The Sacred Grove by Yvonne Aburrow
Free article relating to The Sacred Grove: The Mysteries of the Forest
The veneration of trees was a prominent theme in the Paganism of ancient and classical times. Many rituals took place in sacred groves and much of their symbolism involved the cosmic tree; its branches supported the heavens, its roots penetrated the underworld, and its trunk was the centre of the earth. The mysteries of the forest can be incorporated into modern Paganism. This gives a new perspective on the cycle of seasonal festivals.
The Festivals
There are eight festivals in the cycle of the year. They consist of two interlocking cycles, the Celtic quarter days (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh or Lammas), and the solar festivals (Yule, Spring Equinox, Midsummer, and Autumn Equinox).The Vegetation Cycle
This can refer to all plants, but here the focus is on trees. The fruit ripens and falls from the tree, then it is covered by leafmould and rots down. The seeds germinate in the cold earth, and begin to strive towards the light. Meanwhile the parent tree has lost its leaves, and stands naked in the wind. In the spring the first shoot of the seedling can be seen on the forest floor, and the full-grown tree puts forth leaves and blossom. Bees and other insects fertilise the flowers. Later the petals fall, and the fertilised flower matures into fruit.
Autumn Equinox: Ripening of fruit; harvest of fruit.
Samhain: Leaves turn gold and fall from tree; seed falls from parent plant.
Yule: Turning point; cold conditions enable seed to germinate. Mature trees dormant; forestry work may be undertaken.
Imbolc: First red twigs indicate start of new growth. Cherry and blackthorn begin to bloom.
Spring Equinox:
Seed sprouts; sap rises in mature trees.
Beltane:
Leaves fully out; in a good year, hawthorn in blossom.
Midsummer:
Flowers are fertilised; beginnings of fruit production.
Lammas: Completion; seeds begin to form.
(after Nigel Pennick)
The eight seasonal festivals can also be associated with specific trees, appropriate to the qualities of the festivals. Others may prefer a different schema, but my personal attributions for each festival are as follows:
| Samhain | Elder (for the Crone); Apple (fruit of the Underworld) |
| Yule | Holly (sacred to Saturn etc.); Mistletoe |
| Imbolc | Blackthorn (flowers around Imbolc) |
| Spring Equinox | Great Sallow or Goat Willow (Salix caprea), sacred to Freyja. |
| Beltane | Hawthorn (flowers around May 1st) |
| Midsummer | Oak (sacred to Jupiter etc.) |
| Lammas | Gorse (sacred to Lugh); Ivy (often twined round the last sheaf of the harvest). |
| Autumn Equinox | Apple (for the cider harvest) |
The seasonal cycles have many mythological patterns within them. The patterns outlined above are derived from English folklore and mythology. Each culture has a different cycle of festivals, depending on the climate changes, agricultural or pastoral customs, landscape, flora, and fauna of the place where they live.