The Noumenia is a celebration of the start of a new Hellenic month. It’s a time to give thanks for all the Gods have given us this past month and seek blessings for the household for the coming month.

This day is generally sacred to Apollon Neomenios, Zeus as Ktesios and Epikarpos, Hestia, Agathos Daimon, Hekate, Hermes and Selene – all of Them are domestic deities and/or lunar deities. Due to the fact that so many deities are honoured during the Noumenia, it is the longest of our monthly rituals. The ritual itself is best performed at night.

Offerings such as incense or honey cakes are often made to honor/give offering to the household Gods at your family altar.

Wanna do a ritual but don’t have time? You can watch our Noumenia ritual highlight reel.
If you have a little more time you can catch the whole ritual video (right).

Noumenia ritual highlights (16min)

Whole Noumenia Ritual (1 hour)

Devotional Acts for Noumenia

  • Decorating the home, refreshing the décor and seasonal decorations, including updating altars
  • Big and special meals with family at the table
  • Making goals and starting projects for the household
  • Baking and offering the baked goods, often honey cakes
  • Sweeping and cleaning to freshen for the new lunar month
  • Refilling the kathiskos with food, water, oil

Noumenia Ritual

The noumenia ritual is as follows:

  1. purification,
  2. light candle for Hestia
  3. Hymn & prayer for Hestia
  4. give offerings/ libations / special thanks
  5. Hymn &/or prayer for
    • Selene
    • Hermes
    • Apollo
    • Artemis
    • Athena
    • Ares
    • Dionysus
    • Hephestus
    • Hades
    • Demeter
    • Posideion
    • Aphrodite
    • Zeus
    • Hera

7. Thank Hestia
8. End the ritual

(You can dispose of your offering in whatever way works for you and your practice.

Further Reading

 Here are some links with information and various rituals for Noumenia. We are not offically affiliated with any of these sites, nor are we compensated in any way for recommending them These are only sites we thought were useful. 

verdantlyviolet Tumblr – info and prayers

Patheos  – noumenia

Labrys

forthegloryofthetheoi – tumblr

baringtheaegis

reddit.com/r/Hellenism

wikipedia.org

bakcheion