Yesterday at dusk, the Haloa (῾Αλῶα) festival started. This ancient Hellenic festival was held in honor of Demeter, Dionysos and a
little bit in honor of Persephone. Like all festivals of Demeter and
Persephone's 'Kore' persona, women were the only ones who were allowed to handle
the religious and sacrificial side of it.
The Haloa is part of the Mysteries and is assumed to be a celebration of the pruning of the vines and the tasting of
the wine after its first fermentation, or it may be to encourage the growth of
corn from the seed. Some time during the festival, the entire population was invited by the priests
of Dionysos and the priestesses of Demeter and Kore to give sacrifice to these
Theos; to Demeter and Kore for the fertility of the earth in which the
grapevines grew, and to Dionysos in remembrance of Ikários,
who was such a fine winemaker that he could produce wine so strong, those who
drank it appeared to be poisoned.
Read more here.
Thanks for this....
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