Wine and Harvest

The harvest holidays of Litha / Summer Solstice, Lughnassadh / Lammas, Mabon / Alban Elfed and Samhain / Halloween are times when we celebrate the growing and gleaning season. 

Ancient people held festivals dedicated to gathering and reaping grain, baking bread, making wine or ale, and the fruition of gardens.  Holy days dedicated to Demeter and Dionysus were and are enjoyed by Hellenics, the Irish Celts held a month long celebration at Lughnassadh, and the Egyptian and Khemetic traditions celebrate Aset Webenut, the barley harvest which is held at the end of June and beginning of July.  Offerings are made to Aset / Isis in thanks for a bountiful grain crop.  The First Nations of the Americas held rites to honor the spirit of the corn and to harvest the grain, pound it into meal, and cook it in a variety of ways.  Several of these traditional celebrations continue today, or have been revived by those who practice a Nature Religion.
 
Many Wiccan rituals have their basis in the natural cycle of birth, growth, death and rebirth, as well as pre-Christian harvest customs.  Wiccans enjoy “cakes and ale” or “cakes and wine” (sometimes called the Eucharist after the Christian rite) which is emblemic of deity and the sacred marriage, including the joining of Earth and Sky.  The chalice is often filled with an alcoholic beverage, sanctified and shared during the ritual.  Pagans and Polytheists may imbibe a bit themselves, and make libations and offerings to the Gods and ancestors.  Nearly all of the growing and harvest holidays were and are celebrated with feasting, games and contests, offerings to Deities, divination, partying and drinking, and yet more feasting.  These traditions are continued in modern times with the enjoyable Pagan Picnics held nationwide.
 
Many of us are solitary practitioners of Earth Religions, others celebrate our faith with partners, family and friends, and some of us are fortunate enough to have a group for shared worship.  A delightful activity for those who practice Nature Spirituality is a tour of local farms, produce stands and food production facilities.  Tours can be undertaken by a group or individuals, but large organizations might wish to call the location in advance.  These outings can be a remarkable learning experience for both children and adults.  Many food and beverage producers offer samples for tasting, some of which might even be free of charge.  Locally grown fruits, cheeses and vegetables are usually available for purchase right at the farm, or at a community produce stand.  Bakeries may be open to the public, where tourists can observe bread and pastries being created, and delicacies can be purchased for later.  Some locales boast small wineries and brewers which offer tours of the facility, followed by sampling the product.  Earth Religious people may especially appreciate the sacredness of “adult” beverages as well as grape juices and non-alcoholic ciders. 
 
]We are blessed to live in a beautiful farming area with many vineyards, orchards, and wineries.  Our state tourism council has put together several wonderful brochures with maps and information about self-guided driving tours of the wine country, farm and produce stands, restaurants and the lovely surrounding countryside.  You may have something similar in your own location, or you might consider traveling to a rural area that features locally grown produce, farmers’ markets, wineries, cheese makers, and other sites where food is raised and processed.  City dwellers might consider touring a bakery, local micro-brewery or a downtown farmers’ market.  Check online for tourism information – Google the name of the state + tours, and enter keywords such as winery, brewery, farmers market, farm tours and local produce.  Journeying through our local wine country was a spiritual experience for us, a way to get out and enjoy Nature, to connect with the deities of agriculture, and to eat, drink and be merry on Midsummer Day.
 
Another good idea is to host your own Pagan Picnic or attend a nearby Earth Religious gathering.  SoUsing a local produce theme, serve in-season fruits, vegetables, cheeses, beverages and home-baked breads and desserts.  You might try a craft such as making corn dollies or wheat weaving.  If allowed in your location, open a bottle of wine or locally-brewed beer to share and offer as a libation.  (Many local wines are not that pricey – you will pay more for three liters of soda pop.)  If alcohol is not permitted, sparkling grape juice or freshly pressed cider is a delicious alternative.  Set out a paper plate and a disposable drinking container for ancestors and spirits.  You might use a crock pot or fondue pot to melt cheese or chocolate for dipping, lightly grill vegetables in olive oil, or serve bowls of berries and hand out cans of whipping cream to create artful designs.  This is a perfect time to show your appreciation to your personal Deities for the bounty of the harvest.