Anthesterion is a month in the Athenian calendar, and was one of four festivals held in honor of Dionysus. Today, modern polytheists usually say it starts with the February new moon and ends around the March new moon when the Falliforia parade, also honoring Dionysus takes place (stay tuned as I’m attending that too next week!)
Anthesteria was a 3 day festival, each day was its own feast with its own name. This video is from the celebration by Labrys, an inclusive Hellenic polytheist group. I was invited to attend and it was so uplifting, positive, inspiring, and POWERFUL to be in the temple grounds to celebrate this important day.
It might sound unusual to western polytheists, pagans, witches, and spiritual practitioners to celebrate the dead in this time of new life, but that was exactly the connection the ancients saw. Because so much life was coming into being at this time as spring is in full swing hearing Greece and the wildflowers and agricultural sprouts are flourishing, it was believed to be a festival, where the dead walked amongst the living. to honor them, we called on cthonic Hermes, a psychopomp (guide) to the Underworld, as well as Persephone Queen of the Underworld in conjunction with Dionysus.
This festival was called Chytroi (HEE-tree), and it meant the Pots, referring to the mourning dish provided as offering. This dish is very similar to the mourning dish still made in Greek Orthodox churches in memory of the dead, called coliva. It includes pomegranates, the symbol of the cycle of life and death, barley, and parsley, amongst other things (usually nuts.) milk was also offered, and a pomagranate ritually smashed. Beautifully, all offerings were buried as compost. We also poured out wine for our own deceased, and wrote their names to be burned in the brazier with the incense.
On a personal note, many of you know that I’ve been struggling for a long time to find practicing polytheists in Greece who are inclusive. I am happy to say, I finally have! More to come from more rituals for sure.
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