the Great Rite, where the God and the Goddess are united in sacred marriage and their relationship is consummated. This act symbolically fertilizes the animals and crops for the coming year.

It is the symbolic union of the male and female principles of creation, the union of the two halves of the All-Power which unite to bring all things into being. Couples working together will often invoke the deities into themselves and perform the Great Rite 'de facto'.

I thought I said that last one pretty diplomatically, since I am not sure if there are children's eyes watching over shoulders *S*