Calendar of the Sun
19 Hrethemonath

Quinquatria Day I: Racing Day

Colors: Red and blue
Element: Fire
Altar: Upon cloth of red (for Ares) and blue (for Athena), place a sword, a spear, a shield, a length of hand-woven cloth, red and blue candles, a book and a pen, and two chalices, one filled with spiced wine or beer, and one with carbonated seltzer water.
Offerings: Engage in a struggle of some kind. To honor Ares, make it physical; to honor Athena, make it mental. The morning exercise hour should begin with running or fast walking, as this was traditionally Racing Day.
Daily Meal: Light, nutritious, high-protein, as for an athlete.

Quinquatria Invocation I

We pray now to Ares,
Bright warrior who has no fear,
Hot of head and heart, you run
The extra mile with your passion,
You are the one who will never give up.
And we pray to Athena,
Armored one, keen of vision,
Cool of head and heart, you always keep
Yourself a ways apart from the crowd,
Yet from there you can see further
Than we can at our close distance.
We ask for your blessings, warriors hot and cold,
Tactician and strategist, one who sees the way
To the goal, and one who has the courage to reach it,
For both are of equal value in this our struggle
To keep from being beaten down
By the many enemies that spring from
Our hearts and minds and lives.
Bless us, fearless ones,
And lead us down the straight path
To glory, to accomplishment, to the goal.

(Each comes forth and takes one of the weapons, and salutes the altar twice, calling out "Hail Athena!" and "Hail Ares!" The seltzer is poured out as a libation to Athena, and the spiced drink is poured out for Ares. In the workday to come, everyone should take on some physical task that strains them to their limit, and tests that limit, or if they are disabled, some organizational task requiring uncharacteristically complex strategizing.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]