How I celebrate the winter holidays

This time of the year, I celebrate the modern Hellenic (Greek) Pagan celebration of Heliogenna. It is a 9 day festival celebrating the gods, family and the return of light. It is arranged so that Winter Solstice is always on the fifth day of the festival.

• On day one of the Heliogenna, I honor the First Ones (the Protogonoi such as Gaia and Nyx) and the fey.
• On day two, I honor the Olympians (Zeus, Hera and company) and the Celestial gods (such as Selene and Eos).
• On day three, I honor the Khthonic gods (such as Persephone and Hekate) and the beloved dead (ancestors).
• Day four is the day I celebrate Demeter visiting Persephone and Hades to ensure her daughter is treated well and in doing so reconciling with her brother. When Demeter leaves, she brings Helios with her who has been tarrying longer and longer in the lower realms because of Demeter’s decree that nothing shall grow.
• Day five is Solstice, a celebration of Helios’ return and his promise to strengthen day by day. This is the day that my immediate family opens our gifts to one another.
• Day six of the Heliogenna is in honor of Demeter and all mothers, whether mortal, divine, blood-kin or heart-kin.
• The last three days are the day of thanksgiving and days to honor friends and family. The days to honor friends and family always fall on the 24th and 25th of December. This leaves the day of Thanksgiving as a floating day, depending on when the Solstice falls, it will either by the 7th day or the 9th day. This is the day to count your blessings and to give thanks wherever thanks is due. This year it falls on the 23^rd of December.

We always spend the 24^th aka Christmas Eve with my family. The 25^th aka Christmas Day, we celebrate with my Husband’s family and open gifts and empty stockings from Santa. In my opinion Santa is real in that he is the spirit of giving unconditionally, without expectations of return. As such he should be welcomed and celebrated with much enthusiasm!

This method of celebrating allows me to acknowledge my own spiritual beliefs yet celebrate with my Christian family too. I hope this year my 3 yr old son will show more interest in joining me in celebrating these special days. If not, there is always next year.

May you have a blessed Heliogenna and a wonderful new year!