(This entry seems to be scribe from another source directly into her own tome)
The Great Wheel
The Church of Hala follows the same Barovian calendar as much of the dread realms do, though some within the church often refer to the year as a Cycle or The Great Wheel. Halites observe different holy days and celebrations from those generally noted in other practices, religions and local flavor. The witches follow and celebrate the Esbats and Sabbats (discussed later) across the year. As well, each hospice, monastery or center for the church keeping close watch on these dates, celebrating them in all
earnest, yet in surprising secret. Many people that have received healing and blessings from the church during these times have claimed to have benefited better from the Halites than they may have done at other times.
The most notable changes to the Barovian calendar noticed by the outside world are that the Halites celebrate the New Year and first day of summer on different days. In most cases, this is as far as the general public notices these changes. The Church of Hala celebrates the New Year on October 31st, normally a day of dread for many people across the dread realms. This day marks the end of the harvests in many places, but to the Halites it is a day for celebration. In the Church of Hala, this celebration is known as Samhain (So-wen). Halites often give out gifts of fruit and vegetables on this day to the poor and bless small children, regarding them with praise. Young boys in particular are held in esteem, though girls are not unfairly regarded, for they are the future mothers that will give life to the next generation. Iron is often hung on walls and above doors and windows by Halites on this day. October 31st also marks a traditional day on which Halites enter wedlock, the reasons for this tradition have long since been lost, forgotten or locked away in secret. The witches of Hala never divulge this information, even when pressed.
On November 1st, the followers of Hala enter a reclusive period. Halites withdraw from people and close their temples to all but the truly needy on this day. November 1st, The Day of Souls as the Halites term it in whispered discussion, marks the start of nearly two months of mourning. On this day they remember all those that have died needlessly in their local areas throughout the year and light a candle for each in remembrance. These candles are left to burn completely, any that fail to burn away
completely are noted by the witches marking those they were burning for as possible unquiet spirits that have failed to find rest. Those that are allowed entrance to a temple or hospice when the candles burn sometimes tell of a depressive, saddening aura to the place and those within it.
once again, marking then end of nearly two months of remembrance. The hospices and other temples of the religion are festooned with many candles and lanterns,
mistletoe and sprigs of berries hang from the ceilings and doorways and great roaring fires are kept burning at all times. The exact day of this celebration varies from year to year, but generally falls sometime between December 21st and 23rd. During this time the Halites hand out gifts to those that come to them that day and they hold prayers, healings and blessings of exceptional merit to those that ask for them. This celebration falls on the Winter Solstice, marking the end of the dark days of the year as
from that night on the nights will draw shorter as the sun becomes stronger once more in the sky. February 2nd marks the first Halite celebration according to the general consensus of the Barovian Calendar. On this day, it is typical of the witches to celebrate life and union in all its forms. This celebration is known as Imbolc (Im-bulk) to the church, though the masses have given it the more common name or Candlemass. All members of the church spend this day with their families and loved ones. Each member present lights a candle in addition to what other light sources are present. Homes and hospices belonging to members of Hala are said to be warm on this day, despite the probable harsh coldness of the time of year. While it is never explained, witches of Hala urge couples to bed down early that evening. The witches of Hala also retire early that night. Not surprisingly, there are a good many children born nine months later.
On Imbolc, young couples often betroth one another. Some youngsters even disappear into the fields and forests, running about as if the love that nature holds has somehow possessed them. Those youngsters that trespass on farming lands are often scolded for ruining freshly sewn crops. This practice is generally frowned upon by many religions, but the witches of Hala seem to encourage it. Ostara (Oh-star-a) is commonly celebrated on March 22nd, though it does often deviate in one direction or another. The practice that the church holds on this celebration is the giving of eggs and other dairy based produce to the people. The church often receives gifts of poultry in return from farmers, why they are so eager to give after having their crops trampled the month before is often a mystery. This celebration also coincides with birth and the creation of life. Sprigs of blossoms often decorate the hospices and temples dedicated to Hala during these festivals.
Another tradition time for marriage follows on April 30th, or Beltane (Bell-tane) as the witches refers to it. This also marks the first day of summer in the Halite calendar. Hospices place brooms across the floor of the doorways in and out of the temples and beforehand encourage young couples that are betrothed to wed on that day or the days within a week of it on either side. Some Halites in more remote areas build great campfires that resemble beacons on hilltops prior to this celebration, extinguish every flame in their temples and then light the beacons at sunset. Once these fires are blazing, they take burning embers and logs from the blazes to start the fires within the temples. Some followers of the religion besides the witches also follow this tradition in the areas they are practiced. In the last few years, more people have been taking fire from the beacons, whether or not they are members of the church. The witches do not begrudge them an easy source of warmth for the night and have now begun taking burning logs to homes in the villages they serve once their own are burning valiantly in their temples. As the climate is growing warmer during this part of the year, flowers are increasingly coming into bloom and flowers are used to lavishly decorate altars and temples dedicated to Hala during these times. These decorations are kept throughout the summer months and are replaced regularly.
June 22nd celebrates Litha (again with some variation of the date), Midsummer as it is known to most people and marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. Some temples organize festivals for this day that involve pole dancing, feasts, dances, costume parades and other festivities and entertainments. Again these are held in smaller villages and thorps throughout the southern Core and rarely enter larger settlements. The Inquisition has forbidden these festivities in Tepest for the last few years. However, some settlements hold smaller celebrations of their own in village squares, under the guidance of the Inquisition, of course. Though the celebrations are no longer
openly dedicated to Hala, many people are happy to see the festivities when they come round each year. Lughnassadh (Loo-nass-ahd) falls on August 1st and marks the first day of harvest. Halites both give and receive gifts of vegetables and fruit on this day and the week that follows. Altars in the chapels found in the temples and hospices of Hala are covered with earthy brown sheets, which in turn display some of the produce they are gifted with.
The fourth equinox in the Halite calendar falls on September 21st, 22nd or 23rd and is regarded to by the church as Mabon (May-bon). This day roughly marks the start of the second harvest with same celebrations that follow Lughnassadh.
Esbats
Halites celebrate the full or new moons as much as they do the equinoxes and solstices that scatter across the year (sometimes known as Cycles to those within the church), though these celebrations are not as outward as those described with Sabbats. An Esbat may be at any point when the moon is new or full in the sky. All Halite witches celebrate at least one of these each month. Though there is no penalty for failing to follow this tradition, Haliets take comfort in the tradition of Esbat. Esbats are a recognition and celebration of life, following from birth, as when the moon is new, to death where the moon has all but vanished from the sky as it wanes into complete
darkness.
When a new moon hangs in the sky, Halites see this as a celebration of new birth unto the world. The witches of Hala believe the New Moon is the best time for new creations. Many witches practice some craft during this time with even greater eagerness than normal. Any goods or material products created in this time are often passed on as gifts to others unless they relate directly to that witch, or to their witchcraft.
Once the new moon has passed, the moon begins to wax in the sky, seen as a symbolic flow of physical grown and strength to witches. While it is rare for Esbats to be celebrated during this time, it follows as a continuation of creation until the full moon arrives. When the full moon does arrive, witches celebrate a time of nurturing, parenting and care for those around them. During these times, the moon it at its fullest and strongest the witches of Hala see this as the greatest time to cast their arts with the Weave and Hala. These days are also a natural time for Halite witches to wed, if they choose to do so. These same days also mark a time where a wed couple within the church may break their vows of marriage and part each other in peace. Those that are received as neophyte witches are initiated on the night of the full moon.
As the moon wanes, it is said to be a poor time to weave any craft related to magick. The waning moon is symbolic to destruction, aging and eventual death. During these times, Halites are reluctant to perform coven rituals, though individual witches are free to continue to weave their arts as they see fit.
The witches of Hala hold Esbats that fall on the Blue Moon, where the moon is visible in the day sky in great awe. On these days, it is seen as a coming together of man and woman and unity between all.