Online Reference For Body, Mind & Spirit

Term: Feast

DEFINITION:
Although today this generally means any large meal (especially one that is elaborate and intended for a group), the source of the word is the same as that for “festival” and is related to the same root as the Latin fanum, meaning “temple.” Therefore, this specifically relates to a meal shared by a spiritually-oriented group such as a coven. Today, many covens use a shared meal as a chance to come back to normal consciousness and relax after a ritual. Some occult groups, however, make a feast as part of a ritual, the “feast” often being symbolic or metaphoric, such as a small piece of bread and a single drink of wine. Some covens use a post-ritual feast as a time for socializing, including games, dancing, singing, etc.