Anqesteria

Anthesteria Ritual (Three Day Version)

 

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. For those who are interested in celebrating this festival on all three days and doing rituals on each of the days, I have included the personal rituals I am doing to honor the festivals.

 It is important to note that this festival is intended to last over three days. The first and second rituals can be combined for one day, although I have found through experience that celebrating it as a three day festival can be more meaningful. This is especially true for the third day of the festival, because of the belief that the dead are roaming the earth. Because death is a miasma and cannot be allowed in a temple space, most temples to Gods other than Haides, Persephone, Dionysos, Hekate, and Hermes are closed.

 

Preparations: Prior to the festival’s commencement, a separate festival shrine to Dionysos and Ariadne is set up in a room other than the temple room, although such a shrine can also be set up right outside the entrance to the temple as well, with the main doors closed. (NOTE: if the temple space in your home is dedicated to Dionysos, this may not be necessary) The shrine includes images of Dionysos and Ariadne, with a libation bowl and sacrificial plate for food offerings.

 

A second shrine can also be prepared (if it is not already) to the Dead and the Gods of the Dead. This will be used on the third day of the festival. A jar of salt is also prepared to sprinkle over doorways on the night before the third day, in order to keep unwanted spirits out of the house.

 

Day One: Pithoigia, the Day of Jar Opening

 

Thusia

  1. The Gathering and Procession

    1. Before the ritual, purchase any wine which is to be consecrated on the first night of the festival. Make sure that if you intend to have guests to celebrate the festival that you consecrate enough for them or that they consecrate the wine at their own homes prior to sharing it at the festival. Before the procession, remember to honor the Goddess Hestia, who is honored first and last at every rite.

  2. Bring in procession to the shrine of Dionysos the wine you have purchased, bunches of flowers, and the meal you have prepared for thusia. If you are unable to drink wine, grape juice may be substituted.

  3. Purification

    1. The worshiper(s) form a circle or semi-circle around the shrine, sprinkle the offerings and wash their hands in khernips.

  4. The Opening Prayer:

    1. The worshiper(s) take a handful of barley and the following or similar prayer is spoken:

Dionysos, God of Wine, I/we have come before You on this day
To celebrate the commencement of Anthesteria,
I/We ask that You come and bless us with Your divine presence
in the days that follow, as I/we honor You, Your wife Ariadne,
and the wine harvest.
Holy One, accept these offerings and sacrifices,
and join in the revels!

    1. The worshiper(s) cast the barley into the sacrificial plate.

  1. Giving the Offerings:

    1. Portions of the food for the feast are selected and placed on the sacrificial plate. Incense is lit and candles and votive offerings are made. A libation is poured. Because the wine blessing occurs afterwards, it is up to the worshiper whether or not to offer wine as the libation.

 

Wine Blessing

            After the food offerings are made, the wine is opened and the first glass is poured to Dionysos. The rest of the wine is shared among the participants. It is not important that the bottle is finished at this ritual, but all of the wine for the festival should be consumed before the third day. It can be an option to buy one bottle of wine to save until the following year and opened at the next Anthesteria. This can be a good tradition if you intend to celebrate the festival again.

            It is said that the ancients mixed their wine with water due to the toxicity of the wine being greater than that of the wine we drink today. You or your group of worshipers can decide to either continue this tradition or not. If you do continue the tradition, it is the unmixed wine that is offered to Dionysos.

 

Day Two: Khoes, Day of the Wine Jugs

 

Thusia

  1. The Gathering and Procession

a.       Before the ritual, theatrical masks are placed upon the shrine. A rope or cloth can also be placed upon the shrine if the worshiper(s) would like to perform a Hieros Gamos (Sacred Marriage Ritual) for Dionysos and Ariadne. An example of this ritual can be found in the Theogamia Festival. Again, prior to the procession offerings are made to Hestia who is First and Last.

b.      In the evening, bring in procession to the shrine of Dionysos and Ariadne, any wedding presents and the meal you have prepared for thusia.

  1. Purification

a.       The worshiper(s) form a circle or semi-circle around the shrine, sprinkle the offerings and wash their hands in khernips.

  1. The Opening Prayer:

a.       The worshiper(s) take a handful of barley and the following or similar prayer is spoken:

Dionysos and Ariadne,
I/We celebrate Your sacred wedding with a feast and sacrifice.
I/We ask that You both bless us with Your divine presence,
and that You enjoy the feast and festivities I/we bring to You!

b.      The worshiper(s) cast the barley into the sacrificial plate.

  1. Giving the Offerings:

a.       Portions of the food for the feast are selected and placed on the sacrificial plate. Incense is lit and candles and votive offerings are made. A libation is poured.

 

Hieros Gamos

            If the worshiper(s) desire to perform a ritual like this following the thusia, it would be customary to do so at this time. Otherwise, at this time, it would be customary to offer wedding presents.

It would also be appropriate at this time to watch a movie or theatrical performance following the Hieros Gamos. Comedies work, and a very appropriate movie would be “Moulin Rouge.”

 

Day Three: Khutrai, the Day of Pots

            The night before this ritual, it is customary to make offerings to Hermes and Hekate, and to sprinkle salt over the doorways to keep unwanted spirits from wandering into your house. You may ask Hermes and Hekate to guide your deceased loved ones to the places they need to go, and that they enjoy their stay in the world of the living. On the morning of this ritual, the shrine to Dionysos and Ariadne is taken down (the Icons can be left out because it is still Their festival, but the shrine itself is no longer used). The shrine to the Dead, Haides, Persephone, Hekate and Hermes is set up in its place. The following or a similar prayer can be used to start the day when the shrine is prepared, followed by an offering of barley and sweet wine to the Agathos Daimon (who protects the Dead), Hermes and Hekate:

Hermes and Hekate,
Guides and Guardians of the Dead
Today our legends speak of how the dead are free
To join in the activities of the living.
I/We give You these offerings,
Asking that You protect me/us from any spirits
Who would bring us harm and strife,
And that you guide the spirits of my/our loved ones
To me/us, so that I/we may share in their company
.Holy Hermes and Hekate,
Accept and delight in this offering of barley.

Offer Barley and wine.

I/we also offer to the Agathos Daimon(s) who guards my/our
Families living and dead.
May You accept this offering of wine.

Offer barley and wine.

 

Thusia

This ritual is best performed at night, as a closing rite to the Anthesteria Festival.

 

  1. The Gathering and Procession

a.       Before the ritual, a plate of food offerings is prepared for the Dead (in Hellenismos, sacrifices to the dead are not shared with the living, so the offering plate is prepared prior to the ritual). This can also be a Khutros, the traditional offering of a jar filled with boiled vegetables. Sweet things like cookies or candy can also make good offerings. Libations of rum or sweet wines are common as well.

b.      In the evening, bring in procession to the shrine of the Dead the offerings you have prepared.

  1. Purification

a.       The worshiper(s) form a circle or semi-circle around the shrine, sprinkle the offerings and wash their hands in khernips.

  1. The Opening Prayer:

a.       The worshiper(s) take a handful of barley and the following or similar prayer is spoken:

Spirits of the Dead,
I/we have joined together today
in the spirit of merriment and joy.
I/we give thanks for your presence today
and any advice you have given me/us.
May Hermes and Hekate guide you safely
back to the realm of the Underworld.
May Haides and His Queen Persephone
welcome you back to Their halls.
May the Agathos Daimon protect you
and your families.

b.      The worshiper(s) cast the barley into the sacrificial plate.

  1. Giving the Offerings:

a.       The jar or other offerings are placed on the shrine. A feast can follow, where people talk about their deceased, and share in their company. Movies can be watched and games played.

 

Conclusion

            It is customary to bid the dead farewell officially when all of the festivities are over:

            “Farewell spirits! The Anthesteria are over!”







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