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.
Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Sandra Kynes, author of several books, including The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide, Plant Magic, and the new Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, among many others.
Although a few old books...