Seasonal Calendar and Special Events

January 31st, 2008 — Brigid or Imbolc (Oimelc) (February Eve)

As the days' lengthening becomes perceptible, many candles are lit to hasten the warming of the earth and emphasize the reviving of life. "Imbolc" is from Old Irish, and may mean "in the belly", and Oimelc, "ewe's milk", as this is the lambing time. It is the holiday of the Celtic Fire Goddess Brigid, whose threefold nature rules smithcraft, poetry/inspiration, and healing. Brigid's fire is a symbolic transformation offering healing, visions, and tempering. Februum is a Latin word meaning purification -- naming the month of cleansing. The thaw releases waters (Brigid is also a goddess of holy wells) -- all that was hindered is let flow at this season.

March 20th, 2008 — Ostara

Day and night are equal as Spring begins to enliven the environment with new growth and more newborn animals. Many people feel "reborn" after the long nights and coldness of winter. The Germanic Goddess Ostara or Eostre (Goddess of the Dawn), after whom Easter is named, is the tutelary deity of this holiday. It is she, as herald of the sun, who announces the triumphal return of life to the earth. Witches in the Greek tradition celebrate the return from Hades of Demeter's daughter Persephone; Witches in the Celtic tradition see in the blossoms the passing of Olwen, in whose footprints flowers bloom. The enigmatic egg, laid by the regenerating snake or the heavenly bird, is a powerful symbol of the emergence of life out of apparent death or absence of life.

April 27th, 2008 — Springtime Kitchen Witch Workshop

Spring is in the Air and the Earth is reborn to all the colors and foods we long for all Winter. With Beltane approaching come and Celebrate Spring like a Kitchen Witch! This workshop will give a background on the Holiday of Beltane. How to decorate your Kitchen for the season. We will spend some time with seasonal foods and a Demo. Learn what foods at prepare to bring Natures love into your home at Spring! Lots of food for the tasting will be provided. Come and join the Friends you have not met yet for a Spring Time workshop about Food, Home and Magic!
Hosted by Envision Crystal $25 per person

Please contact Envision Crystal for Payment at 631-331-3308 or contactenv@envisioncrystal.com

April 30th, 2008 — Beltaine (May Eve)

As the weather heats up and the plant world burgeons, an exuberant mood prevails. Folk dance around the Maypole, emblem of fertility (the name "May" comes from a Norse word meaning "to shoot out new growth"). May 1st was the midpoint of a five-day Roman festival to Flora, Goddess of Flowers. The name "Beltaine" means "Bel's Fires"; in Celtic lands, cattle were driven between bonfires to bless them, and people leaped the fires for luck. The association in Germany of May Eve with Witches' gatherings is a memory of pre-Christian tradition. "Wild" water (dew, flowing streams or ocean water) is collected as a basis for healing drinks and potions for the year to come.

May 10th, 2008 — Beltane Kitchen Workshop at Beltane In the Park

Come and enjoy the day, Sunshine, Shopping, and A Kitchen Witch Workshop! Learn about Spring Foods, Seasonal recipes, and Kitchen Magic! Join Cucina Aurora under the sun for this lively out door workshop to learn about Spring’s Bounty and how to bring it into you home. Then Join us under the our tent and sample our oils, shop our Kitchen Witch Wear, and pick up your copy of Cucina Aurora Kitchen Witchery Cookbook. You could even have it signed by the author!
Wantagh Park May 10th 2008 Beltane in the Park
Workshop is Free only a donation needs to be made to enter the festival. For information and Directions please e-mail us or visit: http://www.geocities.com/nancyvenus/longislandbeltane.html

June 21st, 2008 — Litha or Midsummer (Summer Solstice)

On this day, the noon of the year and the longest day, light and life are abundant. We focus outward, experiencing the joys of plenty, tasting the first fruits of the season. In some traditions the sacred marriage of the Goddess and God is celebrated (in others, this is attributed to the springtime holidays). Rhea, the Mountain Mother of Crete, has breathed out all creation. It is also the festival of the Chinese Goddess of Light, Li.

July 31st, 2008 — Lughnasadh or Lammas (August Eve)

This festival has two aspects. First, it is one of the Celtic fire festivals, honoring the Celtic culture-bringer and Solar God Lugh (Lleu to the Welsh, Lugus to the Gauls). In Ireland, races and games were held in his name and that of his mother, Tailtiu (these may have been funeral games). The second aspect is Lammas, the Saxon Feast of Bread, at which the first of the grain harvest is consumed in riutal loaves. These aspects are not too dissimilar, as the shamanic death and transformation of Lleu can be compared to that of the Barley God, known from the folksong "John Barleycorn". This time is also sacred to the Greek Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt, Artemis.

August 3rd, 2008 — Long Island’s Wolf Expo

Shop and enjoy a real wild life fundraiser in your own back yard! Come in and bring a friend to see Long Island’s own Wolves, Sitka and Ukia. Visit our table of Kitchen goodies while you support local nature and wildlife. Mother Nature will be surrounding us all day so come and bask in it and visit us!
Get more info, and directions at www.runningwiththewolves.org

September 6th, 2008 — Mabon Harvest Kitchen Witch Workshop at the Crystal Fox in Laurel MD

Come and join for the Harvest at the Crystal Fox! We had such a wonderful time in May, and met such kindred spirits we are excited to be back to celebrate the Harvest of Autumn with you. This time we are going to take a look at the bounty of the season. Learn about how the Ancient Celts enjoyed the season. We will explore ways overflow our homes and Kitchens with the Blessings of the Earth in all her Vibrant Hues of Autumn! Lots of delicious Fall foods will be for the tasting!
Sept 6th at 1pm at the Crystal Fox in Laurel MD $25 per person
E-mail us for more details or
for directions and to reserve a seat for you and a friend call (301) 317-1980 or go to www.thecrystalfox.com

September 21st, 2008 — Mabon or Harvest Home (Autumnal Equinox)

This day sees light and dark in balance again, before the descent to the dark times. A harvest festival is held, thanking the Goddess for giving us enough sustenance to feed us through the winter. Harvest festivals of many types still occur today in farming country, and Thanksgiving is an echo of these.
In this way the Wheel turns, bringing us back to Samhain where we began our cycle. Many of the festival days coincide with holidays of the Jewish and Christian calendars. This is no accident; these points in the year were important community celebrations, and were kept largely intact although they were rededicated to the Christian God or a saint. The names may have changed, but the old Pagan practices still show through. Click here to know more about Mabon.

September 27th, 2008 — NEW YORK CITY PAGAN PRIDE DAY!!!

Celebrate your Pagan-ness with Cucina Aurora Kitchen Witchery at the New York City annual Pagan Pride Day!!! We will be there with all our Kitchen Wares and yummy oils. Stop by for a taste of our best selling garlic and herb mix and be sure to come to our very first Kitchen Witch Workshop at Pagan Pride day! We are so excited to be part of this event and hope you all can come and celebrate the Goddess and the Autumn Season with us in Battery Park. For more information contact us or visit
http://www.nyc-ppp.org/index.html

October 11th, 2008 — Salem Mass Biz Baz on Salem Common

October 11th and 12th

Planning your Annual trip to Salem in the fall? Your friends at Cucina Aurora will be there to ring in October the way only we can! Come and find us on Essex Street. We will be vending and giving mini workshops though out the day. Be sure to pick up your copy of Cucina Aurora Kitchen Witchery Cookbook and have it signed by the author in Salem. Stop by our tent and make us part of the memories you make in Salem Mass! For more info e-mail us or click here for local accommodations and Directions to Salem Mass:
http://www.salem-chamber.org/index.html

October 25th, 2008 — Autumn Kitchen Workshop at the Long Island Witch Festival

How does a Kitchen Witch Celebrate Samhain? Come and see at the Witch Festival! Join Cucina Aurora’s Autumn Kitchen Workshop at the festival. We will talk about Seasonal foods, the origin of Samhain and how to prep the Kitchen and Home for the Season. We will also spend some time exploring the foods Fall and early Winter have to offer. You can also find all your Favorite Kitchen Wares as well as some new and exciting food prep items and aprons. Don’t forget to bring the Children by the table for some free Autumn Harvest Cookies! The workshop is free with admission to the festival. For more info and directions e-mail us or click here: http://www.crescentmoongoddess.com/samhain/index.htm

December 6th, 2008 — Yule Tide Kitchen Witch Workshop- Laural Maryland

We are brining our Yule Kitchen Magic to Maryland!

Don’t miss out on this afternoon of holiday food and fun Hosted by the Crystal Fox.
How does a Kitchen Witch Celebrate Yule? Simple really, good friends, lots of laughs and a bountiful table just spilling with seasonal and magical foods! Explore the Holiday of Yule. Learn about the ancient Celtic traditions of the season that carry on to today. We will talk about how to set up your Kitchen as a sacred space for the Season while nibbling on some seasonal foods and sipping Wassail! We will also discuss easy recipes that are great for quick parties and can be shared for Pagan and non-Pagan Celebrations alike! Come gather around as we show you how to prepare some delicious recipes and stay for a light lunch of Kitchen Witchy dishes that warm the soul as well as the body! Come with friends and family to join us for food, fun and a touch of magic as we learn from each other’s Holiday traditions!

Saturday Dec 6 2008 at 1pm
$25 per person Advanced Tickets $30 at the door
to make you reservation go to STORE or contact us or for directions to the Crystal Fox visit
http://www.thecrystalfox.com

December 7th, 2008 — NYC-PPP Yule Festival FREE EVENT!!!!

Join Cucina Aurora in NYC for the first Annual Pagan Pride Project Yule Event! Planning your trip to see the Tree in New York this season? Stop buy our table at the Festival to taste some yummy treats to inspire your very own Yule celebration. Customize a gift basket or Kitchen Witch Kit to leave under the tree for some one special! Make this Yule a Magical one!!!
Festival begins at 1pm
Hosted by the New Dance Group 395 W 38th Street NYC Studio 4, Just a few blocks from Penn Station!
For directions and more info e-mail us or go to www.nyc-ppp.org

December 14th, 2008 — Yuletide Kitchen Witch Workshop - Port Jefferson NY

The 2nd Annual Yuletide Kitchen Witch Workshop Hosted by Envision Crystal in Port Jefferson

Don’t miss out on this afternoon of holiday food and Magic

How does a Kitchen Witch Celebrate Yule? Simple really, good friends, lots of laughs and a bountiful table just spilling with seasonal and magical foods! Explore the Holiday of Yule. Learn about the ancient Celtic traditions of the season that carry on to today. We will talk about how to set up your Kitchen as a sacred space for the Season while nibbling on some seasonal foods and sipping Wassail! We will also discuss easy recipes that are great for quick parties and can be shared for Pagan and non-Pagan Celebrations alike! Come gather around as we show you how to prepare some delicious recipes and stay for a light lunch of Kitchen Witchy dishes that warm the soul as well as the body! Come with friends and family to join us for food, fun and a touch of magic as we learn from each other’s Holiday traditions!

1pm Dec 14th
$25 per person
To make your reservations click on STORE or CONTACT US. If you would like directions or more info go visit http://www.envisioncrystal.com