My Favorite Season

What is my favorite season of the year?

Let me start by going over the seasons. Meteorologically the change of seasons occurs on the first of December, March, June and September. By an astronomical calendar the change of seasons are on the equinoxes and solstices. According to the Celtic calendar winter begins on October 31st, spring on February 2nd and summer on May 1st. Note that there is no autumn in the Celtic world. I live in area that receives a lot heat in the summer, and I appreciate the break from the heat in autumn. I love going out for long walks in the cool crisp air observing the turning of the leaves and collecting a few for an autumnal wreath. I enjoy watching what the animals are doing in preparation for winter. The squirrels eat and bury acorns, remembering most of the spots where they were buried. Mammals thicken their fur coats. Where I live there is not enough snow in winter for any animals to turn their coats or plumage to white for camouflage, but in some areas they do. The geese fly south in a V formation. I hear the crows caw more than at other times of the year. I love witnessing the changes. There are changes for me too as I start to put on a jacket and enjoy a hot cup of tea.

I love the three harvest sabats: Lughnasadh, Mabon and Samhain. They each have their own character. Lughnasadh (August 1) traditionally is about the harvest of the grain and is a time for agricultural celebrations. I invite you to check out my post and click Lughnasadh: Differing Perspectives. Mabon is the harvest of seasonal produce like apples and squash. I wonder what fruits and vegetables are ready for harvest where you live? It also a time for gratitude and giving thanks. To learn more check out my posts and click The Harvest Moon and Mabon and Autumnal Equinox/Mabon. Halloween is the third harvest and in the Celtic world is the start of winter and the dark time of the year. It is the time for honoring the dead. To learn more check out my post and click Samhain: A Time for Endings. To see one of my ritual plans for Samhain click Samhain Ritual Plan.

Have a joyous summer, and to my friends in the Southern Hemisphere have a blessed time in the dark half of the year!

Auburn Greene