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The first thing that one should note is that we observe everyday as sacred, not just a few days of the years like other faiths. And one should live each day as a holy day.

The Greek calendar months and year don't start at the same time that you are use to. The first day of the years falls at the start of the summer. That is to say for some Greek traditions. Each city state had its own calendar, holidays and ideas as to when the year starts and ends. The one I follow is from some of the islands, including Seriphos. Being that diferent city states celebrated it at their own times of the year,, my years stars at the first of the autumn month of "Boedrommeon". The day was called "SELENIGENESIS" or "birth of the moon". the day was dedicated not just to the Goddess Selene but to ones ancestors and great feasts were held at the tombs of loved ones.

The second thing to note is that the months are also not what you would recognize. The month starts on the dark of the moons and goes through to the next dark of the moon, thus the months can have from 29-30 days in it. The first day of the month is called "NOUMENA" or "new moon". The day was observed with quiet prayer at night.

The second day after the month is always reserved for ones ancestors and plates of food are left out for them. The day is called "AGATHOS DAEMON" or "good spirits night"

Aound the 15th of the month was the full moon ceremony or "NIKEHOMENA". The day was dedicated to Sleene and torch races and dance festivals are held.

The last day of the month is DIEPNON HEKATE" or "Hekate's Feast", a night of games, food and magic. These 4 days listed are stationary around the years and held sacred each month.



Depending on where in Hellas you live, the months are named after the god, heroes or in a rare few places after the labours of Herakles. Being that there are 12 to 13 months in a year, there may come a time when the year will be incomplete. In other words, the year may end up with 235 days instead of 265. In this case a 13th month is added to the end of the year to equall 265 days. During that month no holidays are indicated, that is occording to the scripts left to us. It may mean it was a barren month with no religeos observance except for the 4 holidays list above. However I see it differently, as the WHOLE month as one huge festial to ALL the gods. Listed below is MY Hellenic calendar that I observe. It is comprised of holidays from all over the Greek world. I try to observe as many as possible. As to the year observed, there are many variations depending on what Hellenic path one follows. I observe the year from the first Olympics held in 775 B.C.E. onward.

While viewing the table one will start to think that all the ancients did was party all the time, but that is not the case when you consider that the ancients did not acknowledge weekends and birthdays. Second the ancients considered EVERYDAY holy, not just certain days of the year, like most do today. Holidays were not just to sit back and eat all day. They were time to gather and worship in a way, not many can understand today. And like some religeons today, the day started with prayers and ended with an offering. Maybe if people started to follow this practice again, there would be alot less conflict and more peace in the world.

One last note I should mention, enteries with no description means either we know little to nothing about the holiday or I do not have that info as of right now. Either way time changes all.



CURRENT MONTH:
Metagetnea (July - August)
YEAR: 2778



BOEDROMEON
september-october

1

Selenigenisis
Attic first day of the year. Sacred to Selene

2

Niketereon
Sacred to Athenae and Nike as defenders.

3

Platea
unknown

4

Boedromea
Great festival to Apollo and Artemis as guardians
and protectors.

5

Genesea
Sacred day to honor Gaea and our ancestors.

6

Agroterea
festival to Artemis as the divine huntress.

7

Liknophorea
To Dionysos and Plutos, of abundance.

9

Askelipea
A day to Askelipos for purifying.

12

Charisterea
A night-time festival to the Charities.

17-18

Epidaurea
Great festival to Askelipos and his family.

19-21

Eleusian Mysteries
A great festival to all chthonic gods.

30

Epitaphea
A festival to honor all heroes.

PYANOPSEA
october-november

2

Aiora
A time to welcome Dionysos into your home.

5

Plerosea
A thanksgiving to Demeter for a good harvest.

8-11

Theseia
Festival to honor Theseus for slaying
the minotaur and freeing Athens.

9

Stenia
Great festival to Demeter and Persephone. In
some places it is part of The Thesmophorea.

10

Semnaea
A feast given to th Eirrines to pacify them.

10-13

Thesmophorea
A great festival to demeter and to
Persephone for her departure from the Earth.

12

Laphrea
To honor Artemis as guardian of animals.

19-21

Apatorea
Iniatation rites for boys.
Sacred day for Apollo.

23

Oschophorea
Harvest ritual to Dionysos, centaurs,
nymphs and satyrs.

30

Khalkiea
Great festival to Athenae and Hephaestos as
patron to artists.

MAIMATREON
november-december

1

Pompaea
Winter celebration to zeus and the
gods of the winds.

2

Apellios
A minor festival to Apollo.

3-10

Nemian Games
Great games dedicated to Ares,
Apollo and Herakles.

5

Tithenidea
A womans celebration to Artemis.

11

Nyseids
A festival day to all types of nymphs.

20

Maimater
A winter masquerade festival to Zeus
and Hera for protection during the winter.

21-22

Chthonia
minor festival to al chthonic gods.

23

Himalias
unknown

25

Gaean
a festival thanksgiving to Gaea.

29

Kronia
A great winter celebration to Kronos
and his children.

30

Daidala
Sacred to Hera as a maiden prior to her
wedding to Zeus.

POSIEDEON
december-january

2

Tonaia
Festival celebrating the engagement of
Zeus and Hera.

4

Diomena
sacred day to selene of the two creasants.

6

Askelipea
Great healing ceremony to Askelipos.

7-11

Posiedea
Great sea festival to all sea gods.

8

Themisyckle
Festival to Zeus, Themis and the Horae
for the giving of laws to mankind.

12

Promethea
A great winter ceremony to Prometheos.

16

Horios
A festival to Zeus.

19

Myrrhinos
unknown

20-22

Herakliea
festival to Herakles.

24

Rural Dionysia
A great thanksgiving ritual to Dionysos.

26

Haloa
Sacred day celebrating Dionysos and Demeter.

GAMELEON
january-febuary

2

Theogamea
the celebrating of the wedding of Zeus and Hera.

3

Lestisterma
Great festival dedicated to all the gods.

5-6

Korea
Celebration in honor to Persephone.

8

Apotropas
Minor festival to Apollo.

11

Karneia
Minor festival to Demeter.

12

Charila
A masquerade festival to honor the Charities.

12-15

Lenaea
Celebrating the return of Dionysos to Europe.

15

Epikeida
unknown

22

Mousia
A great festival celebrating the Muse.

ANTHESTERIES
febuary-march

2

Dionsianae
Festival to Dionysos and Demeter.

5

Soteria
Festival to Zeus and Athenae as saviors
to all people.

6

Charitesea
A festival to the Charities.

11-13

Anthesteries
A great ceremony dedicated to Dionysos
and Demeter and ones ancestors.

14

Korythala
Sacred day to the Korybates that guarded
Zeus as a babe.

15

Herois
A festival to honor all local heroes.

Leupiskala
Sylvanian celebration to Pan and
all pastoral gods.

18-21

Lesser Mysteries
Celebrating the return of Persephone
to the earth.

22

Pheralea
A great ritual dedicated to ones ancestors.

23

Diasia
A great Ritual to Zeus and Plutos for abundance.

25

Galaxea
Celebrating the beginning of creation
and to honor Chaos and his children.

ELAPHEBOLEON
march-april

1

Hycinthea
Sacred to Apollo, Zephyros and Hycinthos.

3

Arniea
unknown

4-6

Hosea
A day of purifying, dedicated to the Horae.

6

Elaphebolea
A great festival to Artemis as a woodland goddess.

8

Askelipea
Dedicated to the ressurection of Askelipos.

10-14

Kroniea Basilea
Celebrating kronos as the old king.

18

thyein
A day sacred to the winds.

19

Eleutheiea
unknown

21

Pandia
festival to Zeus as lover and protector of women.

MOUNYCHEON
april-may

3

Chloriaea
Sacred to Chloris and time for gardening.

3

Keressalea
The day when homes are cleaned and blessed

Erotiea
Sacred day to Eros and a time for lovers.

5

Aiantiea
?

6

Delphean
Celebration to Apollo as great oracle.

7

Hybristika
?

8

Braurona
A day sacred to Artemis and girls are initiated.

13

Demeterea
Harvest rite to Demeter

14-15

Cyblean
Great festival to Cybele and Attis.

16

Mounicheon
Sacred day to Artemis and her holy springs.

Rhodemas
SAme as May Day. Dedcated to Rhode and Chloris

19-25

Olympiache Galeonos
the Olympic games.

20

Leucothea
A festival dedicated to the sea goddess.

Tauropholea
A rite to Artemis and all sacred bulls.

21

Tritopateros
Celebrationm in honor of Triton.

24

hylas
A day to honor the hero Hylas.

TARGELEON
may-june

4

Delia
great rite to Leto, Zeus, Apollo and Artemis.

6-7

Thargelea
The birthday of Apollo and Artemis

8

Lycaea
Ritual to Apollo and the wolves.

15

Argi
The day that temples are cleaned

Hestalea
Ritual to Hestia to guard the home.

19-20

Bendia
A night festival to Selene

19-21

Kallynteria
When temples are cleansed and lamps relit.

20-25

Pythian Games
Games in honor of Apollo

21

Dioscorio
Festival to honor Kastor and Pollox.

25

Plynteria
.

30

Thalysies
?

SKIROPHOREA
june-july

1

Skotea
Wedding day of Aphrodite and Adonis.

3

Aretephorea
great festival to To Aphrodite and the Horae

9

Rhodos Heliea
Sacred wedding of Helios and Rhodes. Summer Solstice

10

Brizeis
Summer rite to water nymphs

12

Skira
Great summer festival to Athenae.

14

Diopolea
festival to Zeus

Bouphorea
Festival to Zeus and Artemis.

22-28

Ismithian Games
Great games in honor to Poseidon

28

Eoseperia
festival to the birth of Eos and Hespera.

29

Sosipolea
Sacred day to Eillythiea and all mothers.

30

Narcissean
Festival to narcissos and Echo

HEKATOMBEA
July-August

1

THALUSEA
A sea ritual dedicated to Pontos and Thalassea

EISETERIA
A festival to honor Zeus and Athenae

3

STEPTEREON
Great festival to Apollo who freed Delphi

4

APHRODISEA
A festival to honor Aphrodite and Eros with great games

5

HALEA
Festival to Helios

7

HEKATOMBEA
Great festival to Apollo, Artemis and Zeus

8-9

DAPHNEPHOREA
The Theban New Year dedicated to Apollo

12

KRONEA BASILAE
Great Summer harvest ritual

14

DIOPOLEA

15-16

SYNOIKEA
Ceremony when clans gathered to honor each other and Apollo

21

ARTEMISEA
Womens celebration to honor Artemis

21-29

PANATHENAEA
Great celebration to honor the birth of Athenae

25-30

GYMNOPAIDAE
Spartan games to Ares

27

PONNYKHIS
Initiation rite for girls

METAGETATEON
August-SEPTEMBER

6

Arachoba
Rite to Athenae, lady of weaving

7

METAGETNEA
Festival to apollo that is celebrated with nieghbors

10

HERAKLEA KYONS
Festival to honor adopted children and Herakles

12-13

PHOEBE HEKATAE
Light festival to Hekate

15

ZANTEA
Harvest ritual to Demeter

17

TLEPTOLPHOREA

18

HEPHAESTONEA
Thanksgiving festival to Hephaestos

23

NEMESISAE
Day to rid of impurities, cleansing

30

ADONEA
Attic New Years and death of Adonis
Again, I should stress that this list is a compliation of festivals from about the Greek land. Those wishing to celebrate the Hellenic traditions do not have to celebrate each and every one. Only what is in your heart.