Hellenic month of Puanepsion

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Puanepsion: 14/15th of October- 12/13th of November

During this month we celebrate the Thesmophoria, Theseia and Stenia festival and Samhain. The Theseia festival takes place at the 8th day of Puanepsion (21st /22nd of October). The Thesmophoria festival takes place between the 11th day and the 13th day of Puanepsion (24th/25th- 26th/27th of October). The Puanepsion festival is celebrated on the 7th day (20th/21st of October) and the Proerosia festival on the 6th day of Puanepsion (19th/20th of October).
On the 27th/28th of October we honor the heroines and pour libations in their name. Ofcourse Samhain must not be forgotten, the day we celebrate halloween and is said to be sacred to the spirits of the dead as well to the Gods of the Underworld.
1) Noumenia
2) Noumenia kata Selene, Agathos Daimon
3) Athena
4) Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros
5)
6) Artemis, Proerosia festival
7) Apollon, Puanepsia festival
Poseidon and Theseus, Theseia festival
9) Stenia festival
10)
11) Thesmophoria festival
12) Thesmophoria festival
13) Thesmophoria festival
14) sacrifice for the heroines
15)
16)
17) Samhain
18)
19)
20)
21)
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24)
25)
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27)
28)
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30) Triakas, Hene kai Nea, Khalkeia festival

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Puanepsia: ritual for Pythian Apollon on Puanepsia 7:

We don’t know that much about this festival besides that it was held in honor of Pythian Apollon and was a popular harvest festival.
Since there isn’t much information out there, Hellenic pagans may chose to make a simple sacrifice to Pythian Apollon in thanks for his oracle at Delphi, following the standard ritual form. For details on this ritual check out Drew Campbell’s book: Old Stones New Temples, pages 242 and 243.

Thesmophoria: (with the Stenia) Puanepsia 9, 11-13

The Thesmophoria was a foremost women’s festival of the Athenian calendar and was dedicated to Demeter. It is connected with the Skira festival, held in early summer where pigs were sacrificed. On the first day of this three- day festival, the women left their homes and carrying sacred implements, climbed up the pnyx to the sanctuary of Demeter where they built temporary shelters to camp in. On the 2nd day the women fasted and wore no garlands and ritualized verbal abuse was exchanged and thought to take place. On the 3rd day, they made sacrifices to Kalligeneia (She of beautiful birth, presumed associated with Demeter and Persephone) and feasted before returning to their homes. The Stenia, which takes place 2 days before the Thesmophoria is thought to be a time for preparations.

Modern observance:

For modern women wanting to celebrate this festival, they can use this time to meditate on the relationship of their dark side with creativity. It can also be used to blow of some steam. They can camp in the woods to meditate on this relationship. Camping outdoors is sometimes good to blow of some steam and to meditate.
The information used here comes from the book: Old stones, New Temples.

Romulus