WAG: Egyptian Festival of the Dead

The WAG Festival which took place in late summer was a dedication to the death of the god Osiris and the ancestors. During WAG the Ancient Egyptian people honored the passage of souls and their journey to the afterlife. Osiris, the beloved god of the afterlife and resurrection, offered ancient Egyptians a time to honor their deceased loved ones while celebrating the eternal cycle of renewal.

The festival dates back to the Old Kingdom (2572 – 2130 BC). The dates actually shifted annually as the festival was based on the flooding of the Nile River. The festival took place during the first month on the Egyptian Coptic calendar. The Arab people refer to this month as Tut or Thout.

For reference I have it on our Celebrate Pagan Holidays Calendar in August. Typically observed around mid-July to mid-August in our modern calendar, this festival coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile River—a time when the land itself seemed to die and be reborn.

What Was The WAG Festival?

At its core, the Wag Festival was a celebration of Osiris, the green-skinned god who ruled the underworld and judged the souls of the dead. According to Egyptian mythology, Osiris himself had experienced death and resurrection, making him the perfect deity to oversee the afterlife and guide souls through their journey beyond the physical realm.

The festival serves multiple purposes: honoring the dead, celebrating the promise of resurrection, and reinforcing the community's connection to the divine order of the universe.

During the Wag Festival, ancient Egyptians would gather at temples and sacred sites to participate in elaborate processions. The centerpiece of these celebrations was often a statue or sacred image of Osiris, carried through the streets while priests chanted hymns and burned incense. The processions weren't somber affairs—they were joyous celebrations of life continuing beyond death, filled with music, dancing, and communal feasting.

Also during August, the Ancient Egyptians celebrated the Feast of Thoth.

Learn more about Thoth and ways you can honor him today.

One of the most touching aspects of the Wag Festival was the practice of visiting tombs and burial sites. Families would bring offerings of food, flowers, and precious items to share with their deceased relatives. This wasn't viewed as morbid or melancholy; rather, it was understood as maintaining the vital connection between the living and the dead.

The ancient Egyptians believed that the deceased continued to exist in the afterlife and could benefit from these offerings, while the living gained comfort and spiritual protection from honoring their ancestors.

The festival also included ritual reenactments of Osiris's death and resurrection, performed by priests in temple courtyards. These dramatic presentations helped participants understand the deeper mysteries of death and rebirth while reinforcing their faith in the continuity of existence beyond physical death.

The stories emphasized themes of justice, renewal, and the triumph of order over chaos—concepts that resonated deeply with Egyptian society's values.

Throughout the celebration, special foods were prepared and shared. Bread shaped like the hieroglyph for "life" (ankh), beer brewed with particular care, and fruits representing fertility and abundance all played important roles in the festival's offerings. These foods weren't just sustenance; they were symbols of the life force that connected all beings, both living and dead.

The Ankh, the key of life. Perhaps the most well-known Egyptian symbol. This video is a deep dive into what the ankh symbol meant to the ancient Egyptians, what it is to us today, and various ways we can use the Ankh in our spiritual and magical practices.

How Do We Know About The WAG Festival?

The Ancient Egyptians had a written language and jobs that centered around writing down both everyday life events and recording special occasions.

They wrote this in long scrolls and on the wall of the pharaoh’s tombs.

One fascinating example is the Book of the Dead. This collection of spells offered guidance for the deceased through the judgment process.

Read my article on MUMMIFICATION IN ANCIENT EGYPT to learn more about how the body was prepared for the afterlife.

Isis and Osiris

Osiris is the God of the Dead, Agriculture, and Fertility and he ruled the afterlife. His father is Geb, the Earth deity, and his mother, Nut, the sky goddess. Osiris married his sister Isis goddess of healing, magic, motherhood, and rebirth.

Egyptologists have some evidence that Osiris was a real ruler during the Predynastic times (5500-3100 BC) in the Nile Delta area. He may have been a shepherd because he carries crook and the flail.

Osiris had a brother named Seth or Set who was very jealous of him. Before becoming the God of the Dead Osiris was King of Egypt. Seth wanting the throne brutally murdered Osiris.

Seth chopped Osiris into pieces which he distributed around Egypt. He threw his penis into the Nile. Seth then married their other sister Nephthys and became king.

Osiris was the lord of the dead in the ancient Egyptian religion. Here, he is shown in typical mummy wrappings. His green skin symbolizes rebirth. Based on New Kingdom tomb paintings. Image on right by Jeff Dahl

Isis was distraught and cried at the river. Ancient Egyptians thought the flooding of the Nile River was the tears of the goddess Isis crying because Osiris had died.

Read my article Queen of the Throne: Honoring Isis to learn more about her.

Isis with the help of her sister Nephthys traveled throughout Egypt finding the parts of Osiris. She assembled him with linen wrappings and he became the first mummy.

However, she could not find his penis which Seth through in the Nile where it was eaten by fishes. Isis assembled an artificial penis.

Using her magic she brought him back to life. Isis was able to conceive and gave birth to the god Horus. Horus was the God of Kinship.

Osiris then descended into the underworld to rule. This myth explains the Ancient Egyptian’s belief in reincarnation.

There are many versions of this myth but this version comes from the book Ancient Egypt: Everyday Life in the Land of the Nile by Bob Brier.

How Can I Celebrate The WAG Festival Today?

• Have a feast! Set a place at the table for your ancestor(s).

• Float a paper boat down a local creek or river to honor Isis and Osiris.

• Visit the graves of your ancestors and bring offerings and flowers to them.

• Spend time in a cemetery honoring the dead who reside there.

Modern pagans interested in honoring the Wag Festival can adapt its ancient practices to create meaningful contemporary celebrations. The key is understanding the festival's core themes—honoring the dead, celebrating resurrection and renewal, and strengthening community bonds—while making the practices relevant to your personal spiritual path.

Begin by choosing a time for your celebration. While the ancient festival followed the Egyptian calendar, many modern practitioners observe it during the late summer months, particularly around the time of the heliacal rising of Sirius (the star associated with the goddess Isis) or during the full moon closest to this astronomical event. Some choose to celebrate on the anniversary of a loved one's death or during traditional harvest festivals in their region.

Creating a sacred space for your Wag Festival celebration is essential. Set up an altar dedicated to Osiris and the honored dead. Include images or statues of Osiris if you have them, or create your own representations using natural materials like green-painted stones or carved wood. Decorate the space with symbols of death and rebirth: wheat sheaves, seeds, chrysanthemums, and other flowers associated with remembrance in your culture.

This is my ancestor altar where I honor my human and animal ancestors. An ancestor altar serves the purpose of having treasures that represent your ancestors. You may want to include pictures, objects that are symbolic, the ashes of a deceased loved one and family mementos. Photo by Ame

The centerpiece of your celebration should be honoring deceased loved ones. Create a memorial display with photographs, personal items, or written memories of those who have passed. Light candles for each person you wish to honor, speaking their names aloud and sharing favorite memories or expressing gratitude for their influence on your life. This practice maintains the ancient tradition of keeping the connection between the living and dead alive and vibrant.

Prepare special foods that connect you to the themes of the festival. The ancient Egyptians would have had bread, beer, meat, vegetables, and fruits. Bake bread in meaningful shapes—ankhs, spirals representing the cycle of life, or simple round loaves symbolizing the sun's daily journey through the underworld. Share these foods with family and friends, explaining the significance of each item. Consider preparing a feast that includes favorite dishes of your deceased loved ones, setting a place for them at the table as a gesture of continued inclusion.

Ritual processions can be adapted for modern practice. If you're celebrating with a group, create a simple procession around your home, garden, or sacred space while carrying images of Osiris or symbols of renewal. If you're practicing alone, walk mindfully through your space while contemplating the themes of death and rebirth, perhaps carrying a special object that represents your connection to the divine.

Consider creating or participating in community service that honors the dead while helping the living. Ancient Egyptians believed that good deeds in life contributed to a positive judgment in the afterlife. You might organize a food drive, volunteer at a hospice, or contribute to causes that were important to your deceased loved ones. This practice transforms grief into positive action while honoring the memory of those who have passed.

Meditation and reflection form another important component of modern Wag Festival observance. Spend time in quiet contemplation about the nature of death and rebirth, both literal and metaphorical. Consider what aspects of your own life might need to "die" to make room for new growth, or reflect on how the memories and teachings of deceased loved ones continue to influence your spiritual journey.

This is a great time to practice your divination skills. My Personal FAV! Look at the beautiful interpretation of Isis. African Goddess Rising Oracle (on Amazon)

Is The Wag Festival Celebrated In Egypt Today?

Yes! While they don’t worship Osiris, today modern Egyptians celebrate Wafaa Al Nil or “Fidelity of the Nile” during August which celebrates the flooding of the Nile River. They make paper boats to float down the river.

Music and song are part of the ceremony and many people dress in traditional clothing.

Modern-day Egypt primarily observes Islamic and Coptic Christian holidays. Today the largest religion in Egypt is Sunni Muslim with about 10% being Coptic Christian. However, small populations still honor the Ancient Egyptian religion.

I had a hard time finding any definitive statistics on the number of pagans in modern Egypt but we can assume Paganism is On The Rise there as well as in other parts of the world. Reports on a growing number of “Atheists” may include pagans as well.

People may feel intimidated by laws that punish people who are non-believers. A person’s religion is listed on their Identity Card. So many pagans can not state their religion in public without fear.

What Is Kemetic Reconstruction?

Kemetic Reconstructionists are contemporary pagans who follow the basic religion of the Ancient Egyptians.

Kemetic Reconstruction, also known as Kemeticism or Kemetic Orthodoxy, represents a modern movement dedicated to reviving and practicing ancient Egyptian religion in contemporary times. The term "Kemetic" comes from "Kemet," the ancient Egyptian name for their land, meaning "black land" in reference to the fertile black soil of the Nile Delta.

They follow and honor the deities such as Bast and use the ancient texts as guides for living.

Today’s Kemetics don’t leave modern society behind but rather acknowledge the Gods and Goddess have lessons to teach us that transcend the ages.

Some Kemetic followers merge the Egyptian beliefs into a Wiccan framework and follow the Wheel of the Year but using Egyptian deities.

Thoughts…

The Wag Festival offers modern pagans a beautiful opportunity to engage with themes that remain as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. In honoring our deceased loved ones, celebrating the promise of renewal, and strengthening our communities, we participate in practices that connect us to the deepest currents of human spirituality. Whether approached through the lens of Kemetic Reconstruction or adapted to fit other spiritual paths, the Wag Festival reminds us that death is not an ending but a transformation, and that love transcends the boundaries between the living and the dead.

References:

Dr. Raymond Faulkner, translator (2015) The Egyptian Book of the Dead Chronicle Books

Bob Briar & Hoyt Hobbs. (2013) Ancient Egypt: Everyday Life In The Land Of The Nile. Sterling Publishing.

Kellie Warren. Book of the Dead: A Guidebook to the Afterlife. American Research Center in Egypt. https://www.arce.org/resource/book-dead-guidebook-afterlif

Author, Ame, is the founder of CPH and is fascinated by Egyptian deities and a devoted follower of Bastet. She recently took a graduate course in Ancient Egypt while renewing her teaching license. Ame is an environmental educator, wildlife rehabilitator and retired science teacher.