Myths and Legends of the World

Many Wiccans and Pagans celebrate Beltane.  It is one of eight solar Sabbats.  This holiday incorporates traditions from the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, but it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as May pole dancing).  Some traditions celebrate this holiday on May 1 or May Day, whiles others begin their celebration the eve before or April 30th. Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. The name means fire of Bel; Belenus being one name for the Sun God, whose coronation feast we now celebrate. As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the green earth blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken but it is rarely observed in that manner in modern times (mostly). In the old Celtic times, young people would spend the entire nig...

Aries The Ram Modality: Cardinal Element: Fire Ruler: Mars Season: Spring 1st Sign of Zodiac Metal: Iron Stone: Amethyst, Diamond Color: Red Anatomy: Head, face. Keywords : active, initiating, leading, independent, aggressive, impatient, combative, energetic, pioneering, naive, assertive Aries symbol is the charging Ram, who puts everything it's got into the fight or challenge of the moment.  You're an Aries if you were born sometime between March 21st and April 21st. Comparison with its symbol, the ram: Aries is symbolized by the ram. The ram has come to represent male fertility, aggression, and courage. A ram’s horn is part of a cornucopia, the “horn of plenty”, symbolizing abundance. In history, rams were often symbols of leadership. Aries natives are said to be leaders and pioneers. Rams butt their heads into their enemies, and Aries natives are thought to approach life “head-on”. The glyph for Aries is a straightforward one — it depicts the ram’s horn...

The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it’s been called since the 20th century, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4713 begins on Feb. 19, 2015. Originally tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. With the popular adoption in China of the Western calendar in 1912, the Chinese joined in celebrating January 1 as New Year’s Day. China, however, continues to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year, although in a shorter version with a new name–the Spring Festival. In Chin...

Taurus is one of the oldest constellations is represented by the symbol bull. Taurus is the second sun sign of the western zodiac astrology. Taurus, nestled between the constellations Aries and Gemini, is prominent in the skies of the Northern Hemisphere. The position of the Taurus constellation plays a significant role in astrology. Taurus has many myths relate to it including the Minotaur. The Minotaur is one of the most well-known creatures of Greek mythology. Ask anyone about the Minotaur and most likely the will tell you that it is a creature that has the head of a bull and the body of a man. This story might be a bit disgusting, or humorous, to some people, depending on your own personality, but Greek mythology has some pretty strange stories. The Minotaur’s existence is one of those strange stories. Before Minos was the king of Crete, he must legalize his right to rule. He prayed to Poseidon, the Lord of the Sea and Patron God of Crete, for a white bull. Minos wo...

Aries People under the sign of Aries are adventurous, dynamic, and pioneering. They love to try new things, and aren't afraid to experiment, which is why this whole mixology renaissance has been amazing for them. Lillet? Fernet? Barrel-aged cocktails? Whatever unique cocktail is on the menu, Ariens are up for trying it. They're pretty awesome like that.  Taurus Taureans are warmhearted, friendly people who enjoy good company, and convivial nights with close friends. They're not ones for crazy adventures, change, or fads just good times. They do, however, appreciate life's little luxuries. In other words, they like to drink the good stuff. The perfect drink for a Taurus, therefore, is a nice glass of scotch (Glenfiddich, perhaps?), to be enjoyed in a room full of old friends.  Gemini Geminis are known for being at ease in all social situations they're flirtatious, extroverted, quick, and clever. In other words, they're... bubbly. (See where ...

Gong Xi Fa Ca! That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin. The first day of the Chinese New Year – which begins at midnight on January 23, 2012 – is the most important of Chinese holidays, celebrated by over 1.3 billion people in China and by millions of ethnic Chinese around the world. It’s a celebration that lasts for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2012, it’s the Year of the Dragon. The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, in other words, a combination of solar and lunar calendars. It has a long history spanning several Chinese dynastic rules from as far back as the Shang Dynasty around fourteenth century B.C. There are several different symbolic cycles within the calendar, used in Chinese astrology, that make it an intricate and complex measure of time. A month in the Chinese calendar spans a single luna...

I chosen to write about Selene due to the fact that the Moon is the Ruling planet of Cancer and today is the Full Moon. Selene is the Titaness of the Moon, daughter of the Titan Hyperion and the Titaness Theia. She is the sister of Eos (Goddess of Dawn), Helios (Titan of the Sun) and Titan. She is represent the Mother aspect of the Moon. Selene drove a silver chariot and two white pegasi. Selene is the Patron Goddess of the Feminine. She is have the power to ease childbirth and inspire love. Selene also is believed to have the power to mask reality and, conversely, to pierce illusion. The mother aspect of the triple Goddess represents womanhood, she is represented by the full moon, were she is at the height of her reproductive potential. The Earth as Gaia, the mother, in whom life can be reborn, where seeds germinate and produce new crops, so the Mother Goddess was also able to bring forth new life. Selene, is the fruitful mother, the Star Goddess, the Sky Goddess,...