Samhain

[Polarbear]

Why is one of your holidays spelled samhain and pronounced so-ween? (Have I gotten the pronounciation right?)

 

[Quintessence]

Because the language it is derived from isn't English, it's Gaelic. Therefore it uses Gaelic pronunciation. It's like when you get French words converted to English.

 

[Polarbear]

Thank you very much for the clarification!

 

[Sylvan]

I usually hear it pronounced "sow-when".

 

[Polarbear]

Yeah I have heard that too.

 

[Draka]

You think Samhain (sow-en) is confusing? Try out Lughnasadh (loo-na-sah) or Mabon (may-bone)

 

[Polarbear]

Okay I wasn't aware of the correct pronounciation of those two holidays, thanks! Yule is easy to pronounce though. Also, fun fact, here in Norway it's what most people call Christmas actually.

 

[Quintessence]

Yeah, I don't use the standard Pagan/Wiccan names for my holy days. The ridiculous pronunciation issues was a factor in the decision, but the major one was "why am I using names from specific cultures when I am not a reconstructionist?"

 

[Sylvan]

I love Lughnasadh!! Even though I don't really hold the wheel of the year anymore or work with many celtic dieties... I took three days off and have been chilling in rivers, having deep conversations with new friends, and now I'm headed out to lunch with an old one. I never really understood what that holiday was all about but now part of its person meaning for me is a time to take stock of all my successes and failures.. kind of a preamble planning session to whatever needs to be forged anew in the fires of Samhain. I think this weekend (including today) I may get away with spending the heat of each day submerged in a separate idyllic river.

Happy Lughnasadh to all.

 

[Polarbear]

Wait, is lughnasadh taking place now???

 

[Draka]

Technically it fell on the 1st but many people will celebrate Sabbats for several days.

 

[Polarbear]

Ah, okay

 

[Sylvan]

Yeah its the 1st of august but I play fast and loose with timing on the fire festivals.

 

[Quintessence]

Actually, the date for the cross-quarter depends on what system you use. Most Neopagans use the fixed date, which yes, is August 1st. However, the true cross-quarter - the actual astronomical midpoint between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox - does not happen until August 7th. That's when I celebrate. In part because when I started making my own calendars, it irritated me that the tides weren't the same length. So I switched to the true cross-quarter so they are the same length, plus or minus a day.