Magical and Muggle Holidays

## Magical Holidays

Magical holidays have mostly fallen out of favour in Wizard Britain. Many wizards believe that the holidays are "Dark" and archaic. The truth is that magic works best on these holidays, which means that rituals work best then. Since rituals are also seen as "dark", and dark wizards have taken advantage of the stronger magics on these days, the association got linked.

Hedgewitches celebrate the magical holidays, but find that they lack the magic to do major parts of the celebrations.

### Yule

Yule takes place on the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. That said, depending on who you ask, Yule can be considered a three-day feast starting on the eve of the solstice, a twelve-day celebration starting on the day of the solstice, or a two-month celebration beginning mid-November. Common elements of the holiday include evergreen trees, holly, ivy, garlands of red berries, yule logs, wreaths (plain with pinecones and berries, etc.), mistletoe, bells, , etc.

### Ostara

Ostara takes place on the Spring equinox, when day and night are perfectly balanced.

### Beltane

Beltane takes place on May 1st. It's a fertility-based holiday, a "time of new beginnings". The House Elves celebrate in the groves with feasts, lighting fires, leaping, singing, decorating thorns, and making an offering.

### Litha

Litha takes place on the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. Bonfire leaping is a major part of the celebrations.

### Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh takes place on August 1st, though part of the celebrations includes Bilberry Sunday - which takes place on the nearest Sunday to that date. It's considered good luck to leave out berries and meat for the fae.

### Mabon

Mabon takes place on the Autumn equinox, when day and night are perfectly balanced. Hedgewitches celebrate the event at a nexus. of ley lines.  People used to sacrifice an animal for the Reaper, but the practice has been banned by the Ministry. Activities during this holiday include:

* Dance around a bonfire (placed directly on the nexus.)
* Weave wreaths to hang on their doors as a way to thank the land for providing for them.
* Make dolls out of corn husks and ivy.
* Tell each others fortunes.
* Do the Mabon ceremony.
	+ One man is chosen to represent the Reaper (and the coming winter), and one woman is chosen to represent the land, the Earth, and her magic.
	+ The Reaper will symbolically try to kidnap the Earth and carry her away. Everyone will beg him not to, and make an offering to the Earth. The Earth will lead the people through the ceremony and channel the magic and offerings (This used to be a sacrificed ox, but now everyone sheds a few drops of blood.)
	+ This ceremony results in the land giving a blessing or magic to the Hedges.
	+ The Reaper will then accept the sacrifice and promise promise to return her in the spring, (otherwise winter will last forever), then the Reaper and the Earth will depart, walking out into the forest.

### Samhain

Samhain takes place on October 31st. It is a time to honour and celebrate ancestors and loved ones whom have died. Celebrations include leaping over bonfires and making sacrifices (usually goose or sheep, or possibly rooster; though dark wizards have sacrificed humans.) Traditional foods include goose, rooster, and lamb; sweet breads, roasted hazelnuts, baked apple and pumpkin dishes; and raw apples.

Samhain is the best time to do rituals of sundering, breaking bonds, and destruction.

### Wassailing

Wassailing takes place twelve days after Christmas. Druids used to celebrate the holiday, however some parts of the holiday have mixed in with Christmas traditions (such as caroling) while the rest has been forgotten by wizards. The House Elves, however, still celebrate. Celebrations take place in Druid groves and involve various traditions: leaping over bonfires, dancing and singing, eating baked apples and fruit-studded bread, drinking cider and Wassail Ale, throwing holly into a bonfire, and giving magic back to the earth during the Wassail Ceremony.

**Wassailing Song**

*Wassail the trees, that they may bear*

*You many a plum and many a pear*

*For more or less fruits they will bring*

*As you do give them wassailing*

## Muggle Holidays

### Valentine's Day

People give small gifts only to close friends of the opposite sex, and chocolate or flowers to people they fancy.

### Christmas

1. ↑ Chapter 390: The Werewolf Bill https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13051824/390/New-Blood
2. ↑ Chapter 262: The Equinox https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13051824/262/New-Blood
3. ↑ Chapter 263: The Villagers' Ritual https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13051824/263/New-Blood
4. ↑ Chapter 110: The Halloween Feast https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13051824/110/New-Blood
5. ↑ Chapter 275: The Halloween Sleepover https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13051824/275/New-Blood
6. ↑ Chapter 140: Talking to Tolly https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13051824/140/New-Blood
7. ↑ Chapter 141: Wassail Eve https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13051824/141/New-Blood