Comments on: Happy Beltane to the Southern Hemisphere…

By: Tanya

Tanya — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:33:27 +0000

The Trick or Treating round is done in tuktuks here initiated by the American expats but many Europeans (French, German, Swedish etc) get right into it too the funny thing is that rather than a ‘harvest’ festival (while rice is harvested much of the year round ironically the biggest harvest IS now right at the end of the wet season)Halloween in Asia is really a connection with the dead and the supernatural. Just like the Celts many Asian cultures believe the passage between the dead and the living is thinest at this time of year (here P’Chum Ben, Teng Chieh for the Chinese and Yue Lan or Festival of the Hungry Ghosts which the Singaporean Chinese and Hongkongese celebrate, the Japanese celebrate the Obon Festival, the Koreans Chusok etc) all to honour the deceased relatives and keep them happy for the coming year. So there is huge precedent for the spooky part of this time of year to be now in NZ (a part of Asia Pacific, ASEAN etc)even if it is warm and the nights long.

Thanks Tanya for your wonderful information. I am very aware of those festivals. I’m just an old pagan at heart (tee hee) and prefer to honour Samhain at the end of NZ’s summer. There’s a multitude of cultures and people with various beliefs living in New Zealand and there’s nothing wrong with having an eclectic blend of celebrations throughout the year, whatever the season. It is up to the individual to partake, or not, as they see fit. I think I might find myself a May pole and get the girls dressed up and dancing round it next Beltane (in NZ’s October/Nov) – though I’ll leave out the tradition of ‘jumping’ over the fire! x

By: Janice

Janice — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:34:17 +0000

Hi Sarah, Thanks for your comment on my blog. I've never lived in the southern hemisphere but have a couple of friends in different parts and have often thought this very thing! (I went over to read Mystic Medusa too.) You seem to have found a far more sensible way of celebrating the passing of the seasons, so Happy Beltane to you and yours, with a little bit of spookiness thrown in! Janice.

Many thanks Janice :)

By: Moon over Martinborough

Moon over Martinborough — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:48:36 +0000

I don't have too much trouble with Halloween in spring, and I've even grown used to Christmas summer BBQs, but Easter in fall is very, very wrong!

I'm loving Christmas in summer now. There's nothing nicer than having a lighter meal and delighting in berries galore. Can't wait! :)

By: Avalon

Avalon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:16:14 +0000

Id probably vot for making Christmas in winter as well :) For no reason other than I like it being in winter and I just cant feel “christmassy”.

Its nice though that there are a lot of people here in New Zealand who are aware of the old festivals.

Stonehenge Aotearoa usually holds “festivals” at the equinoxes and soltice – though the lastest one wasnt very good by all accounts.

Hi Avalon, I always have a yearning to hang up some fairy lights in mid-winter too – I like the way a lot of people here celebrate the Winter Solstice with a big roast dinner and a ‘pseudo’ Christmas.

I also love that we now have a ‘Stonehenge Aotearoa’ to honour the old ways at the right time of the year to coincide with the seasons.

By: Juli Ryan

Juli Ryan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:43:46 +0000

Halloween and Easter down under make no sense. Let's lobby the Warehouse to switch their commercial crap to the proper seasons for us!

Oh, I would never suggest changing Easter - impossible! It takes a while to get used to it being Autumn at Easter time, having grown up with daffodils, chicks and lambs, but of course the true celebration of Easter has nothing to do with the seasons. I enjoy the symbol of eggs for birth and use flax from the garden to make crosses. I did chuckle at your suggestion of lobbying the Warehouse!

By: Domestic Executive

Domestic Executive — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:38:02 +0000

Seems to me that Chez Lee needs little excuse to party! Great post, for the first I'm I actually stopped to realise how such autumnal festivals make no sense down under.

Yes, party on whatever! x

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:24:21 +0000

Well yes.. the wrong season here for the harvest festival of Samhain, and equally the wrong season when we celebrate Easter. That’s what happens when northern hemisphere festivals are imposed on a southern land. Short of changing everything around, it’s best just to accept the paradox, and go with the flow.

Thanks Phil. Easter dates are of course fine – as it’s a religious festival, same with Christmas – can’t go changing those dates around. However the pagan festivals revolve around the seasons, so true followers go with the seasons and ignore the commercial hype. I do a bit of both – let the children have a bit of fun with the Halloween hoo ha; but also teach them the old traditions too and encourage a bit of dancing in the grass and celebrating spring/summer. :)

By: Chicken Grandma

Chicken Grandma — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:11:17 +0000

Wellington sure knows how to put on the entertainment....just loved the pictures and seems a great time was had by all....just lovely!!

Yes, Wellington is amazing at putting on events and this time of year there is something on every weekend. It was much fun and the girls certainly had their 'fix'! x

By: rhubarb

rhubarb — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:46:48 +0000

Happy Beltane to you, too :)

To you too :) x