Merry Meet and Welcome to the social network of Northern Pagans UK (NPUK). Please join us if you live in North East England (Northumberland, in and around Newcastle), or the Scottish Borders region. The aim is not only to develop our online network, but also to meet in person for monthly moots in North Northumberland, to celebrate the seasonal festivals, and to arrange group trips to Pagan camps and large festivals outside our region - we could also organise other things together depending on interest, such as our own regional camp or perhaps a Pagan event (suggestions welcome). Northern Pagans UK is free to join - you just need to be in our area and be a practising Pagan and/or Wiccan over the age of 17.

This social network allows you to upload photos, video clips, and music - we ask that you respect these should only relate to Paganism and/or Wicca (otherwise they’ll be removed). You can also join in the forum and post articles. If you’re already a member of a local group or coven, or have special interests, then you’re welcome to start a group within the network for others to contribute to - i.e. a group to celebrate a particular Goddess. Blessed Be.

The next seasonal festival is Imbolc (also known as Disablot, Candlemas, or Brigid's Day) on Saturday 2nd February, followed by Ostara the Spring Equinox on Saturday 22nd March. If anyone has local events or moots planned for these dates then please let us all know. If anyone would like to help plan an NPUK celebration to mark these occasions then please get in touch by emailing northernpagans @ yahoo.co.uk (please input manually).

IMBOLC is one of the four Celtic Fire Festivals and it commemorates the changing of the Goddess from the Crone to the Maiden and celebrates the first signs of Spring. It is the day when we celebrate the passing of Winter and make way for Spring by lighting multiple candles of white, orange, and red. This is a good time for initiations into covens or self-initiations. This is a Sabbat of purification after the shut-in life of Winter through the renewing power of the Sun. It is also a festival of light and of fertility once marked in Europe with huge blazes, torches, and fire in every form - the fire representing our own illumination and inspiration as much as the light and warmth. Imbolc is also known as the Feast of Torches. Spicy and full-bodied foods are eaten in honor of the Sun. Spiced wines, curries, and all dishes made with peppers, onions, leeks, shallots, raisins, garlic or chives are appropriate as these are symbolic of the Sun. So it’d be appropriate to meet for a curry, followed by a candle-lighting ritual on Saturday 2nd February!