The Hellenic Temple of Apollon, Zeus, and Pan

Anqesteria

Anthesteria Ritual

The Anthesteria festival was celebrated in Ancient Athens on the 11-13 days of the month Anthesteria. The festival is in honor of Dionysos, honoring the wine harvest on the first day, the offering of the first jug of wine, as well of His marriage to Ariadne on the second day. The third day was in honor of the Dead, who were believed to roam around the land of the living until they were driven away at the end of the third day. In the spirit of the festival, HTAZP will be holding a thusia ritual for Dionysos and a ritual honoring the ancestors at sundown. The actual festival days themselves, there will be separate rituals posted on the website for those who are interested in celebrating on their own.

Preparations:

The altar is set to Dionysos and Ariadne, and the offerings include wine, bread, fruits such as grapes. Other offerings can include wedding gifts to Dionysos and Ariadne. A separate altar is set for the ancestors for whom it is to be used later. Offerings to the ancestors include sweets, such as cakes, and rum (particularly dark rum). It is an American custom at Halloween to decorate the house with things that represent death. This would also be an appropriate custom to incorporate for this festival, as there is a similar idea.

Thusia for Dionysos

1. Procession: The worshiper(s) gather at the hearth-fire of the house and process to the sacred space and position themselves around the altar in a circle.

2. Purification: The worshiper(s) wash his/her/their hands and sprinkle the offerings with khernips (pure water).

3. Opening Prayer: Each person takes a handful of barley and the priest or worshiper speaks the following or similar prayer:

Holy Dionysos,
God of the Vine, God of Ecstasy:
I/We come before You today to honor You
and Your wife, Ariadne in the spirit of the Anthesteria
which falls this week.
I/We extend a sacrifice in honor of the ancient wine harvest,
and in honor of Your anniversary.
Holy Ones, may You accept and delight in our offerings,
and in all the offerings given to You on Your holy day!

Once the prayer has been spoken, the barley is cast upon the altar.

4. Giving the Offerings: A portion of each food dish is placed in the offering plate for Dionysos and Ariadne. Incense and tea-lights are lit, and a libation is poured. Each person is given a cup of wine and a portion of the meal. Everyone eats. It is customary for children to taste their first sip of unmixed wine at this festival when they have reached an appropriate age. This custom can be continued in modern times. In ancient times, this custom was carried out on the second day of the festival.

Interlude

Before the next ritual is performed, games can be played or movies can be viewed in honor of Dionysos. Wine is opened and shared among the participants and the God. Dionysos is the patron God of theater, and so movies of musicals, comedies, or tragedies are certainly appropriate for this festival. Games are commonly of the drinking variety. NOTE: drink responsibly!!!!!

Ritual of the Ancestors

On the third day of the ancient festival, it is believed that the spirits of the dead roam free about the earth. This ritual can be performed before the Anthesteria begins as a way of welcoming the dead to our homes and asking that they be merry while they visit. It also was a custom of the ancients to smear their doors with pitch to keep out the unwanted dead. The same goal can be achieved by sprinkling a little salt in the doorway of the house, or by hanging a charm-bag filled with salt and garlic. The temples are closed on the third day of Anthesteria in order to keep the miasma of death away.

Preparations: An altar is set outside the temple space in honor of the dead. Images of deceased loved ones, Hades, Persephone, Hekate and Hermes are present upon the altar, along with an offering bowl and goblet for offerings. A jar or bag of salt is also on the altar to be blessed so that some can be poured in the doorway of the house to prepare for the upcoming third day of Anthesteria. Offerings to the dead include sweet-cakes, boiled vegetables, rum, and/or cooked barley/oatmeal.

The Ritual:

1. Procession: The worshiper(s) gather at the hearth-fire of the house and process to the sacred space and position themselves around the altar in a circle.

2. Purification: The worshiper(s) wash his/her/their hands and sprinkle the offerings with khernips (pure water).

3. Opening Prayer: Each person takes a handful of barley and the priest or worshiper speaks the following or similar prayer:

I/We come before the altar of our ancestors,
and the Gods and Spirits Who guide and keep them.
I/We ask that our offerings please the dead,
and that they be merry and happy when their spirits
are granted to roam and visit their families.
I/We ask that Hades and Persephone grant
Our ancestors and loved ones peace and tranquility
in the afterlife, and that Hekate and Hermes guide
Them to the places they must go.

Once the prayer has been spoken, the barley is cast upon the altar.

4. Giving the Offerings: The dead are given a plate of offerings and these remain upon the altar for the duration of the evening. The participants may then sit and enjoy their own portions of food while they share stories of their loved ones who have passed on.