Day 1: Nouminia-Honor Apollo and the Muses (August 2014)

So, we’ve finally made it to another Athenian Month and this one is Boedromion. Tonight is Nouminia and I will be providing info about it. I hope that you find something that you can use and let me know what you think.

Nouminía – (Noumenia; Gr. Νουμηνία, ΝΟΥΜΗΝΙΑ) The Nouminía is the New Moon festival, celebrated on the day of the initial appearance of the Minískos (Gr. Μηνίσκος), the lunar crescent. It is the first day of the lunar month and, according to Ploutarkhos (Plutarch; Gr. Πλούταρχος), the holiest (Ithiká [Moralia; Gr. Ἠθικά] 828a). In an interesting story told by Porphýrios (Porphyry; Gr. Πορφύριος), the philosopher describes the practice of a certain Klǽarkhos, (Gr. Κλέαρχος), a most pious man who celebrated Nouminía in the following manner:

“…he diligently sacrificed to them (ed. the Gods) at the proper times in every month at the new moon, crowning and adorning the statues of Hermes and Hecate, and the other sacred images which were left to us by our ancestors and that he also honoured the Gods with frankincense, and sacred wafers and cakes.” (Porphýrios On Abstinence From Animal Food, Book 2.16, trans.Thomas Taylor, 1823. (London, England) p. 56)

If possible, we do ritual on the Nouminía, and in the body of the ritual we recite the ninth Orphic hymn, To Sælíni (Selene; Gr. Σελήνη), the Moon. And we honor her with offerings of cakes and aromatic incense. It is also appropriate to honor Næomínios (Neomenius or Noumenius; Gr. Νεομήνιος) Apóllohn and all the Thæí (the Gods; Gr. Θεοί) and Íroæs (Heroes; Gr. Ἥρωες) with like gifts and frankincense.