December Goddess Feasts
1-- Bona Dei. Roman. A goddess of abundance and prophecy, she was worshiped only by women in utter secrecy. Her rites were probably bawdy -- the rooms for her celebration were decorated with vine branches, and wine flowed freely. Absolutely no men were allowed to witness her rites.
21-- Angerona. Roman goddess of the winter solstice. She reminded her worshipers of the fragility of the natural balance.
21-- Beiwe. see June 21. On this day, when the sun reappeared, doors were smeared with butter so that she could eat the rich food and gain strength.
21-- Colleda. Serbian goddess of the winter solstice. She's the recipient of the Yule log, which burns as the year's light drains away. When daylight was reborn, the children went from house to house, begging for favors for the "sweet maiden goddess", they were given sweet cakes.
21-- Tonan. An Aztec mother-goddess who was honored at the winter solstice, when a woman would dress entirely in white, with shells and eagle feathers, and dance, weep, and sing (through the crowds). A priest accompanied her and, taking the goddess' mask from the woman, killed the year's incarnate deity. The next day, Aztec men struck the women with little bags full of green paper -- a magical act to renew the life-force.
23-- Acca Larentia. Etruscan, then Roman. She was, to the Etruscans, a full-fledged goddess, the Lady Mother. The Romans saw her as a semi-divine prostitute who was the patroness of the plebeian class. In other legends, she was known as the foster mother of Remus and Romulus -- even as the she-wolf who suckled them -- and she was honored in a raucous festival.
25-January 6-- Frau Holle and Perchta. German, Austrian, Swiss. Former goddesses, these two sisters were demoted to witch-women. Frau Holle was the more pleasant one, and her feast day celebrates the winter solstice. Her twin Perchta was acknowledged in the same season.
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