TIMING:

11-13 Pyanapsion.

HISTORY / LORE:

This is the time when the rotten remains of the pigs, sacrificed at the Skira three-and-a-half months ago, are gathered up to be used as fertilizer on the crops. Traditionally, this was a holiday for women only and paid for by the men.

11th Pyanapsion: anados (way up) or kathodos (uprising). Women go to the caverns with all preparations to camp for three days.

12th Pyanapsion: nesteia (fast). No one eats solid food and everyone sits on the ground. Towards the end of the day, abusive or mocking remarks are traded to get rid of the tension caused by fasting and to make each other smile. This is to symbolize Demeter's mourning over the loss of Persephone.

13th Pyanapsion: kalligeneia (fair birth) is a day of blessings on children.

DECORATING IDEAS:

terra-cotta pigs, fir cones, models of snakes and phallic symbols.

GARMENTS:

nothing special is indicated other than something rugged for camping.

RITUAL CUP:

apple cider.

RITUAL FOODS:

pork or, if it's available, snake.

ACTIVITIES:

This is a good time to go camping, talk about sex and let off tension. It should be a holiday for the person that normally takes care of the house and the children. As it is a fertility festival traditionally only attended by women, other activities include ... well, I better not go into that as I might offend some of the more conservative readers.

SOURCES:

• Burkert, Walter (1985) "Greek Religion". Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press
• Cooper, J.C. (1990) "The Dictionary of Festivals". Hammersmith, London: HapersCollinsPublishing
• Parke, H.W. (1977) "Festivals of the Athenians". Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press
• Nilsson, Martin (1940) "Greek Folk Religion". Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press