The celebration will occur during a larger “feast.” Individuals will gather at the designated place to prepare the food to eat and to prepare offerings.
Suggested foods for this festival include apple dishes, colcannon, breads and ales.
A table should be set up separate from that used for feasting. On this table should be placed a lace or white tablecloth with a candle or lantern in the center. Individuals who are attending the gathering should place photos of their beloved dead on the table along with any small mementos they may have from their ancestors.
After the food and offerings are ready, each individual should fix a plate for his/her ancestor. This plate should be only used for making offerings to the ancestors and for no other purpose.
After each individual has prepared a plate of offerings, individuals should line up and proceed into the room with the ancestors’ table while carrying the offerings for his/her ancestors. A small table may be set somewhere for individuals to initially place their offerings to the ancestors.
Offerings for Brighid, Lugh and the Spirits of the Land should already be prepared and placed in the room.
(Kat will pick up Lugh’s offerings).
She says the first line, all read the responses in italics)
To Lugh Lamfada
(all respond) We honor you!
Samildananch
We offer you our hospitality!
The Voice of Thunder
We give thanks for your blessings and protection!
(Kat puts the offerings in a spot designated for Lugh – this should be separate from the ancestors’ table)
(Morgan will do the same for Brighid’s offerings)
To Brighid
We Honor You!
To the mournful mother of Ruadán,
We offer you our Hospitality!
For herself, the first to keen,
We thank you for your blessings and protection!
(Morgan puts the offerings in the place designated for Brighid – again this should be separate from the ancestor’s table)
(Aubrey will come forward to do the same for the offerings for the spirits of the land)
To the Spirits of this Land
We honor you!
To all Spirits of Rocks, Springs, and Mounds
We offer our respect!
To all Spirits of the Green World and its Denizens
We strive to be good neighbors
(Aubrey puts the offerings in the place designated for the Spirits of the Land – this can be taken directly outside via the sliding doors or can be placed inside and then taken out later)
Michael will then open a window in the room and place a candle in the window.
Individuals then come forward to recite the names of his/her ancestors and to make offerings to them. We will use the following format. The individual says (and the rest respond as noted in bold):
To (insert name of beloved ancestor of first individual),
We remember you!
To (insert name of another beloved ancestor of first individual),
We remember you!
(continue to add lines until each beloved dead that a particular individual wishes to honor have been named)
To all of the ancestors of (insert name of first individual here),
We honor and remember you this night and invite you to our feast!
(at this point the first individual should take his/her offerings and place it on the table)
To (insert name of beloved ancestor of second individual),
We remember you!
To (insert name of another beloved ancestor of second individual),
We remember you!
(continue to add lines until each beloved dead that a particular individual wishes to honor have been named)
To all of the ancestors of (insert name of second individual here),
We honor and remember you this night and invite you to our feast!
(at this point the first individual should take his/her offerings and place it on the table)
(continue to add stanzas as noted until each individual in the group has had his/her ancestors named)
After all individuals have placed their offerings on the table the last section of the “litany” should be said. Muin will do this:
To all the Ancestors of our Spirit
We honor you!
To all the Ancestors of our Flesh
We remember you!
To all those Ancestors who are forgotten to us by name
Be with us, protect us and guide us!
After this, the keener (Aubrey) should step forward to sing for the ancestors.
After the song is finished feasting may begin.
During the feast, individuals should feel free to toast and invite any deities and/or spirits they may wish to the feast. Songs may be sung and stories may be told during this time. Additionally, divinations may be taken.
After clean-up and when individuals are prepared to leave, the leader should shut the window and blow out the candle and thank the ancestors. Individuals should take their offerings home with them to leave out all night.
