Anthesteria

The Anthesteria is the Festival of the flowers, and is celebrated at the beginning of Spring, or roughly three full moons after the Winter Solstice, which is usually the first full moon after the Spring Equinox (The Catholic Easter Celebration is also timed this way) and was, in ancient times, celebrated in honor of Dionysos, lover of flowers. The Festival itself is celebrated over three days, starting on the night of the full moon, and proceeding for three nights. Technically, however, the festival was held on the 11th, 12th, and 13th days of the month of Anthesterion, and this would usually be the Full moon.

The Days are detailed here in their own sections, and the Modernisms page details some of my ideas for celebrating this time along with other possible celebrations of the advent of Spring including celebrating Persephone, Aphrodite, and others.

I hope this is helpful, and as with Heliogenna, I hope you will join me in celebrating. I will detail my festivities in an Anthesteria Blog when the time comes. Please share your experiences with me.

Note: The date below has been changed because my accounting of the moons was in error. The celebration now moves up one whole month to March 2-4. I apologize for my mistake.

This year, Anthesteria will take place (Using the full moon rather than the 13th after the beginning of the lunar month formula) on April March 2 - 4 or if you are inclined to use my Heliogenna system, April March 2 - 4 with the Full Moon itself falling on the second day.

Note: For the sake of this particular festival, the days start in the evening with sunset, and proceed into the next day until the next sunset.