My Personal Wheel of the Year

Updated: Oct 27, 2021

When I first started out practicing just under two years ago, I discovered, as I'm sure everyone does at some point, the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. I liked the idea of a continuous cycle of holidays held to honor the Gods and the seasons, and decided to try it out. For a year (Yule through Yule) I celebrated all of the holidays of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, despite becoming increasingly non-Wiccan and not worshipping the Wiccan deities. After that year, I looked back on my experiences and reassessed.

I loved the function of a year-round polytheist holiday calendar, but couldn't see how the Wiccan calendar related to my own practice of omnist polytheism. My solution? I put together my own calendar of holidays that celebrated my personal beliefs and deities. I pulled from varied sources, including the Ancient Athenian festival calendar, the Ancient Egyptian festival calendar, the Ancient Roman festival calendar, Norse holidays, Irish holidays, and some Catholic feast days.

I felt a lot more at home within my own Wheel of holidays that reflected the religions and Gods that I honor. I had tried the Wiccan Wheel simply because it was readily available, but never felt fully connected to it. My personal Wheel is one hundred percent my own. It is my beliefs, my Gods, and my religion, and I adore it.

All dates are adapted to where they would fall on our modern calendar.

My Personal Wheel of the Year

Þorrablot-

Þorrablot is a Norse pagan festival observed on January 15th. It is held in honor of husbands and fathers, and is sacred to Thor. I celebrate by honoring Thor and the paternal figures in my family.

Theogamia-

Theogamia is a Greek festival celebrating the marriage anniversary of Zeus and Hera. Held on February 10th, Theogamia is a great time for love or marriage work. I celebrate it by giving offerings to the King and Queen of the Olympian Gods.

Parentalia-

Parentalia is held on February 13th through the 21st. It involved both folk and state festivities honoring the ancestral and familial dead. The 21st was the Feralia, when offerings of food were carried to tombs of the dead.

Anthesteria-

Anthesteria is a Dionysian festival held in February, corresponding with the full moon. Anthesteria commemorated the beginning of spring and lasted three days. The first day involved ritualistically opening the first casket of wine from last season, the second was a day of partying and celebration, and the third day was a festival of the dead. It was believed that all three days allowed the dead to return from the underworld and walk among the living. It is recorded that "people chewed leaves of whitethorn and smeared their doors with tar to protect themselves from evil [spirits]." I celebrate by honoring Dionysus by the three aspects of Anthesteria: the renewal of nature through spring, celebration and merriment, and his chthonic aspect.

Spring Equinox-

The Spring Equinox falls on March 20th and marks the return of spring. On the Spring Equinox, day and night are of equal length. I don't acknowledge this day as associated with any particular religion or deity, and usually just cleanse my space and renew my protections.

Sigrblót-

Sigrblót is observed on April 1st. It marks the return of spring and summer, and triumph of light over dark. It is sacred to Freyja. I celebrate it by honoring Freyja and the changing seasons.

Mounikhia-

Mounikhia is observed on April 6th. Mounikhia is the Athentian festival of Artemis in her role of moon and wildlife goddess. Traditionally, it was celebrated with offerings of tree branches, goats, and round cakes. I celebrate it by honoring and giving offerings to Artemis, and by spending time in nature in devotion to her.

Festival to Anubis-

The Ancient Egyptian festival of Anubis took place on April 10th. I celebrate by honoring Anubis with offerings and devotional time.

Bealtaine-

Bealtaine takes place on May 1st. Bealtaine is an Irish fire festival celebrating spring, fertility, life, and the return of summer. It can represent the renewal of both natural and sexual fertility and life, and celebrates the coming of summer and the ending of the 'dead' season of winter.

Thargelia-

Thargelia is held on May 24 and 25 and celebrates the birthdays of Artemis and Apollo. Traditionally, it involved purification ceremonies and was connected to agriculture and giving thanks to the Gods. I celebrate by honoring Artemis and Apollo and their respective days and giving thanks for all they have helped me through, and by performing ritual purification.

Summer Solstice-

The Summer Solstice is observed on June 20th. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year. The sun is at its peak, but winter will soon approach. I celebrate the Summer Solstice by honoring my patron god, Apollo, in his solar aspect.

Aphrodisia-

Aphrodisia is observed on July 4th. It was originally a bathing festival, dedicated to cleansing and beautifying to honor Aphrodite. I celebrate by taking a ritual bath and doing self-care rituals. This past year, I was lucky enough to celebrate Aphrodisia by performing my ritual cleansing on the beach and in the ocean.

Saint Mary Magdalene Feast Day-

The Feast Day of Saint Mary Magdalene is observed on July 22nd. I honor her with prayer and through study of the Bible.

Birthdays of Osiris, Horus, Set, Isis, and Nephthys-

The birthdays of Osiris, Hours, Set, Isis, and Nephthys occur on July 27th through the 31st. Osiris was born first, then Horus, Set, Isis, and Nephthys, in that order. Traditionally, these five days were considered unlucky, and were days of rest. I honor this by not performing any magic on these days and resting.

Nemoralia-

Nemoralia is observed on August 13th through the 15th, and is sacred to Diana. I honor her on these days with offerings and devotional time, preferably in nature or by a body of water.

Autumn Equinox-

The Autumn Equinox occurs on September 22nd. It marks the coming of winter, and day and night are of equal length. Similar to the Spring Equinox, I do not associate this day with any particular religion or spirit.

Saint Michael Archangel and Saint Raphael Archangel Feast Day-

The Feast Days of Saint Michael Archangel and Saint Raphael Archangel both occur on September 29th. I honor them through prayer and study of the Bible, as well as offerings.

Samhain and the Trinoxtes Samonii-

Samhain and the Trinoxtes Samonii are observed beginning on October 31st. Samhain is an Irish festival celebrating the dead and the balance between light and dark, and the Trinoxtes Samonii is a similar Gaulish festival celebrating the dead and chthonic gods. The "veil" between light and dark is the thinnest of the year; October 31st is an excellent time for spirit communication and divination. I celebrate the Irish Samhain for the Morrígan, and the Gaulish Trinoxtes Samonii for Cernunnos. Both are celebrated through November 3rd.

Festival to Hathor-

The Ancient Egyptian festival to Hathor was celebrated on November 1st. It was celebrated with intoxication, ritual dance, and offerings to the goddess. I choose not to partake in drinking, but still celebrate with dancing and offerings to Hathor.

Winter Solstice/Yule-

The Winter Solstice is observed on December 21st. It marks the longest night and shortest day of the year, as well as the ending of winter and eventual return of spring. In Norse culture, the solstice is called Yule and is sacred to Odin. I celebrate by honoring Odin and setting my intentions for the coming year.