Charilla
Purification, Sacrifice, & Burial
Charilla is a day of cleansing and purification, wherein we reflect on the effects our actions have on others - as well as a day in which we remind ourselves of the far reaching harm of imperialism and colonialism. This day, which occurs annually on Daidophorios 9, is perhaps the most profound of all The Temple's Holy Days.
This Holy Day is a combination of ancient myth and scapegoat rituals, as well as addressing the serious impacts of colonialism in the modern day.
symbols & Decore
hair binding / veiling
Recommended
Jewelry / Adornments
Not Recommended
foods of significance
Simple Grains Such As Bread or Brown Rice
Charred or Grilled Meats (If This Aligns With Your Practice)
Drink Water and Only Water During the Evening Meal
If fasting is an act you include in your practice, this is the only Holy Day in which fasting is recommended.
colors of significance
Black
symbols of significance
Graves and Graveyards
Death and Underworld Imagery
White Roses
history vs modern day
According to Pythio.Notion:
"The origins of the festival are tied to the famine and drought that afflicted the Delphians. According to the story, a girl named Charilla, who had been struck by the king, hung herself, and the prophetic priestess advised appeasing her spirit. The festival involves a purificatory sacrifice, the distribution of barley and pulse by the king, the striking of the doll representing Charilla, and its burial at the site of Charilla's grave. The Charila festival, along with the other enneateric festivals, served as a means of purging and renewing the city..."
Temple Hyacinthus observes Charilla as a day in which we partake in the purification rituals of old, while also adding modern meaning. The creation and burial of a corn doll, to represent Charilla, is observed during the ritual - after the evening meal. In addition to this, a portion of the evening meal is set aside and burned in a ritual fire as an offering to the departed souls of all those who have been harmed and killed in the name of imperialism and colonization.
We must never forget that the land we live upon is stolen, that it was taken from its rightful people, and that we owe a debt to the indigenous stewards of this land. A debt we can never repay.
If able, we encourage those who observe this festival to donate to Native non-profits. A list of such organizations can be found at https://www.nativeways.org/nativenonprofitlist/ .