Pagan Thanksgiving )O( My Goddess Food Ritual piog

Meals and food are a big part of ritual and celebration in many faiths and Traditions.  I am Pagan, and I came up with this simple way to give thanks to the Goddess for her bounty and all she has given to us.  It is based upon the Triple Goddess of Maiden-Mother-Crone. 

Set up

Your altar is your dining table.  I decorate with harvest colors or the colors associated with the Quarters (whatever they are for you).  I use my Quarter candles as part of the table setting as well. 

Assignments

Each person is given an assignment either by me (as Priestess and Ritual Leader) or by the Goddess of Fate (drawing little wooden goddesses from a basket).  Each person brings one of the meal's courses and writes/free-styles an invocation to the aspect s/he was assigned.  As each course is served, the invocation is read/recited.  The assignments are as follows: 

(If there are 4 participants)

4 Quarters => Appetizer: foods are chosen for to represent the Elements and the 4 Directions.  The first time I did this Ritual, the guy who was assigned this brought Tortilla Chips (Earth), Salsa (Fire), Nacho Cheese (Water), and Bean Dip (Air...eventually) and his Quarters were to the tune of "Hail to the North!  Ye creatures of grain and salt" (for the tortilla chips...) 

Maiden => Salad: I associate the Maiden with the fresh, the young, the new...so the salad is the perfect course for Her!  Fresh greens with crunchy raw veggies!  And don't forget the Green Goddess Dressing!  But whomever gets the Maiden can bring whatever Salad they choose...as long as they can connect it to the Maiden! 

Mother =>  Main Course, a meat (or meat sub), a starch, and a veggie:  Yes, it's the most work...but such is the lot in life of the Mother (right, Ladies?).  If there are extra participants, they can be assigned as "Mother's Helper"s and are to bring a side...but whoever is assigned the Mother is IN CHARGE of the Main Course. 

Crone =>  Dessert: I associate Grannies with sweets and baked goods, so the Crone is perfect for the Dessert!  Cookies or pies or cakes or strudels or even Jell-O with canned fruits floating in it!  The crone rules the End of Lifetimes, so too does She rule the end of our meal. 

Additional Assignments for more than 4 participants

Fire Keeper => Beverages:  Fire and Water being the great cleansers.  This person also lights the Ritual Candles when the time comes. 

Mother's Helper(s) => Side Dish: (see "Mother" above) 

Dish Diva => 'nuff said

Ritual

It's simple.  Gather around the table/altar.  Cast the Circle and Call the Quarters.  Enjoy your appetizer and commune and talk and chat and revel in the good food.  Invoke the Maiden.  Enjoy your salads; talk and laugh.  Invoke the Mother...enjoy your main course...revel.  Invoke the Crone.  DESSERT!!! 

I have also had a special cauldron (or bucket) set aside for an offering from each course for the compost heap (no meat) as an offering back to the Lady, Mother Earth. 

Open the Circle...extinguish the Candles...clean up! 

And don't forget the blessed leftovers!!