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In antiquity, there were a great many festivals in honor of Dionysos. Unfortunately, most of them have been lost to us, and the only details we have for some of them are their names. For others, we have a few details, but not enough to reconstruct them properly. The following festivals all come from Athens, which is where most of our information for the practice of Greek religion originates. We have chosen not to include ritual outlines for these festivals at this time, instead, briefly describing how they were observed in the past, and offering some suggestions for things you might choose to do today. Oschophoria : Pyanepsion 7 (around October) Historically, this was a festival in honor of the ripened grapes. Supposedly it was founded by the great hero Theseus upon his return from Crete as a means of appeasing the God of wine. It gained its name from the shoots of vines with grapes on them which were borne from the temple of Dionysos in Limnae, a suburb of Athens, to the sanctuary of Athene Sciras. There were races, and a procession led by young boys in women's clothing. It culimnated in a fine banquet. Some things you can do to celebrate this festival: If there is a race or a fun-run around this time, such as the ones held for cancer or AIDS research, take part in it or offer to sponsor someone who is. If you live in wine country, you could see if any farms are offering tours, or an opportunity to help with the harvest. My preferred way of oberving this festival is to have an elaborate dinner with a number of different kinds of grapes and wines and lots of great food. You can also tell the story of Theseus and his return from Crete at this time, since it was he who established this festival. Rural Dionysia : last half of Poseideon (around December) This festival was traditionally held to commemorate the first tasting of the new wine. It was a simpler form of the City Dionysia held in the rural districts and countryside. It was a time of merriment and feasting, and troups of actors traveled around, performing the plays that had premiered at the City Dionysia. In some parts of the country the askolia or bag-dance was performed. The point of this was to dance on one leg on an oiled skin, without falling down. Some things you can do to celebrate this festival: During this time, try to let loose and don't take things as serious. Enjoy yourself, and taste the new wine and small pleasures of your life. Rent some of your favorite movies, especially if you haven't seen them in a while, and watch them with good friends and fine wine. Take in some classic theater or opera, but above all - have a good time! Lenaia : Gamelion 12-15 (around January) This was the festival of vats, when the wine was mixed. It was held at the Lenaeon, the oldest temple of Dionysos in Athens, and was celebrated with a great civic banquet. All of the meat for the festival was provided at the public expense, and there were comedic presentations put on. It was in many ways like the Medieval Feast of Fools, with jesting and mockery and ribald performances. This festival was thought to reawaken the slumbering vegetation after the long, still months of winter. Some things you can do to celebrate this festival: Get together with friends and family and tell funny jokes and stories. Do something to shake off the winter blahs - hopefully something spontaneous and unexpected. If a comedy is showing, go see that. Or rent some classics, like Mel Brooks, Monty Python, or the Three Stooges. This should be a time of laughter and gaiety. Anthesteria : Anthesterion 11-13 (around February) This festival leant it's name to the month in which it occured, thus showing it's importance to the people of Athens. It was a complex festival, celebrated for three consecutive days. The first day was called Pithoegia or the "Opening of the Casks". This was when the wine casks were opened for the first time, and masters and servants alike were allowed to taste the new wine. The second day Choes or "Cups" was celebrated with a great public feast, and young children were given their first drink of wine. At Dionysos' oldest temple, the Lenaeon, the wife of the Archon Basileus "King and Ruler" was wedded to Dionysos in a Sacred Marriage. The Basilissa was thought to represent the country, and thus her wedding with Dionysos was seen as a way of uniting fertility with the land once more. It's not sure how this was done, whether a Priest of Dionysos functioned as a stand-in for the God, or whether the Basilissa made love to the ancient phallic wooden statue that was housed in the temple, or whether her husband the Archon Basileus impersonated the God. At any rate, she was not the only woman who had sex on that night. There was a general sense of erotic expectation in the air, which may have culimnated in nocturnal orgies. Then again, it may not have. The third and final day of the festival, Chytroi or "Pots", was entirely given over to the spirits of the dead, and the mourning of their loss. Sacrifices of cooked vegetables and seeds were given to Hermes and the dead, especially those who died in the flood of Deucalion. Some things you can do to celebrate this festival: This is a time for reflection. Think about the people that you have lost during the previous year, and all of the people who have touched your life, but are no longer with you. Think about the deep connections that exist between sex and death, between life and loss, and how, even in the midst of terrible suffering and darkness, there is light, and the promise of happiness. It is a time of release. Of letting go of the things that hold us back, the pain in our lives, our regrets, and losses. Performing some kind of sacrifice for the dead, or a ritual reinactment of this release is important. Greater (or City) Dionysia : Elaphebolion 9-13 (around March) This was probably one of the most important of the Athenian festivals, and it drew visitors from all parts of Greece and beyond. It lasted for six days, the final day of which was dedicated to bestowing civic honors, such as when the Golden Crown was bestowed to Demosthenes. The rest of the time was devoted to the performance of new tragedies and comedies. Usually there was a set of three tragedies, with a final comedy or satyric drama to lighten the mood. The Greeks took their drama very seriously, and to win the competition for best play was one of the greatest honors a man could receive. The winning plays would be performed during the next Rural Dionysia. Throughout the festival there were processions, and choruses of boys singing dithyrambs which were sacred to Dionysos. Dionysos' ancient wooden statue was taken from his Lenaeon temple, and he was worshipped as the liberator of the land from the bondage of winter. Some things you can do to celebrate this festival: This is a time to celebrate your creativity. Compose a story, or poem, or play, and perform it for your friends and family. You can have a competition if you like, but it isn't necessary. Take in new movies or shows at the theater, and if you can, see about performing in your local community theater. Some resources you may wish to consult for further study:
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