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The Proto-Indo-European
Religion is reconstructed on the basis of linguistic analysis of the languages
used by Indo-European-speaking people. This website gives scholarly information
on what is known about this religion, and the status of research in the field.
Particular emphasis is placed on the oldest sources in each language group, but
folklore, traditions and even christianized versions of Proto-Indo-European
Goddesses, myths and rituals have been used. In India, the religion continues as
it has for millennia, so information from recent or modern sources is relevant
to the study. For an explanation of the whole concept see the Introduction to
Proto-Indo-European Religion.
The information is organized in three main categories,
In addition, there are other pages that give information about important sources, including the Early English Text Society and a list of Book References, because it is often very difficult to find good or even bad sources of information about the Indo-European religion. . Plow Songs in EnglishThese are traditional Plow Songs as well as invocations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon ritual for Blessing the Seed for the time of plowing and planting. Traditionally performed in January in England, they may be more suitable to March in some areas.Eostra, a Germanic Goddess and the festival of Easter
Eostra or Ostara is a Goddess honored among
Germanic-speaking people and she gives her name to the holiday of
Easter at the Spring Equinox. Easter Eggs are dyed bright colors and given as gifts at the spring holiday
all over Europe from the earliest times; they probably represent the Sun at the
Spring Equinox, and are a suitable offering to the Goddess Eostra.
Roman Fordicalia FestivalHere is a little information about the April 15 Fordicalia festival which is to protect the winter grain crops which are developing at this time of the year.May Day Revels
May Day Revels, Part 1 are celebrated on the first of May or Beltaine, for the Goddess Freya. May Day Songs are sung when visiting with Hawthorn flowers. The May Day Revels, Part 2 includes Maypole Dancing and Morris Dancing.
Vestalia for VestaVestalia Festival for the Roman Goddess Vesta, set to June 9th to 15th. This page includes an invocation to Vesta, and some information about the Vestalia festival, especially the day that is set aside to honor the little donkies that ground the grain to make bread.Harvest SongsThe major harvest festival in European countries is set to August 1st, though the actual date varies according to the weather and time of ripening of the grain. It is called Lammas or Lughnasy in old Celtic-speaking areas and Harvest Home in English. Here are some Songs to Celebrate the Harvest with links to the words and music and many links to places where you can hear the songs being sung. Also here are the Harvest Song Lyrics which can be printed out for singing.Songs for Halloween and SamhainThese Songs for Halloween and Samhain have been put together to provide traditional songs for the celebration that now falls on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1st. The Halloween Song Lyrics, almost all in English, though some are for Celtic holidays, are included on a separate page to help with singing. These songs are rather spookey but very beautiful.Yule Songs
Yule Songs include traditional English songs about Holly and Ivy, Wassailing and Boar's
Head Carols, with links to places where they can be listened to for free. An additional page gives the Yule Song Lyrics so that they can be printed out for singing. A new page added this year, shows how to make traditional Yule decorations.
Conversations from the Porch is a pagan podcast, especially geared toward reconstructionists but very freewheeling. It is scheduled for every 1st and 3rd Sunday from 5 to 7 pm EST at Conversations from the Porch. The Yule Pie episode, in honor of the Yule season, has been archived so you can listen to it for free. Hunting the WrenHunting the Wren is a Celtic tradition at the Winter Solstice. The custom includes singing Wren King Songs, and Burying the Wren for which we have a song and a traditional recipe. The ancient myth which provides the basis for this custom is the story of How Lleu Llaw Gyffes Got His Name.Apple Tree WassailsWassailing the Apple Trees is the custom of drinking cider and sharing it with the trees and singing songs to them. The traditional songs are sung in English between Christmas and January 17, but properly in January, with dancing, noise-making and offering cakes dipped in cider to the spirits. This page gives the customs and several beautiful songs.
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