Here is the festival calendar for Dionysos, including ancient Athenian and modern Hellenic pagan creations. The new festivals were created collectively by the members of Thiasos Dionysos in 2004.
[Read more about the ancient Hellenic festival calendar]
Essay by John H. Wells on the Lesser-Known Dionysian Festivals
More information on obscure Dionysian festivals
Lenaia
Date: Gamelion 12-15 (around January)
Synopsis: The festival of vats, when the wine is mixed. It was
originally 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. This festival was thought to
reawaken the slumbering vegetation after the long, still months of
winter.
Thriambia - Triumphal
Procession
Date: Cheese Monday / mid-February
Synopsis: Celebrates Dionysos' triumph over Pentheus,
Lykourgos, the Indians, etc. As Dionysos was victorious, so too, can
we overcome all of our obstacles.
Possible features: Retelling of the myths, a triumphant
procession (masked revellers), the composition and/or performance of
Thriamboi, triumphal
poems/songs/stories/jokes/limericks/mimes/skits/whatever of Dionysos
Triumphant.
Note: The ancient Triumphs are one almost certain source
of the Carnival (Mardi Gras) parades, which are celebrated the day
after Cheese Monday (thus tying this in with the following festival).
Also, in fairly recent times, some rural Greeks celebrated a festival
of the Kalogeros on this date, which may have Dionysian
roots.
Propompeia - For satyrs, maenads,
etc.
Date: Mardi Gras Tuesday / mid-February
Synopsis: A Festival in honor of the Propompoi, the
companions and attendants of Dionysos in His revels - the Maenads,
the Satyrs, the Muses, the Nymphs, the Graces, the Kouretes, etc.
Everyone's already honoring Dionysos with drunken carousing, rampant
silliness, and great phallic worship on this day - we'll just
rechristen it.
Anthesteria
Date: Anthesterion 11-13 (mid to late February)
Synopsis: The first day was called Pithoigia or the "Opening of
the Jars". 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 Khoes 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. There was a general sense of erotic expectation
in the air, which may have culimnated in nocturnal orgies. The third
and final day of the festival, Khutroi or "Pots", was entirely given
over to the spirits of the dead. Sacrifices of cooked vegetables and
seeds were given to Hermes and the dead.
Liberalia
Date: March 17 (some sources say it's the 16th and 17th
consecutively)
Synopsis: "The celebration of Liber Pater, an old Italian
god of both fertility and wine. He is associated with the Greek
Dionysus. Old women, acting as priestesses of Liber Pater, wear ivy
weaths and displaying cakes (libia) made of oil and honey. They would
sacrifice these cakes to Liber Pater for the passersby. A later
development included the goddess Libera (as a counterpart to the male
Liber); the two split jurisdiction over the female and male seed
respectively. A rustic ceremony, a large phallus was carted around
the countryside to encourage fertility and protect the crops from
evil, after which a wreath was placed upon it by a virtuous matron."
(Nova Roma)
Greater Dionysia
Date: Elaphebolion 9-13 (around March)
Synopsis: 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 five 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.
Meilichia
Date: April 13
Synopsis: For Dionysos Meilichios. A day of gentleness,
sweetness, peaceful pleasure; figs featured as the distinctive
ingredient in the feast. Also a day of healing from anxieties and
distress and emotional problems, as Meilichios was a God who healed
from dysmania, unhealthy madness.
Taureia - Day of the Bull
Date: April 30 (falls during the sign of Taurus)
Synopsis: Commemorates his animal epiphany and the things
associated with it: power, fertility, lustiness, earthiness, etc.
Possible features: A feast of roasted meat. Bull-dancing. Lots
of bull decorations. Dressing up in rawhide or leather.
Anastenaria
Date: May 21-23
Synopsis: The Anastenaria is a festival celebrated in certain
parts of rural Greece to this day. It was imported by immigrants from
Thrace. It is officially an Orthodox holiday, in honor of St.
Constantine, however it has a clearly pagan feel, and more
importantly, is thought to be a survival of Dionysian rites. First,
they sacrifice a black male lamb or bull. Then they process around
the village with the icons of the saint, offering blessings to people
at their houses. But the main aspect of this festival is at night,
when they firewalk. They make a huge fire, and when it is down to
extremely hot coals, some of them (only some people are "called" to
do this) walk and dance on the fire. This is reputed to have
miraculous healing effects. It is also done mostly by women, or
somewhat effeminized men, which reminds one of maenads and other
devotees of Dionysos. They say that you have to completely give
yourself over to the saint in order not to be burned. The Anasterides
(as they are called) are often accused by outsiders of being drunk,
crazy, or overly sexual, also reminiscent of Dionysians.
Possible Features: The main feature would be a firewalk. Of
course, this would be one where you'd need a group of people, some to
tend the fire, some to actually dance through it. Some people can
just dance around the fire too, if they are not called to go into it.
Alternately, if you didn't have a group, sometimes there are
firewalks offered by other kinds of groups, that you could
participate in, in honor of Dionysos, or other kinds of fire-play
that can be done alone (though safety concerns should always come
first).
Yarilo's Day
Date: June 4
Synopsis: Yarilo is essentially the Slavic Dionysos - a god of
sexuality and vegetation. He is pictured as blonde, dressed in white,
and barefoot, wearing a crown of flowers and riding a white horse. In
one hand he holds a bunch of wheat, and in the other a skull.
Wherever he treads, flowers and wheat grow in his wake. He is also
associated with the god of summer, Kupalo, and with the sun. This is
traditionally his festival day.
Possible features: This is the time to honor the life-giving,
solar aspects of Dionysos, especially as it is at the start of the
warmer part of the year. A simple celebration, like wearing white
clothes, and garlands of flowers, and having picnics out in the
sun.
Bebakcheumenia - The day of being
filled with Dionysos' frenzy
Date: July 1
Synopsis: A day given entirely to drunkeness, madness,
ecstacy, prophecy, and living totally in his world for 24 hours. No
other commitments, obligations, or concerns.
Kybernesia - Festival of the
Helmsman
Date: July 3 (alternate: June 27)
Synopsis: Specifically honors Akoetes, the good helmsman, who
was the only man to see Dionysos for who he was when pirates had
kidnapped him. Akoetes pleaded with his friends to release the God,
but they wouldn't listen; he was spared when the rest of his crew
were turned into dolphins or mauled by wild creatures. Afterwards, he
became a prophet and wandering holy man for Dionysos. Also honors all
those who have spread or helped maintain the Dionysiac Way(s), from
mythic figures to modern "helmspeople".
Possible features: Reading of the Akoetes myth and others like
it. Feast (with dolphin-free tuna of course) and prayers. Perhaps
something involving water and boats. Honoring whatever event,
revelation, friend, book, etc., was the link that first brought you
into relationship with Dionysos.
Notes: July 3rd was the day of Jim Morrison's death, a
man who seemed to so strongly possess a Dionysian spirit, whose
lyrics remind many of the god, and whose life - by strange roundabout
routes - even brought some of us to the god. Therefore some thought
it was appropriate to hold this particular festival on this day.
However, for those who are uncomfortable with using the date because
of the more unpleasant aspects of Morrison's personality and life, we
will keep the original date of June 27 as an alternate.
Bromia
Date: Moveable - on the first thunderstorm of summer
Synopsis: In honor of the God of Noise. Drumming, music,
etc., go out raving in a thunderstorm, or on the beach at night to
the sound of crashing surf...
Thaumasia - Festival of
Miracles
Date: August 4
Synopsis: Commemorates the daughters of Anios, who were
devoted to Dionysos. The God blessed them with wonderful gifts: with
but a touch, they could make corn, oil, and wine spring up from the
ground. With this gift, the girls fed their people in times of
trouble. But when Agamemnon and the Greeks learned about this on
their way to Troy, they sought to kidnap the girls to feed their
army. As they were being bound, the girls prayed to Dionysos, and he
freed them, turning them into white doves.
Possible features: A reading of the myth. Apropriate
decorations, such as vines, doves, etc. And a meal that contains
something from each daughter: Elais (Olive), Spermo (Seed), and Oino
(Wine). A donation to a local food pantry. Celebrating *all* His
reality-expanding wonders (including votive magic tricks,
transformations, etc., observing and appreciating the miracles to be
seen and experienced around us.)
Ampelia - Day of the Vine
Date: August 19
Synopsis: Commemorates his vegetative epiphanies and the
things associated with them: the paradox of vibrant life and chthonic
gloom. This is also the date of the Roman Vinalia.
Possible features: Lots and lots of entheogens. A totally
vegetarian meal. Decorating with vines, flowers, and all kinds of
plants.
Nyktipolia
Date: August 31
Synopsis: Go running around at night for Dionysos
Nyktipolos. A Pannychia, an all-night Dionysia; maybe go to a Rave
and dance your ass off for the God; maybe regress and do some literal
running around after dark like teenagers - go run through a cemetery,
go Oreibasia in a park with a hill, just find some way to votively
run amok in the darkness...
Ariadneia
Date: September 19-21
Synopsis: A 3 day festival for Ariadne. "Finding" to
commemorate her exposure on the island, and the triumphal appearance
of Dionysos; "Union" to commemorate their love and passion, her
status of Queen of the Bacchantes, etc.; "Separation and Final
Joining" commemorates her death at the hands of Artemis, Dionysos'
anguish at her loss, his descent, and her apotheosis.
Mimneskia - Day of
Remembrance
Date: October 7
Synopsis: Commemorates Rome's suppression of the Bacchanalia
on this date in 186 BCE. A solemn, mournful event, commemorating
the victims of this tragedy, as well as all who have chosen death of
the body over death of the spirit.
Possible features: Fasting and prayer throughout the day. A
specific ritualized lament. The telling of stories, especially Livy's
account of the persecution, or some other means of dramatizing our
Bacchic heroes and what they suffered.
Oskhophoria
Date: Puanepsion 7 (around October)
Synopsis: 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.
Possible Features: An elaborate dinner with a number of
different kinds of grapes and wines and lots of great food. Telling
the story of Theseus and his return from Crete at this time, since it
was he who established this festival. Telling the myth of Dionysos'
giving the vines to Ikarios. Making your own wine, or visiting a
vineyard.
Semeleia
Date: November 16
Synopsis: Honors Semele, the mother of Dionysos. Both her
pregnancy and her ascension to Olympos.
Possible features: Prayers and sacrifices. Dancing, as Semele
was said to dance while pregnant with Dionysos. A feast to
commemorate her apotheosis.
Rural Dionysia
Date: last half of Poseideon (around December), can be
celebrated on the winter solstice
Synopsis: This festival was traditionally held to commemorate the
first tasting of the new wine. It was a simpler form of the Greater
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 Greater
Dionysia.
Lysia
Date: December 31 - New Year's Eve/Day
Synopsis: The Feast of Freedom. Could be a serious
veneration of freedom and emancipation (from political to personal)
or could be a more libertine and playful Great Why-Not Festival,
where the answer to every suggestion is a gleeful "Why not?!" Set on
the new year to acknowledge starting with a blank slate. Also can
coincide with many civic First Night celebrations.
Dionysos Day
Date: 13th of every month (by the lunar calendar)
Synopsis: A fixed day each month to honor our god, in
whatever way seems appropriate. Especially by celebrating a
Theoxenia, or feast for the god. A Feast and Symposion, in
which the Symposiasts dedicate the joys of their comradeship and
conversation to the God, and of course pour bounteous libations (both
internally and externally).
The intercalendary month of
Poseideon
Date: Every three years, repeated after the first Poseideon,
around December
Synopsis: Since traditionally, intercalendary days are given over
to partying, role-reversal, and general madness, and because
Poseideon hosts one of the major ancient festivals of Dionysos, it
seems appropriate to dedicate this entire month, when it appears, to
the god.
Related Festivals - in which
Dionysos plays a part
Greater Eleusinia - Boedromion 15-21 (around September,
sometimes observed in modern times at the autumnal equinox), the
Mystery rites of Demeter and Persephone, in which Iacchos played a
role.
Haloa - Poseideon 26 (around December, the same time as the
Rural Dionysia), a festival in honor of Demeter - and secondarily
Dionysus - named after the halos, or threshing floor. Later the
festival acquired a phallic character, and there may have been
orgies.