{"id":623,"date":"2016-08-03T12:35:53","date_gmt":"2016-08-03T02:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/hearthwitchdownunder\/?p=623"},"modified":"2018-01-24T13:32:48","modified_gmt":"2018-01-24T03:32:48","slug":"the-olympics-as-a-hellene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/hearthwitchdownunder\/2016\/08\/the-olympics-as-a-hellene.html","title":{"rendered":"The Olympics as a Hellene"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

The Olympics will be upon us soon, and I have to admit something terrible.\u00a0 I have never really liked the Olympics.\u00a0 In the past, when I watched normal free to air TV and thus had 3-5 channels to choose from, the Olympics seriously pissed me off, every damn time they happened.\u00a0 I don\u2019t watch free to air TV anymore, so that\u2019s not really a consideration now.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t really like sports.\u00a0 Which makes my choice of Hellenism kind of funny and weird.\u00a0 I like some of the events \u2013 gymnastics for instance, I love the gymnastics events.\u00a0 But of course, that rarely got airplay on Aussie TV, except maybe at 2am.\u00a0 No here our TVs were inundated with never ending swimming.\u00a0 And I detest swimming.<\/p>\n

So perhaps you can understand why I always hated it when the Olympics were happening.\u00a0 Never. Ending. Swimming.<\/p>\n

But this year things are different.\u00a0 For one, I don\u2019t watch normal TV anymore, I should have ready access to any event I want to watch.\u00a0 Yay, gymnastics.\u00a0 And, I am Hellenic now so there is more to it than just the sporting events.\u00a0 So I have to figure out what I am going to do for the Olympics.<\/p>\n

\"Sydney
Sydney Olympics closing ceremony. Public domain, via wikimedia commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zeus<\/h2>\n

The Olympics were in honour of Zeus, so it stands to reason He should be a focus for the duration of the Olympics.\u00a0 I think I will do proper rituals with food offerings and all the rest for the start of the games and again for the end.<\/p>\n

The opening ceremony is apparently at 9am on Saturday, my time, which is impossible for me to work with when I have a very clingy 11 month old attached to me \u2013 so I guess I will do my \u201copening ritual\u201d the evening before, so Friday night.<\/p>\n

The closing ceremony is at 9am on the 22nd of August, my time and again, horrible timing, but this time I think I will do my \u201cclosing ritual\u201d on the evening of the 22nd and hold the day itself for, well, feasting.\u00a0 The fact that the 22nd also happens to be my (aaargh 30th) birthday, makes it even more suitable for feasting!<\/p>\n

Between these two dates I will try to do a basic incense, hymn and libation ritual to Him daily as well.<\/p>\n

Craftiness<\/h2>\n

Most festivals, including the Olympics, also held some art competition \u2013 it wasn\u2019t all about athletics.\u00a0 So I feel this will be a great time for getting crafty.\u00a0 I am not entirely sure what yet, but I will figure something out.\u00a0 As a homeschooling mum I will encourage the kids to get crafty on Olympic stuff.\u00a0 Wreaths and torches and medallions for a start.\u00a0 Here are some ideas on Pinterest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Torch<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a big part of the modern Olympics of course, and torch processions were somewhat popular in ancient Hellas as well.\u00a0 This one is a little more difficult for me \u2013 I would love to be able to have a candle or something burning the entire time, but it\u2019s just not safe in a house full of children.\u00a0 Also, I am not sure I have enough candles to do it anyway.\u00a0 If only I actually had an LED candle or better yet, an LED torch (not flashlight torch, but fake flame torch).<\/p>\n

At the least I will, as part of the \u201copening ritual\u201d light a candle in honour of both Hestia and Hekate \u2013 flame and torch Goddesses as they are.<\/p>\n

The Games<\/h2>\n

Of course I will need to watch some of the events. Though I think I will be avoiding the swimming ones.\u00a0 I think\u00a0 my kids will enjoy watching some too.\u00a0 And I should probably teach them how to get all patriotic and cheer for Australia \u2013 it\u2019s probably my duty or something.<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t mind getting the kids to try out some events of their own at home \u2013 but we won\u2019t be able to do much with the mud traps outside \u2013 August is the worst time for doing stuff outside, I swear.\u00a0 But I think we can adapt at least certain things to inside, and just do our own indoor competitions as well.<\/p>\n

Some Other Stuff<\/h2>\n

Not religious but the Olympics provides a lot of opportunities for homeschoolers.\u00a0 It will be the perfect time to read them some myths, they will love all the flags and learning about them and finding each nation on our world map.\u00a0 Maths will be in use, we can certainly tally up all the medals throughout.\u00a0 Arts and crafts I have already mentioned, and sports of course.\u00a0 We can even have a look at some history, especially the part where we have hosted the Olympics twice in Australia \u2013 but also the origins of the Olympics, because, well why wouldn\u2019t you look at that?<\/p>\n

I suppose we could look at some other stuff, like the politics and cultural and environmental issues of the modern Olympics.\u00a0 Yeh, I have been hearing about some of the crap that has happened this pre-Olympics, and of course during previous years as well.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t know yet if we will look at that or not \u2013 maybe it is better saved for when they are older.\u00a0 Make this years Olympics fun, and save some of the more serious stuff for next time.\u00a0 2020.\u00a0 Dear Gods.<\/p>\n

Now I just need to formulate the opening and closing rituals. \u00a0Once I do that, I only have a couple days, I will try to post them for everyone to judge.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I am Hellenic now so there is more to it than just the sporting events. I have to figure out what I am going to do for the Olympics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2764,"featured_media":624,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Olympics as a Hellene<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I am Hellenic now so there is more to it than just the sporting events. 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