2008 Pagan Pride Havest Celebration to Observe Autumn Equnox September 6, 2008

Ft Lauderdale Pagan Pride Day Sept 06, 2008 Rain or Shine PRESS RELEASE - For Immediate Release

2008 PAGAN PRIDE HARVEST CELEBRATION TO OBSERVE AUTUMN EQUINOX
http://www.geocities.com/moonpathcuups/PaganPrideDayFlyer.html
http://www.geocities.com/moonpathcuups/PaganPrideDay.html
http://www.geocities.com/moonpathcuups/Mabon.html
http://MoonPathCUUPS.org
2008 PAGAN PRIDE HARVEST CELEBRATION TO OBSERVE AUTUMN EQUINOX
The Moon Path Chapter of Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) will host the Broward County, Florida, Tenth Annual Pagan Pride Day Celebration Family Picnic/FOOD DRIVE
12 PM - Dark, September 06, 2008, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ft. Lauderdale, 3970 NW 21st Avenue
(between Commercial and Oakland Park), Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33309, (954) 484-6734. Free

Bring canned or non-perishable food items and clothing, to be donated to the Cooperative Feeding Program of Broward County.
Witch's Mark will perform their special brand of music 3 PM to 5 PM
There will be Workshops on pagan subjects, vendors, and Drumming. Families are welcome. Participants are encouraged to bring drums and percussion instruments for the drumming circle.
12 pm Opening
12:30 pm Labyrinth - Sophia
1 pm Story Telling - Pee Wee Pagans - Teen Room
2 pm Drum Circle - Drummers - outside on patio
(bring your own drums/musical instruments)
3 pm Witch's Mark - Pagan Band outside on patio
5 pm Raffle Drawing
5:15 pm 'Grounding Meditation' - TBD
5:30 pm Autumn Equinox Ritual
Note: The celebration' s primary focus is the 5:30 PM Autumnal (Autumn) Equinox Sun Celebration Circle. Anyone wishing to stay and participate is welcome.
Visit the CUUPS Moon Path Chapter website for details on pagan activities. http://MoonPathCUUPS.org
The public is invited to attend.
Bring your own picnic food and drink. Bring your drums and percussion instruments for the drum circle and ritual. Bring Ribbons for the May Pole.
Feel free to come dressed in Garb or costume.
Fun and Games for kids of all ages - Picnic (BYOF/D In Or Outside)
Pagan Education - Networking with other Pagans
Children's Program - Workshop Class - Drumming
Vendors in air conditioned facilities: Ceramics, Drums, Henna Artist, Food, Jewlry, Massage Therapist, Psychic, Reiki Healing, Rune Reading, Sarongs, Soaps, Tarot Reading, T-Shirts, Various Merchandise
The Autumn Equinox is the official first day of Fall and occurs when the sun crosses the equator on it's apparent journey southward.
As day and night are of equal length on the Equinox, it is a time of equilibrium, moving toward the dark half of the year.
We experience a day and a night that are of equal duration; a time of thanksgiving in many Pagan traditions.
This year the Fall Equinox is September 22, 2008, 15:44 UT, when the Sun is directly over the Earth's equator and enters zero degrees Libra.
The full moon in the month of September is called the Harvest Moon, and farmers would harvest their crops by this moonlight as part of the Second Harvest celebration.
This year the Harvest Moon is 9 13 UT September 15, 2008.
This is the second of three pagan harvest festivals. The other two being August 1st MidSummer and November 1st MidAutumn.
The food drive held in conjunction with this festival is a way to give thanks for the food abundance of the year, and share that abundance with others. Food and clothing donations for the Cooperative Feeding Program will be taken during the event itself.
The Autumn Equinox Sun Celebration ceremony will be a simple expression of thanks combined with wishes for continued abundance, and blessing the results of the food drive before it is given away.
Modern Paganism, or Neo-Paganism, is a growing religious movement based on combinations of ancient polytheism, modern eco-spirituality, and reverence for the Divine as both masculine and feminine. Some of the more common traditions include Wicca or Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, Heathen, Asatru, Strega, Druidic spiritual paths, Goddess-Worshippers, and other earth-centered religions. Practitioners are found in all walks of life from professionals to homemakers, and simply enjoy celebrating a religion that emphasizes respect for nature, humanity, and oneself.
The International Pagan Pride Project was started in 1998 and is an organization focused on educating the public about Earth-based spiritualities in order to allay misconceptions and promote religious freedom. The Ft Lauderdale celebration started in 1999 and is sponsored by The Moon Path Chapter of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS), and coordinated by Sophia [email protected] on behalf of all Pagan-pathed individuals in the South Florida area.
The Pagan Pride Project started with 17 events in the United States and one in Canada. It has grown to over 100 events in the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America.
In 2007 the movement entered its tenth year ready for renewed efforts.
For more information about the event or about Pagan religions:
Moon Path Chapter of CUUPS http://MoonPathCUUPS.org Questions? Contact [email protected]
Ft Lauderdale Pagan Pride Day http://www.geocities.com/moonpathcuups/PaganPrideDay.html Questions? Contact [email protected]
International Pagan Pride Project http://www.paganpride.org Questions? Contact [email protected]

Official Website: http://MoonPathCUUPS.org