Holidays Part 2
These are the minor holidays, though still extremely important.
Some you may recognize as national holidays.
Mayan Rain Festival-The last week of April
This week in April we celebrate the life-giving rains, and worship Chaac. There are meals cooked for the Rain Gods, liquid-only fasts, prayers, rain dances. In places with snow, this holiday also celebrates the melting of snow into water for crops.
Thanksgiving-Second Monday in October
This holiday celebrates a successful harvest and is related to Demeter. Food is offered to Her as well as eaten in thanks (hence the name, Thanksgiving) for a successful growing season.
Day of the Dead-Oct 31-Nov 2
Similar to the holiday Samhain. This holiday we take time to honor the dead. Now, I'm not just talking direct relatives. This time we also honor cultural ancestors (in my case, that would be Dutch and Hungarian) or ancestors of the entire human race. It's also a time to respect and reflect on the cyclical nature of life, death and rebirthing.
This is also the type to worship death Gods such as Anubis or Sedna.
Remembrance Day-Nov. 11
I have a lot of war in my family. My grandparents were very directly involved in WWII, and when you really get down to it, all five of my spouses have been involved with the military in some fashion. I also am partnered with seven additional veteran types. I have in-laws that are also veterans.
This holiday is about remembering that war is a part of life, and it touches all of this. It's about honoring veterans, both dead and alive, and for the worship of war Gods, such as Sekhmet and Ares.
Solar and Lunar eclipses-varied dates
These are very magical days. They are filled with powerful energy that is sometimes difficult to work with. It is a time of wonder and awe, and is also a time to celebrate the cyclical nature of, well, life. It's also the time to work with astronomical energies.
Navratri-September/October, depending on the lunar calendar. (Oct 16 to Oct 23 in 2012)
This is the nine-day festival of the Tridevi. The first three days are devoted to Parvati/Durga. The next three are that of Lakshmi. The final three are devoted to Saraswati.