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Adóhnia

Celebrated in the spring, Adóhnia is a joyous festival dedicated to honouring Ádohnis (Adonis), Aphrodite, and Persephone.

Agathos Daimon

A time for gratitude, honouring your personal path, and acknowledging your blessings.

Following the fresh beginnings of Noumenia, the second day of the new Athenian month is dedicated to the Agathos Daimon - often translated as the "Good Spirit." In ancient Hellenic tradition, this day is set aside to honour your own personal spirit, your unique destiny, and the individual characteristics that make up your path. The ancients viewed this personal spirit as a guiding presence, inherently neither good nor bad, but intimately tied to your life's journey and household blessings.

Anthesteria

A sacred three-day festival in honour of Dionysos, traditionally held in the middle of February.

Anthesterion

The eighth month in the Athenian calendar. Roughly February - March. Home to Anthesteria, a festival of flowers, new wine, and the dead. 

Arete

Ἀρετή (Arete) - areté, "excellence," "virtue," "goodness," from the same root as áristos ("best")

Excellence in the fullest sense - living up to one's highest potential and fulfilling one's purpose, whether as a person, an object, or an action. 

See also: Eudaimonia (entry pending), Sophrosyne (entry pending) 

Athenian New Year

In the historical Athenian calendar, the New Year does not begin in January. Instead, it officially begins on the first day (Noumenia) of the month of Hekatombaion. Because our calendar shifts with the moon, this usually falls in July or August. For our New Zealand practitioners, this offers a beautiful, quiet opportunity to set intentions for a new spiritual year right in the reflective depths of our mid-winter.