Feast of the Queenship of Mary (British)
On this date in 1623, the order of the Rosy Cross ( a secret sect associated with alchemy and reincarnation) was established in Paris, France. The Mysterious Rosicrucian brotherhood was condemned by officials of the Church as worshippers of Satan.
This day is sacred to Nu Kwa and ancient Chinese goddess identified with the healing goddess Kuan Yin.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: First Quarter
Colour: Peach
Moon Sign: Libra
Sun enters Virgo 8:27pm
Incense: Ginger
National Day (Romanian)
The Volcanalia festival was celebrated annually on this date in ancient Rome. It was dedicated to Vulcan, the god of volcanic eruptions, and celebrated by frying fish alive to ward off accidental fires.
Each year on this date in Athens , the ancient Greeks celebrated a festival dedicated to Nemesis, the goddess who presided over the fate of all men and women.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: First Quarter
Colour: Violet
Moon Sign: Libra
Moon enters Scorpio 4:50am
Incense: Jasmine
St. Bartholomew's Day
On this date (approximately) the sun enters the astrological sign of Virgo. Persons born under the sign of the Virgin are said to be analytical, organised, meticulous and often prone to being perfectionists. Virgo is an earth sign and is ruled by the planet Mercury.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: First Quarter
Colour: White
Moon Sign: Scorpio
Incense: Honeysuckle
Feast of the Green Corn (American Indian)
An annual harvest festival called the Opiconsiva was celebrated on this date in ancient Rome in honor of the fertility and success goddess Ops (Rhea).Later in the year, she was honoured again at the Opalia festival on December 19th (the third day of the Saturnalia).
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter 2:55pm
Colour: Indigo
Moon Sign: Scorpio
Moon enters Sagittarius 9:59am
Incense: Myrrh
Pardon of the Sea (French)
The periodic rebirth of the Hindu god Krishna (eight principal avatar of Vishnu) is celebrated by his faithful worshippers at midnight services on this date.
In the country of Finland, this is the annual Feast Day of Ilmatar (or Lounnotar), known as the Water Mother, according to mythology, she created the Earth out of Chaos.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter
Colour: Peach
Moon Sign: Sagittarius
Incense: Coriander
Summer Break (British)
Consus, the god of the grain-store, was celebrated annually on this date by the ancient Romans, sacrifices were made in his honour, and all beasts of burden were embellished with wreaths of flowers and given a day of rest.
The festival of Krishna is celebrated annually on this day in the country of India. It is also a sacred day dedicated to Devaki, the Mother-Goddess.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter
Colour: Silver
Moon Sign: Sagittarius
Moon enters Capricorn 7:02pm
Incense: Rosemary
St. Augustines Day
In the country of Norway, a pagan festival celebrating the harvest is held on this day each year. Ancient Norse gods and goddesses are invoked to protect the spirit of the harvest throughout the dark half of the year.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter
Colour: Black
Moon Sign: Capricorn
Incense: Evergreen
St. Johns Beheading
Ancient Egyptian New Year
On this date in Nigeria the Yoruba people celebrate the Gelede, an annual ritual of dancing and wearing of masks to drive away evil sorceresses.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter
Colour: Brown
Moon Sign: Capricorn
Incense: Cinnamon
St. Rose of Lima Day (Peruvian)
In Bengal, India, gruesome human sacrifices to the Indian earth-goddess, Tari Pennu were made annually on this date as late as the mid-nineteenth century. After the sacrifice a shaman would eat a bit of the victims flesh, and then the rest of the remains would be dismembered, burned, and scattered over a plowed field to ensure the fertility of future crops.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phases: Second Quarter
Colour: Green
Moon Sign: Capricorn
Moon enters Aquarius 6:47am
Incense: Parsley
Unto These Hills Pagent (Cherokee)
To purify the family spirits, Eyos (masqueraders wearing demon costumes concealed by white robes) walk through the streets of Lagos every year on this date. The Ritual Walk of the Eyos is a religious custom that dates back to ancient times.
On this date in the year in 1934, wiccan author Raymond Buckland was born in London, England. He founded the Seax-Wica tradition of Witchcraft, helped to introduce modern Wicca, into United States, and opened the first american Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.
In India, a woman's festival of purification is held each year on this day. It is called the Anant Chaturdasi, and is dedicated to the ancient serpent-goddess Ananta, who symbolises the female life force.
Waxing Moon
Moon Phase: Second Quarter
Colour: Pink
Moon Sign: Aquarius
Incense: Parsley
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