Hellenic month of Poseideon

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Salvete sodales

Poseideon

During this month we celebrate the feast of Poseidon called the Poseidea. We also celebrate the Haloa and the Lenaia (the country Dionysia)
The Haloa is mostly a women's festival in honour of Demeter and Dionysos. I will post more on the festivals and their exact dates.

1/ Noumenia
2/ Noumenia, Kata, Selene, Aagathos Daimon
3/ Athena
4/Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros
5/
6/Artemis
7/ (first quarter): Apollon
8/Poseidon and Theseus, Poseidea
9/
10/
11/
12/
13/
14/
15/ (full moon):
16/
17/
18/
19/
20/
21/
22/
23/ (last quarter):
24/
25/
26/ Haloa
27/
28/
29/ (new moon):
30/ Triakas, Hene Kai Nea, Hekate
valete

Quintus

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Salvete

Poseidea (Poseideon

Not much is known about this festival of Poseidon, but according to Parke it may have something to do with the stormy winter months where the God of the Seas showed his formidable power.
According to Drew, the ancients envisioned Poseidon as a powerful, rather violent deity, patron of sailors and fishermen. He's also known for his horses. Poseidon remains an embodiment of elemental force; sea storm and earthquakes are the most violent forms of energy directly encountered by man, but horses are an incredible force controlled by men.
For modern day observance, we can do a basic devotional ritual for Poseidon close to water (shore, river, any other body of water) or in a room decorated with sea shells and an image of the God or one of his attributes like the trident. This devotional ritual can be found in Old Stones, New Temples. Although I twill be more a outline for a devotional ritual, than a devotional ritual for Poseidon.
valete

Quintus

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Salvete

Haloa (Poseideon 26 )

Again not much is known about this women festival except that it was in honor of Dionysos and Demeter. Such foods like pomegranates, apples, eggs, fowl and certain type of fish were not allowed. Where cakes in the shape of female and male genitalia were allowed. As at the Thesmophoria, the participants may have engaged in ritual obscenity. It is even suggested that this was a kind of fertility festival.
For modern day observance, this could mean that there would be kind of flea-ridden entertainment included in the feast and sacrifice in honor of Demeter and Dionysos. Or frank talk among the participants.

Lenaia (late Poseideon- Gamelion 12 )

This festival was celebrated at a convenient time between late Poseideon and mid Gamelion. According to Kereny, this rural Dionysia were celebrated when the country folk had the time.
For modern day observance: This could be done in the 2nd half of December. It is the celebration of the birth of Dionysos. The tone is light and celebratory, as befits a phallic festival. An image of the God should be displayed in the ritual space. One traditional image is a mask hung on a pole, which is draped with a peplos or piece of cloth with ivy twined around it; another is phallus made of wood or other material. Grapes could also be used for display, and it is particularly appropriate for food items associated with the God- roast, beef, goat or vegetables, grape leaves, a pot of vegetable stew and above all wine- to be offered and consumed at the feast. Comic plays such as those of Aristophanes may be watched or read. The festivities would not be complete without games and much wine. For children, this would be non-alcoholic beverage as for designated drivers and non- drinkers
valete

Quintus