Thanksgiving, a popular holiday celebrated in the United States, is traditionally associated with giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and the previous year. While Thanksgiving has its roots in religious and cultural traditions, it is typically viewed as a secular holiday focused on gratitude and gathering with loved ones. Wiccans, who practice a modern Pagan religion, approach Thanksgiving in various ways based on their personal beliefs and traditions. As Wicca is a diverse and decentralized religion, there is no singular answer to whether or not Wiccans celebrate Thanksgiving. Some Wiccans may embrace Thanksgiving as an opportunity to express gratitude for the abundance of nature and the blessings in their lives. They may incorporate their own rituals and practices into the holiday, offering thanks to the deities they worship and participating in traditional Thanksgiving activities such as feasting with loved ones.
The Manitoban
They may incorporate their own rituals and practices into the holiday, offering thanks to the deities they worship and participating in traditional Thanksgiving activities such as feasting with loved ones. Other Wiccans, however, may not resonate with the historical and cultural aspects of Thanksgiving and choose not to celebrate it. They may find alternative ways to give thanks throughout the year or align their celebrations with seasonal and spiritual observances that are more aligned with their beliefs.
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Getting to know your Wiccan holidays
TOPICS: artsholiday seasonlifestyleBy Kayla Say October 19, 2011
This summer a friend of mine came out of the broom closet. That is to say, she announced to the world that she was Wiccan. Wicca, for those who are unfamiliar with the term, is an Earth-based religion, considered pagan because of the variety of gods and goddesses that can be worshipped within it.
Many Wiccans pick and choose deities from various mythologies around the globe to worship. Whichever gods “speak” to them become their pantheon. In this way a person could worship Anubis (Egyptian), Pan (Celtic), Aphrodite (Greek) and Odin (Norse) if these were the deities with which the worshipper felt a connection.
I try to know a little bit about various religions so as not to be completely ignorant if I find myself in a conversation about them, but I have to admit I was stumped as to which holidays Wiccans observe and how they are celebrated. So I did some research and thought I’d share what information I’ve found about the upcoming feast days.
For Wiccans, three of their eight major holidays roughly coincide with Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas.
Mabon is the celebration of the Autumn Equinox. It is known as the “Second Harvest” and herein Wiccans give thanks for food and the remaining sunlight. Similar to Thanksgiving, this holiday is about giving thanks for the bounty life has offered — family, friends, successes and surprises. Some of the holiday symbols include pinecones, apples, pomegranates and acorns. Some of the gods and goddesses associated with Mabon include Persephone, the Green Man and Thor.
Samhain (pronounced sow-en), more commonly known as Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve, is the night when ghouls and ghastlies travel through the barrier between worlds to haunt houses and cause mischief. The lore for this holiday is extensive so I won’t delve into it too deeply. While not many people truly believe in demons of the night, Samhain is considered to be a sacred time when the veil lifts between the spirit world and this one. The symbols for this holiday are well known: black cats, gourds, jack o’ lanterns and apples. No particular deities are associated with this date.
Finally there is Yule. Yule takes place on the Winter Solstice, celebrating the rebirth of the sun after the long winter. Traditions include lighting fire to a Yule log and staying up all night to watch it burn. Supposedly if the Yule log burns throughout the darkest night all of the rest of your year will be bright and happy. Similar to Christmas, Yule is a time to celebrate family. Symbols include holly, mistletoe and evergreen boughs. Deities of the holiday include Brighid, Isis, Apollo and Ra.
After reading into the various holidays and some of the ways Wiccans celebrate them I’m more curious about how my friend is planning to spend her holidays now that she’s, like I said, out of the broom closet.
I’m still learning about her chosen path, but I think no matter what sort of faith you follow, when you’re celebrating additional family traditions it can only enrich the holidays. I look forward to celebrating some of them with her.
Paganism & Thanksgiving
We all know the story of the Pilgrims and how the first American Thanksgiving came about. What we do not learn or may not know–what the Elementary Schools do not include in their Plays & Skits–is more about the Native Americans & Pagans that influenced Thanksgiving.
For instance, did you know that the tribe of Native Americans that had their meal with the Pilgrims was called Wampanoag? And did you know that they held celebrations and gave thanks to Kiehtan, the Creator ? Not only did they believe that their most precious crop of corn was a blessing from him, but they also gave thanks to many of their other Spirits for the other foods they ate.
Before Thanksgiving was made a holiday in the year of 1861, settlers had already brought their traditions to America—all influenced by Pagans. After all, Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks and harvest…correct?
Celebrating and giving thanks for a Harvest can be seen throughout history in many cultures.
Just to name a few…
*Ancient Rome gave thanks to Ceres, Goddess of the Harvests.
*Ancient Greeks honored Demeter
*Celtic Pagans and Angelo Saxon’s had huge celebrations–Lughnasadh and Mabon. These were to honor the first and second harvest blessed upon them by their Goddess and God.
Lughnasadh marked the beginning of the harvest season, the Harvest of Grain (Bread), the ripening of first fruits (usually berries), and was traditionally a time of community gatherings, market festivals, horse races and reunions with distant family and friends. Wikipedia
Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea’n Fo’mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth. Resource
Now what could some of the things you’re eating on Thanksgiving symbolized?
(For all Our Kitchen Witches Out there. )
Turkey-– Native Americans–symbolized the Mother Earth and a shared Harvest.
Apples–Celts–rebirth, healing and youth
Pumpkins--Native American– was symbolic of personalized power (in some cultures) and symbolized the sun.
Wishing you a Merry Pagan Thanksgiving!
Pagan Thanksgiving Ritual
In all cultures and all religions, giving thanks for what you have and what you are given is important. Many cultures have a Thanksgiving ritual to celebrate the harvest of the year. This is true for pagans and witches as much as it is for anyone else.
Ultimately, the decision to celebrate Thanksgiving as a Wiccan is a personal one. Each individual will determine how they approach the holiday, considering their own values, beliefs, and traditions within the framework of their Wiccan practice. It is important to note that Wicca, like any religious or spiritual path, is diverse and encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices. Therefore, the way in which Wiccans may or may not celebrate Thanksgiving may vary based on individual interpretation and personal preference..
Reviews for "Thanksgiving Divination: Wiccan Methods for Seeking Guidance and Insight"
1. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
As a practicing Wiccan, I was appalled by the article "Do Wiccans Celebrate Thanksgiving". The author displayed a clear lack of understanding and knowledge about Wicca and its practices. Thanksgiving is a holiday deeply rooted in American history and tradition, which may not necessarily resonate with Wiccans who follow different belief systems. However, this does not imply that Wiccans do not appreciate and celebrate gratitude, which is an integral part of their spirituality. This article perpetuates stereotypes and misinforms readers, leaving a disheartening impression about the author's research and understanding of Wicca as a religion.
2. David - ★★☆☆☆
While the article "Do Wiccans Celebrate Thanksgiving" started with a promising concept, it missed the mark entirely. Instead of providing an insightful exploration of how Wiccans approach gratitude and appreciation in their own unique ways, it presented a shallow viewpoint and relied on generalizations. Wicca is a rich and diverse religion that emphasizes connections with nature and spirituality. It would have been beneficial to delve deeper into the practices and rituals that Wiccans engage in during the autumn season, rather than dismissing their celebration of Thanksgiving altogether.
3. Emma - ★☆☆☆☆
I found the article "Do Wiccans Celebrate Thanksgiving" to be highly dismissive and disrespectful towards Wiccans and their beliefs. It completely undermines the fact that many Wiccans do participate in Thanksgiving rituals, adapting them to align with their own spiritual values. While Thanksgiving may have predominantly Christian and secular origins, it does not mean that Wiccans cannot find meaning in expressing gratitude during this time of the year. It is disappointing to see such lack of research and understanding about Wicca, perpetuating misconceptions and stereotypes instead of fostering a more inclusive and accurate representation of this diverse religious community.