The Battle

Ever wonder how the seasons change, why, and what magic is behind it.  There is an old Celtic myth that helps to explain the reasoning behind the changing in the seasons around us.  Two brothers, the Holly King and the Oak King, share in the charge of changing the seasons. When the air warms and the days began to get longer, that is springtime when the Oak King is at the prime of this life.  He gained the rule over the season at the winter solstice from his brother, Holly King.  Now that the summer solstice is upon us, it is the time for the Holly King to take over again like he has done for thousand of years before. Every year at the Sabbat of Yule, and Litha the battle is performed. This representation of the battle between the twins helps to entertain and teach the lessons of the changing seasons.

 Men, women and children from our coven gather in the forest to witness a rite that surpases time itself.  As they enter the ritual area, they are surrounded by giant oak trees, with branches shading the ground from the blaze of the sun’s rays.  In the middle of the clearing is a raging fire, with flames soaring to vast heights, releasing embers into the sky as messengers to the heavens. The two combatants, Holly and Oak King, are facing each other—one facing east and the other facing west.  A female voice rings out through the silence for all to hear, “The twins come together as if they were one.  As time moves on, separation of self begins.  They stand against each other to win the Goddess’s favor and to determine who will keep the wheel of the year in motion.”

Both the Holly King and Oak King step towards the fire as a sweet melody starts to ring out.  As the music starts to deepen its beat, they simultaneously reach down for their swords in a slow flowing motion.  With swords in hand, they face each other and bow.  They lower their swords to the flames, igniting them with a “wuf.”  The surrounding crowd is awestuck with bewilderment and the only thing they can get past their lips is “AH”.

Suddenly, without warning, the Holly King strikes with a forward thrust.  The Oak King, in just the nick of time, parries the blade to the side and then goes in with his own downward strike, which is also blocked.  As they circumambulate the fire sunwise, the Holly King states with a thunderous voice, “I am the Holly King, Lord of the waning year!”

            The Oak King comes back with an equal sounding voice, “I am the Oak King, Lord of the waxing year!”

            The swords cross paths again forming a Celtic cross with the heat being felt by all around the circle.  Strike after strike with neither one wavering, the flames dance off their blades.  They step back breathing deeply, but showing no sign of fatigue.  They travel around the fire as the Holly King states, “I am he who keeps the wheel of the year in motion!”

            The Oak king states back with anger deep in his voice, “No! I am he who keeps the wheel of the year in motion!”

            The swords come together once again with more intensity than before.  They bound off each other with such ferociousness that even the gods above take notice.  The smell of smoke and sweat of a well-fought battle fells the witnesses’ noses as they watch this great rite. They come apart once again, the length of the battle weighing heavily on their faces.  Once more they circle the fire battling with words as the Holly King states, “I am the one who understands the mystery of death from life!”

            The Oak King replies, “I am the one who understands the mystery of life from death!”

With one final blow their blades become locked.  In the struggle, the Oak King starts to push back the Holly King.  The Oak King with a strained voice cries out, “Without me there would be no sunrise, for I am the bringer of light!”

            More struggling continues, back and forth, between the two brothers. The Holly King cries out as he uses all his strength with his sword pushing forward until he is towering over the Oak King, “Without me there would be no sunset, for I am the bringer of night!”

            Oak King feeling that his time has come to an end, puts down his sword, and falls to one knee, “Brother, I now recognize your rightful claim as Lord of the waning year. I grow weary of our battle, and wish to rest until we come together again.”

            The Holly King steps forward towards his brother, and with a soulful expression points to a constellation in the sky, “Go then to Caer Arianrhod, the castle in the sky, and wait until our next encounter.”

            The sweet voice of the Goddess rings out “Hail, the Holly King reigns again!”  The crowd rejoices and bellows out, “Hail, the Holly King reigns again!” three times for all to hear.

            What is the battle to determine who will rule the time after the summer solstice when the days start to become shorter and colder?  At the winter solstice, the Oak King will take over once again.  This is the wheel of the year in motion, and the Holly and Oak King see that it happens every year.  One might ask why we need to change to the cold and dark half of the year, and what purpose does it serve?  Without the sacredness of death, there will be no life because death is what feeds life. The opposite is also said that without life there can be no death.  Without this cycle, the earth would be nothing but a rocky void, and unsupportive of life.  The twins show a human side to the changing of the seasons to help us understand the living and dying half of the year.  Knowing that there is a high meaning behind the seasons helps us know that there is a purpose to living and dying.


By: Lord Gwydion