One year has passed since I celebrated my first Heliogenna, and I remember fondly the feeling of accomplishment and well being that came from it. I'd like to recap here fora little bit what the Heliogenna is and how to celebrate it (suggested, not a strict dogmatic prescription, BTW) and, more importantly, why it is important to me.
The Heliogenna is not an ancient festival, it is a creation of the modern Hellenismos movement (Well, mostly me.) to honor the Sun God Helios during the Winter Solstice. My hope was, and continues to be that this serves as both a way for Hellens to celebrate this special time of year and as a bridge between Hellenismos and the general Pagan community which also celebrates the Winter Solstice as Yule.
The basics are simple. Heliogenna is set up as either a three of nine day festival. In a three day configuration the first day is called Sunset, the second day, which is the day of the actual Solstice, is called Night and the third day is called Sunrise. Sunset is celebrated as a kind of remembrance day, recalling to mind all of the good things, and even the bad, that have come your way during the last year and how they have affected you. You recall loved ones who have passed, heroes who have made a difference in your life, etc. On this day you celebrate Helios as descending.
Night is celebrated as a celebration of the Underworld, and underworld Gods such as Persephone and Hades, Hekate and Hermes, etc., are given proper cultus of a chthonic nature. Fires are extinguished, candles are not lit, and offerings are given into the Earth. Helios and his celestial family are, essentially, ignored. They are not mentioned or worshipped, and Helios' travels into the underworld are left undisturbed.
Sunrise is a joyous day. The sun is ascendent, his power now waxing, and the future Spring is awaited with anticipation. The Gods of Olympus and other Celestial (Ouranic) Gods are worshipped and given proper worship and cultus. Fires are lit and prayers for a bright future and hopes and dreams are written upon paper and burned in the fires that they may rise to the holy heavens. Gift giving, charity, and acts of kindness toward strangers, the offering of Xenia, are encouraged and offerings to the Earth and the deities of fruit are also acknowledged that Spring may be fruitful and full of life.
The nine day festival is much the same, but it is broken down into three segments of three days each, with the same break down of Sunset, Night, and Sunrise for each three day segment. The nine day festival is a bit impractical, but it is also meant more for those of us who aspire to create a larger community some day, a community of Hellenes and Pagans who can properly set up festivals of this type.
The expanded festival allows for a greater set of activities that can appeal to a great many people, celebrating the Celestial Family of Helios during the Sunrise, giving the Chthonic Gods their due during Night, and giving proper thanksgiving type festivities during the Sunset including charitable works and donating gifts to the poor, etc.
The Solstice itself must always fall directly in the middle, in the three day festival falling on the second day, in the nine day festival taking place on the fifth day.
On this site I tend to convey some of what I do for the festivals I choose to celebrate, and I hope you will join me...
For more detail on the Heliogenna, the site still has my detailed celebration from last year in the Other Celebrations section...