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The Pierce Festivals Calendar Of Ancient Egypt |
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First, let me say that no calendar is complete. They were either painted or carved into temple walls or on papyrus, and the paint is flaking away; time, weather and mankind have destroyed large portions of them. Secondly, only casual mention of ritual is found, and in some places, none at all. The pictures of food and other offerings, however, provide information in surprising detail, and those of you who place daily offerings on your personal altars will find useful information here. The Gods, in most instances, are the national ones: Re, Horus, Osiris, Hathor, and Isis. There are inclusions of the other Gods and Goddesses as the individual season required. These calendars afford us a wonderful picture of those early worshipers. The festivals were great, happy affairs, planned for and looked forward to in much the same way Christians look forward to Christmas or Easter. Food, drink and general party going was the rule, never the exception. Picture in your mind a whole town in party dress celebrating the feast of "Chewing onions for the Goddess Bast." I think that says it all. I’ve transposed the dates to the modern, or Gregorian calendar. Be warned there is a general lack of consensus as to what day is, in fact, the first day of the New Year. If your personal belief is otherwise, you may shift the dates to suit yourself. ~ Diana Janeen Pierce
Contact the author at: DIANA PIERCE
The Festival and holy days for the months of: Mesore, fourth month of Harvest Offerings: Honey, raw grains, prepared meats (Goose was a favorite, as was beef. However, avoid pork. It was considered unclean because of its connection to Sutekh. Also, avoid fish if you honor Osiris.) other offerings were fruit, flowers, oils (scented and olive) bees wax, bread (all kinds, plain or fruit filled, often in special shapes: pyramids or sacred objects) and incense, along with scented candles. Beer was an important offering. Unlike modern beer, it was, to the Egyptians, a food group. Their beer was thicker in character, and cloudy, since filtering was used only to remove larger grains. The yeast to ferment it was the same yeast used in bread. The wild yeasts in sourdough bread are close relatives. I located a website called www. sourdough.com that sells a sourdough starter that is believed to be a direct link to those ancient starters. They claim they discovered it in the shadow of the pyramids. For those of you who are into making authentic foods, it might be worth checking out. There is also a company which makes and sells beer made from a recipe found in a papyrus scroll. I’m sure if you look you can find it, too.
THE NEW YEAR: THE YEARLY FIVE DAYS Offerings: Same as above only on a grander scale. Remember, it is permissible to eat offerings once the Gods have taken the essence from them. They can be removed and eaten after an hour. June 22 Birth of Osiris June 23 Birth of the Original Horus June 24 Birth of Sut (Set) June 25 Birth of Isis June 26 Birth of Lady Of The House (Nephthys)
Here are some
interesting notes Opet or Ipet means "Harem," and the true name of the festival is "The Beautiful Feast." On this day the barque of Ammon-Re would be removed from its temple shrine, and, along with the image of Ammon-Ra, would journey up the Nile to the temple of his wife Ammonet. This was a serious party festival, lasting for twenty days, with a special ritual held at every stop of Ammon-Ra’s barque. After nine months had passed Ammonet-Mut would ceremonially be taken into the Temple birthing chamber to give birth to Ammon-Ra’s son, Khonsu. Even today, remnants of this festival are still observed. Today Opet has been renamed; it is now "The Festival of Saints," and is celebrated by Moslems. During the festival, a small boat is carried out of the Mosque of Abu El Haggag and paraded through the streets Luxor. "The Feast of Sothis" (the heliacle rising of the star Sirius) was celebrated in every Temple in Egypt with a special ritual. Most temples housed more than one God or Goddess, and the normally secluded images of the temple’s Gods would be removed from their shrines, and taken to the roof of the temple so that the first light of the first day of the New Year would fall upon them. The star Sothis (Sirius) is fundamental to the Egyptian religion. This importance is demonstrated in several ways. Both the star and the constellation Orion rise at the same time. The star is known as "The soul of Isis," and the constellation of Orion is the body of her husband Osiris, in heaven. The reappearance of both objects heralds the resurrection of the dead Osiris. Seventy days earlier, both the star and the constellation had disappeared from the sky, hidden by the sun’s light. All ancient Egyptians wanted to be "Osirified," and the seventy days of the mummification process reflected this time of the constellation's disappearance. The calendar and the mythology were intimately tied to the heavens.
Akhet, The Inundation. The season of Lord Hapy begins. Festivals and Holidays of the month Thuthy. Offerings: Same as above. The Holy Days: June 27 The birth of Re. First day of Thuthy. Feast of Thoth. June 29 The Birth of Aten. July 2 Monthly feast of Re. July 6 Second monthly feast of Re. July 13 Feast of the Dead. Offerings given in the Necropolis. July 15 Festival of Nut and Lord Re. Main Festival of Lord Thoth. July 18 Holy to Osiris. July 21 Holy to Sekhmet (The destructive form of Hathor.) Mysteries of Osiris. Feast of Lights of Isis. There is evidence that indicates that this Festival is the true "Festival of Intoxication." The possible mistaken belief that it honors Thoth not Hathor/Sekhmet stems from the fact that the feast falls in the month of Thoth. Strong evidence points to the myth recounting the destruction of mankind as the basis for this festival. According to this story, in order to end Hathor’s bloody rampage, Re tricked her into drinking beer laced with mandrake and red ocher. He flooded Egypt with this drugged beer. Hathor/Sekhmet, thinking it was blood, consumed so much of it that she became drunk and passed out, and she lost interest in destroying humanity. The yearly Innundation by the Nile, with its rich, red silt, is the earthly re-enactment of this flood of beer. This feast of intoxication is the ancient Egyptian's "October fest." July 22 Honors the Battle between Horus and Sutekh. July 23 Honors the Peace between Horus and Sutekh. July 25 Sky Feast of Lord Re. July 26 Ritual day in the Temples of Re, Osiris and Horus.
Festivals and Holidays of the month Paopy, Offerings: Same as above. July 27 Month of Paopy, Holy day of Re. July 28 Procession of Horus to the city of Neith. July 29 Thoth orders the eye of Horus healed. July 31 Feast of Osiris. August 1 Feast of Opet, the marriage of Ammon-Re to his wife Ammonet. August 2 Monthly feast of Re. August 4 Jubilation of the Heart of Re August 5 Procession of Bast. Birth of Nut. August 6 Monthly feast of Re. August 7 Birth of Hathor (Hut-hert). August 8 Satisfying the hearts of the Ennead. August 9 Horus receives the White Crown. August 11 Feast of Osiris. August 13 Ceremony of Transformation (Anubis) Mummification of Osiris. August 14 Ceremony of raising the Sacred Djed Pillar. August 16 Neith goes forth to Aten. August 22 Lighting the fires of Neith. August 25 Sky Feast of Re. Feasts of Osiris and Horus.
Festivals and
Holidays of the month Hathys, Offerings: Same as above August 26 Month of Hathor begins. Feast of Hathor. Feast of Re. August 30 Honors Hathor. August 31 Feast of the gods of the black mud of Egypt (Kemet.) September 1 Monthly Feast of Re. September 3 Isis emerges. September 5 Monthly feast of Re. September 6 Osiris go out of Abydos; Purification of the Gods' and Goddesses' hearts. Feast of Hapy. Offerings are given to the Nile on this day. September 7 Hapy is created. September 8 Jubilation of the Dead. September 9 Fertility of Min. A day of offerings to Min, especially from husbands wishing for sons. September 10 Day of the appearance of the Eight Primordials. September 11 Lamentation of Isis and Lady Of The House for Osiris. September 12 Feast of Hathor (Third month of Akhet.) The statue of the Goddess was taken in boat procession to the mortuary complexes to visit the pharaoh's tomb. September 14 Bast appears before Re. September 15 Feast of Ma’at. September 17 The dispute between Horus and Sut Judged by Re. September 18 Isis emerges. September 20 The Black Land given to Horus the Red lands to Sutekh. September 21 The Autumn Equinox. September 22 Horus is crowned King. The appearance before Ptah. September 24 Feast of the Noble Ladies. Sky Feast.
Festivals and Feast of
the month Choiach, Offerings: Same as above. September 25 Month of Choiach begins. Feast of Re and Sekhmet. September 26 Feast for all Gods. September 28 Feast of Sobek. Sacred crocodiles are honored this day. September 29 Procession of Hathor. October 1 Feast of Sorqet. Feast of Thoth. October 2 Monthly Feast of Re. October 5 Feast of Osiris in Abydos. October 6 Transformation of the Bennu Bird (Re). October 7 Procession of Hathor and the Ennead. October 8 Feast of Gods and Goddesses and Fate. Emergence of the Transformed Bennu. October 9 Feast of Sekhmet-Bast-Re. October 11 Feast of the judging of the crew of the Solar Barque. Holy day of Hathor. October 15 Ritual of Raising the Djed Pillar. October 16 Feast of Plowing the Earth. October 21 Feast of Isis seeking Osiris’ body. October 22 Feast of the loss of Osiris by Isis. October 23 Feast of rejoicing that Isis finds the body of Osiris. October 24 Feast of the Ennead of Re. Feast of Osiris and Horus. Offerings for the Ka (living memories.)
Poret
(Emergence) spring begins the season of Khepry. Offerings: same as above. October 25 The month of Tyby begins. The Heb Sed Jubilee. The word Heb means "Festival," and Sed means "cloth," as well as "tail." One of the requirements of this festival was that the King had to run around the circumference of the temple inner court, carrying ritual objects in his hands. It is believed that some form of rejuvenation occurred during the event. This feast took place every three years, with an even grander version occurring at a Pharaoh's Thirtieth Year Jubilee. October 30 Feast of Clothing Anubis. October 31 Feast of Sekhmet and the purifying of the flame. November 1 Monthly feast of Re. November 2 Feast of Sekhmet. November 5 Monthly Feast of Re November 6 Feast of Hathor and Sekhmet. Day of prolonging life and the goodness of Ma’at. November 11 The Gods leave Abydos. Mouth Of The Far Horizon (Ro-Setau November 13 Bast leaves Bubastis to guard the two lands. November 14 Feast for the followers of Re. November 16 Feast of Neith. November 21 Feast of Thoth’s oath. November 22 Sky feast. November 23 Feast in the temple of Hapy.
Festivals of the month Menchir, Second month of Poret. Offerings: Same as above November 24 Month of Menchir begins. Festival of Little Heat (left eye of Re.) Feast of Ptah lifting up Re with his hands. November 25 Re returns to the sky. November 26 Sut emerges. November 29 Feast of Isis. December 1 Feast of the Great Heat (Right Eye Of Re.) Feast of Hathor. December 2 Monthly feast of Re. December 3 Birth of Horus the younger (son of Isis and Osiris.) December 4 Birth of Sobek. December 5 Feast of "Lifting the Sky" (Re.) December 6 Monthly feast of Re. December 10 The day of Keeping Osiris in the hands of Anubis. December 13 Day of Nut. December 15 Feasts of Horus and Ptah. December 16 Festival of Isis. December 19 Feast of Min. Isis sees Osiris’ face. December 20 Feast of Sokar. Feast of Osiris. December 21 Sky feast. The Winter Solstice.
Festivals of the month of Famenoth, Third month of Poret. Offerings: same as above December 24 The month of Famenoth begins. Feast of entering Heaven (Re.) Sky Feast. December 28 Festival of Lights of Neith. December 29 Procession of Anubis. Jubilation of Osiris. December 31 Festival for Khnum. January 1 Day of Hathor. January 2 Day of Thoth. Monthly feast of Re. January 6 Monthly feast of Re. January 8 Day of opening the Doors and courts of Karnak. January 10 Feast of Nut. January 11 Birth of Nut. January 14 Birth of Apep. January 15 Feast of Horus. Offerings made for the Dead. January 18 Day for those in the Imenty (below the western horizon.) January 20 Feast of Osiris. January 22 Festival of the Doorways of the Horizon are Opened. Sky feast.
Festivals for the month of Parmuthy, Fourth month of Poret. Offerings: the same as above January 23 Month of Parmuthi begins: Feast of Re. January 24 Procession of Geb to see Anubis. January 28 Feast of "Chewing onions for Bast." (Native Americans in Oklahoma have a yearly spring festival where they fry the first wild green onions of spring and eggs. Since we have no idea what this festival of Bast (Goddess of Joy and the gentle rays of sunlight) was for, it might be a way to honor her. Do it for dinner and chase it with a beer, I do. Since I’m also Cherokee Indian, this covers both events nicely.) January 29 Feast of Min. January 30 Monthly feast of Ra; Counting the parts of the Wadjet eye. February 3 Monthly feast of Re. February 4 Feast of Nut. February 7 Procession of Khepry. February 8 Procession of Sut. February 10 Feast of Re. February 18 Feast of Sekhmet destroying mankind. February 20 Adoration of Beautiful Being. Sky Feast. February 21 Offerings to Ra, Osiris, Horus, Ptah, and Sokar.
Shomu (Harvest) The season of Re Festivals and holidays for the month of Pachons. Offerings: same as above February 22 Month of Pachons begins. Feast for Ra, Horus, and Renemutet. February 26 Feast of Sexual fertility of Min. February 27 Harvest festival. Festival of the great one of the House of Re. March 1 Festival of Isis. (This day became New Year's Day in the Roman calendar until it was replaced by the Egyptian Calendar on the order of Emperor Augustus.) March 2 Monthly feast of Re. March 3 Festival of Clothing Anubis. March 6 Monthly feast of Re. March 7 The day of cutting out the tongue of Sobek, the Crocodile God. March 10 Day of Hathor. March 11 Day of joy for Re and his Ennead. March 12 The day of the counting of Thoth. March 13 Ma’at judges souls. March 21 The Spring Equinox. March 23 Celebrations for Re, Osiris, and Horus.
The festivals and
holidays for the month of Paony, Offerings: same as above March 24 Month of Horus begins, Feasts for Re, Horus and Bast. March 28 Holy to Re and his Followers. March 30 Feast of the Wadjet eye. April 1 Feast of Re. April 5 Feast of Re. April 10 Feast of Osiris. April 13 Feast of the children of Nut. April 17 Holy to Re. April 18 Procession of Neith. April 20 Day of purifying all things. April 22 Holy to Thoth. Feast of Re.
The holidays of
the month of Epipy, Offerings: same as above April 23 Month of Epipy begins. Festivals to Hathor, Bast. April 24 The Goddesses feast in their temples. April 27 Hathor sails for Punt, Third month of Shomu, ending with the New Moon. Feast of the "Beautiful Reunion." Hathor’s barque was called the "Mistress of Love." During this festival, it was believed that Hathor left her temple in Dendera and sailed south to visit Horus in the city of Edfu. During her trip she stopped to visit Mut’s temple, the second day she visits Anukis, (A form of Nephthys, "Lady Of The House.") On the third day, she is joined by the Local God of Nehan (a form of Horus) before ending her travels in Edfu at the great Temple of Horus there. Horus would set out in his barque and meet Anukis outside Edfu. At this time, the two statues were enshrined together for fourteen days, and then the statues were taken to the temple roof to greet the sun god Ra. April 29 The other Gods follow. May 2 Monthly feast of Re. May 7 Horus hears the supplications of the god. May 8 Ma’at appears before Re. May 10 Ma’at and Re leave in secret. May 21 Festival of Mut; Sky feast May 22 Ceremony of Horus-Of-The-Winged-Disk May 23 Month of Mesore begins. Feast of Re. May 24 Sacred to Ma’at. May 25 Feast of Raet. Feast Of Hathor as Sopdut.. May 26 Processional day of Sopdut. May 27 Day of the appearance of Min. May 29 Inpu (Anubis) Travels to the necropolis. May 30 Uadjet's Summer Solstice. June 1 Monthly feast of Re. Holiday of Anubis. June 4 Feast of the Followers Of Horus. June 6 Re goes forth to honor Nun. June 10 Day of the return of the complete The Eye of Re (Uadjet eye.) June 13 Anubis feasts with the children of Nut and Geb. June 19 Feast day of Min. June 20 Feast in the Temple of Sokar ("Opening The Aperture" lasted seven days, and represented the opening of the Epagomenal days and Re’s birth). Feast of Ptah. June 21 Birthday of Lord Re.
All research material and hieroglyphs copyright 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 Diana Pierce. All rights reserved. Page design and layout copyright 2006 Ramona Louise Wheeler. All material edited by Ramona Louise Wheeler. Contact R.L. Wheeler Work Like An Egyptian available now at Barnes and Noble, http://www.bn.com/ http://www.amazon.com/, Wildside Press
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