As the fall equinox approaches, I am reminded of the significance of the changing seasons and how they are celebrated. My wife loves decorating the house for them, so it seems a waste to be doing that when there isn't even a holiday. It begs the question, why aren't the major holidays celebrated on key seasonal days, such as the solstices, equinoxes, and the points between, as ancient Pagan cultures did in the past?
One reason is that religion has hijacked some (Christmas, Easter), while politics steals their thunder (4th of July), or card companies take advantage (Valentine's Day). Others are so misplaced on the calendar that you have to wonder how administrators got it so wrong (Thanksgiving). Halloween is really the only holiday that correctly synchronizes with the earth-sun relationship- Samhain is the ancient holiday it imitates, taking place every October 31. But even that holiday is glossed up inmodern extravaganzas. Let me be clear, I'm not against indulgences like Halloween, I just wish we were more consistent with them throughout the year.
In my approach, there are eight main holidays, each occurring on or around the key events in the earth-sun cycle. The following dates would logically be chosen for them: December 21, February 1, March 21, May 1, June 21, August 1, September 21, November 1. Notice the even distribution of holidays over the year, and how they're evenly spaced, allowing proper decorating regimens, similar to how businesses have optimal periods of keeping their seasonal shelves stocked. The names of each holiday are borrowed from ancient Pagan ones, mostly out of Ireland.
December 21 would be Yule, the ancient tradition of the winter solstice, from which Christmas is based on. Instead of celebrating the birth of Jesus, we would celebrate the longest day of the year as the earth begins a new journey around the sun. We would have Yule trees and lights instead of Christmas ones. The mythologies of Santa, Rudolph, Frosty etc. would stand. It would be a quintessential celebration of winter, and the dawn of a new year all in one day, which might seem overwhelming. However, we must be honest with ourselves by asking why exactly the new year has to start 11 days after the solstice instead of directly on it.
February 1 would be Imbolc, the midway point between winter and spring, from which Groundhog Day is based on. Key rituals would be initiation and weather divination. Sporting events would be common, as this is the crux of the super bowl, NBA All-Star game, and the beginning of spring training in baseball. Award ceremonies would all be held on this holiday, such as the Oscars and Grammys, which typically occur around this time anyway. Since a lot of television would be involved, the event would probably last a week, or a few days, culminating in weather divination and Mardi Gras/Carnival parades on the last day.
March 21 would be equivalent to Easter, which is based on Ostara, the ancient tradition of the spring equinox. This is a time to celebrate the return of spring and the regeneration of the earth, not the resurrection of Jesus. The mythology of the Easter bunny would stand, as with all the festivities associated with it. Cultivating gardens and trees would be key rituals. There would be a sunrise mass at holy sites to symbolize the dawn of harvest season and the coming of pleasant weather, more light, and the blooming of flowers and plant regeneration, which is the true resurrection the Christians displaced. May 1 would be Belatane, the midway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice. Taking place at the height of spring, it would be the equivalent of Valentine's Day. But to make this day particularly sacred, I would include the love of family and friends as well, adding Mother's Day and Father's Day to encompass the appreciation for everyone we love. As mid-spring is the peak of the growth season, it is only natural that a holiday of love should occur, and I have trouble reconciling February 14th with such an atmosphere. People also tend to be in optimal physical shape during this time, enhancing the celebration of attraction. I wouldn't have May Queens, as they did in ancient times, as that would inspire jealousy, but I would imagine it as the favored day for weddings out of the whole year. Attending a wedding might be the holiest ritual on this day.
Then we have Midsummer on June 21, a celebration of the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer. As the sun is at peak intensity, bonfires and fireworks would be common festivities. Traditional 4th of July festivities would also go here, like barbecues and parades. Camping would be a major recreational activity. A mass would involve a walk in the woods holding candles just after sunset. Light and heat are in such abundance that designing lanterns would be a personal activity to be displayed outside at sunset, similar to Easter eggs and pumpkin carving.
August one would be Lugnasadh, the midpoint between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. Originally meant to celebrate the beginning of harvest, I would see this as more of a recreational holiday, where the outdoors are enjoyed to their fullest extent. Ballooning, boat festivals, and concerts would be an abundance. The sky would literally be full of balloons, and full of music- an incredible sight. The torch would be a key symbol, as the day would coincide with an annual Olympics, featuring the top competitors compete in each sport. While not the most holy of days, it certainly sounds the most glorious. Recent trophies for achievements would be on full display, those eternal emblems of merit. Above all, the spirit of music would prevail, as this seems to be the time of year when acoustics are optimal, mirrored by the sounds of summer crickets, owls, frogs, and most other animals.
September 21 is Mabon, a celebration of the fall equinox. This day is special because it marks the end of harvest. It never made sense to me why we celebrate Thanksgiving in late November; it is surely more appropriate for the first day of fall. Mabon would be the biggest feast day of the year, rich with fresh food and distant family gatherings. An activity for this holiday would be arts and crafts, as the equinox brings balance to all forms of expression, not only natural ones. The changing leaves amplify our yearning to create, putting on a canvas beautiful mixtures of color that are similar to a coniferous forest changing its leaves.
Finally, we come to Samhain, taking place on November 1, the holiday that completes our cycle of the earth-sun wheel. This would virtually be the same as Halloween, though I would add honoring the dead as a key element. Perhaps a visit to a graveyard to (re)decorate gravestones would be the holiest ritual, similar to how it's done on Mexico's Day of the Dead, or All Saints Day. It's an appropriate final holiday, as nature begins its long slumber over the winter, and those who have passed on are remembered. One could also reflect on the year itself, though this is typically done when the next one starts.
My holiday calendar is much more festive and balanced than our current one. It would bring far more revenue to people that rely on seasonal work throughout the year. Someone in the holiday industry could switch their focus every couple months, offering fresh and fun opportunities to reflect the state of the environment at any given time. My calendar is also makes more logical sense, relying on scientific events that complement spiritual ones in the cycle of life and death. In my world, we'd always be preparing for or celebrating the state of the environment, which ideally would turn more heads to its preservation.
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