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The T Shawn Welling Web Site All information contained within this
site copyright © 1989-2004 Last updated 5/19/2004 7:59 PM Under construction while research lasts.
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I would like to remind my readers that this is an under construction site. I am adding material on a constant basis each page, each branch sometimes goes months with out, and sometimes each branch gets new and updated information on a daily basis. So please be patient my research is ongoing, and I find new and interesting things on almost a daily basis. Keep checking back; see the last updated on the index page. Any and all questions please do not hesitate to go to the yahoo groups listed below join and ask any question you like. Your input has helped shape the way I present the information, and helps me to be more definite with issues in showing my work. |
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Library This is a conglomeration of as many calendar holiday observances as I can find, this page will be being updated very soon, Calendar Days of the week are correspondent to the Nordic calendar
which originated from the Babylonian calendar of repeating days in a
cycle. The days of the week are to our
calendar adapted from their original names by the Anglo Saxons who in later
years conquered by breeding with the Normans/Vikings. The Anglo Saxon changed merely the spellings of the names
but not the context of meanings. Days of the Week
Tides of the Day
Stages of night End of the day; Death/Rebirth; The parent plant brings forth the seed and prepares to
die Dusk; Calling the
ripening of the fruit and its harvest Mid Evening;
Awakening the letting go; the seed falls from it's mother to the earth Stages of the day Daybreak Reconciliation; apparently dead, the seed comes
to life again Mid Morning;
Mystic union; the plant in its full flow of growth in harmony with the
environment Mid day;
Completion Calendars Unadjusted Runic Half Month Calendar, this calendar does
not account for the Julian 200 c. e. error date. Rune Meanings
The Gregorian Calendar January: Janus the
Roman 2 headed god of endings and beginnings. February: Februa
the Roman goddess, patroness of the passion of love March: Mars the
Roman god of war, protector of agriculture April: Aphrodite
the Greek goddess season of opening May: May Greek
goddess of spring, chief of Greek Seven Sisters, mother of Hermes June: Juno Roman
Great Mother goddess, queen of heaven July: Julius
Caesar reorganized Roman calendar August: Augustus
Caesar first Roman emperor Demeter is the goddess of this month September: October: Astraea
Roman goddess Celtic new year known as Samhain November: Cailleach
old woman goddess, guards quarter beginning this month December: Decima
middle goddess of Three Fates, Vesta
patroness of fire Beginning this part at the new year Jan 1 Roman/Kalends Kalends of January Julian New Year Fortuna/Jupiter Greek Juno Sacred days Sacred to the Greek divine pair Egyptian Egyptian Day Gregorian The New Year's day for the Gregorian calendar Gregorian The New Year's day for the Gregorian calendar Missialanious The Roman Jupiter and Juno. Also day of offering to the goddess Fortuna in order that
the new year should be beneficial to all.
A poem from the time Ring out the old, Ring in the new, Ring out the false, Ring in the true. Jan 2 Roman/Kalends As the weather is on the second of January, so it will be
in September. Advent of Isis/Nativity of Our Lady Inanna/Egyptian Day Nativity of Our Lady Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of the
earth and queen of heaven. As goddess of love, Isis and Inanna are related to
Aphrodite, Astarte, Ishtar, and Cybele As the weather is on the second January, so it will be in
September. Jan 3 St. Genevieve Customary kalends of January Customary Kalends of January (in the East Anglican
tradition) dedicated to St. Genevieve, patroness of genius loci of the city
of Paris If January Kalends be summerly gay, 'Twill be winter weather till the Kalends of may. Jan 4 Egyptian Day Jan. 5 Nones day Jan. 6 Twelfth Night, Epiphany of Kore-Persephone/ Christian
Epiphany Twelfth Night, when the debris of Yule feast must be
cleared away. In the Julian ( Old style) calendar it is the old Christmas day. The nocturnal rite of honor of Kore was
held overnight 5-6 Jan. in the Koreion at Alexandria. It was mystic drama preparing the way for
Kore/ Persephone's rise into the world. Jan 7 Sekhmet, ancient Egyptian new Years day Jan 8 Justiatia/ Distign moon A day sacred to Justitia, roman goddess of Justice Jan9 Jan 10 Geraint A day sacred to the ninth-century Welsh bard, Geraint, the
Blue Bard of Wales. Jan. 11 Carmentalia/ Juturna/
Plough Monday First festival of the Roman Carmentalia, celebrating the
nymphs of prophecy known as the Camenae, who are identified with the nine
Muses. The chief of these was
Carmentis, the goddess of prophecy, who also protected women in
childbirth. Also on this day Juturna,
divinity of fountains and prophetic waters and patroness of all who work with
water, was worshiped in ancient Rome.
Also, Plough Monday, traditional day for returning to work in the
fields. Farm workers received plough
money; children, handouts in the form of money or sweets from the neighbors. Jan. 12 Compitalia/The Lares/St. Distaff's Day Roman festival of Compitalia celebrates the household
gods, the Lares. On St. Distaff's Day,
named after a sanctified tool rather than an individual, women would resume
their spinning after Yule. The day is
sacred to the chief goddess of Old England, Frigg, whose followers were called
the freefilk. Although she is
associated with the distaff, not all areas of life under her guidance are
about work: Partly work and partly play, Ye must on Saint Distaff's
Day. Jan. 13 Ides of January/Tiugunde Day/Midvntersblot/St. Hilary/New
Year's Day in the Julian calendar/Runic half-month of Peorth commences In some places, New Year's observances such as wassailing(paying homage to apple trees) are still
performed on this day. Day of the
Norse ceremony of Midvinterblot, Midwinter's offering, called Tiugunde Day in
Old England and sacred to Tiu,the ancient Teutonic
chief god, ruler of the year. This day falls twenty days after Yule. Jan 14 Jan. 15 Carmentalia (second festival)/Egyptian Day Jan. 16 Concordia The goddess Concordia, principle of harmonious relations
with all, is honored. Jan. 17 Felicitas/Egyptian Day Sacred to Felicitas, a minor Roman goddess of good luck. Jan. 18 Jan. 19 Jan. 20 St. Agnes' Eve/Celtic tree month of Beth ends Traditionally, St. Agnes' Day is a time for divination by
fire. Jan. 21 St. Agnes/Celtic tree month of Luis Commences Jan. 22 St. Vincent/Goddess month of Hestia ends St. Vincent is a Christianization of the sun god
Apollo. Of the weather marker known as
St. Vincent's Day: Remember on St. Vincent's Day If that the sun his beams display Be sure to mark his transient beam Which through the window sheds a gleam; For 'tis a token bright and clear, Of prosperous weather all the year. Jan. 23 Goddess month of Bridhe commences The St. Bridget's cross is the traditional symbol of
protection. Jan. 24 Cornish Tinners' and Seafarers' Day/St. Paul's Eve Cornish Tinners' and Seafarers' Day is an old "labor
day," celebrating the new season of sailing and mining in Cornwall. In the old wooden calendars known as clog
almanacks, rimstocks, or prime-staves, each eve or aften was marked by the
letter A. Jan. 25 Old Disting/Burns' Night/St. Paul's Day Important in old runic calendars, Disting is the feast of
the Disir, the Norse guardian goddess.
On this day a major festival of the gods was held at the temple in
Uppsala, Sweden. Burns' Night
celebrates Robert Burns, the Scot poet.
Burns' Night revels are a modern continuation of Disting. The day is also a weather marker. If It do betide a happy year. But if it chance to snow or rain, Then will be dear all kinds of grain. If clouds or mists do dark the sky, Great store of birds and beasts will die. And if the winds do fly aloft; Then wars shall vex the kingdom oft. If it should
thunder on St. Paul's Day, great winds are predicted. Jan. 26 Jan. 27 Jan. 28 Runic half-month of Elhaz commences This half-month is a period of optimistic power, protection,
and sanctuary. Jan. 29 Egyptian Day Jan. 30 Festival of Peace Festival of peace, dedicated to the Roman goddess Pax. Jan. 31 February Eve/Norns/Disir and Valkyries February Eve, start of the festival of Imbolc or
Brigantia. Also a day sacred to the
Valkyries and the Norns. February 1 Cross-quarter day: Imbolc, Oimelc, Brigantia/Kalends of
February/St. Bridget/Candelmas Eve Imbolc is the fire festival between Yule and the vernal
equinox. The day of Imbolc is also that
of her saintly aspect, St Bridhe or Brigid of Ireland. Feb. 2 Juno Februa/Candlemas/ Wive's Feast Day/Groundhog Day Festival of Juno Februa, the persisting goddess of the
month, and Candlemas, the purification of the virgin. The weather on this day is said to mark the
progress of winter: If Candlemas
Day be fair and bright, Winter will
have another flight; If on
Candlemas Day be shower and rain, Winter is
gone, and not come again. Also, If the sun
shines bright on Candlemas Day, The half of
the winter's not yet away. These sayings agree with those about Groundhog day that
link the length of winter to whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow on
this day. An old northern English name
of Candlemas is the Wive's Feast Day. Feb. 3 St. Blasius St. Blasius or Blaise was one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
and is invoked in the case of sick cattle.
The blessing of St. Blaise for sufferers from throat disease is held
to be most efficacious if performed on his patronal day. Feb. 4 King Frost day On this day in 1814, a fair was held in London In Honor of
King Frost on the river Thames, which was completely frozen over. The celebration of King Frost Day died out
during World War I. Feb. 5 Nones of February/Tyche/Fortuna/Wyrd/St. Agatha St. Agatha is an aspect of the goddess known to the Greeks
as Tyche, to the Romans as Fortuna, and to the Anglo-Saxons as Wyrd. This day
is especially potent for fortune telling and all forms of divination. Feb. 6 St. Dorothea St. Dorothea's Day, a day said to bring snow. Feb. 7 Feb. 8 Egyptian Day Feb. 9 Apollo/St. Apollonia Feast day of Apollo, the deity of the sun. It celebrates
the increasing light of the new year after the darkness of midwinter. Feb. 10 Egyptian Day Feb. 11 Our Lady/Egyptian Day The date in 1858 of the famous apparition of Our Lady at
the Feb. 12 Artemis/Diana/Runis half-month of Sigel commences Holy day of the divine huntress, the goddess Artemis or
Diana. The runic half-month of Sigel
commences here. It represents the
power of the force of good throughout the world and is the harbinger of victory
and ascendancy over darkness. Feb. 13 Ides of February/Parentalia/St. Matthias/Old Leap Year's
Day The Parentalia was the chief Roman festival of the dead
which lasted until the Feralia on February 21. St. Matthias took the place of Judas as the
twelfth apostle. This is his
traditional East Anglican feast day. Feb. 14 Juno Februa/Vali/St. Valentine St. Valentine's Day is a festival of love that amalgamates
the Pagan traditions of Rome and northern Europe. It is also the Norse deity Vali, the archer
god, son of Odin, and the Juno Februa, goddess of love. The festival begins after sunset on
February 13. Girls should decorate
their pillows with five bay leaves, to dream of their lover and
husband-to-be. In Feb. 15 Faunus/Lupercalia/Sigfrid/St. Oswy Lupercalia is an ancient festival of Roman Paganism. Ovid ascribes this festival to the rustic
god Faunus, protector of agriculture and flocks, giver of oracles, and an
aspect of the great god Pan. This is a
day when animals help humans. It also
celebrates the she-wolf who suckled the infants Feb. 16 Feb. 17 Fornacalia/Celtic tree month of Luis ends/Egyptian Day Roman festival of Fornacalia, festival of bread, ovens,
and the oven goddess. It is also a festival whose observance helps plants in their
coming growing season. On this day,
plants should be tended with extra loving care. Feb. 18 Festival of Women/Celtic tree month of Nuin
commences/Tacita/Egyption Day This day is a Persian Pagan festival honoring women. Also the day of Roman rites in honor of
Tacita, the silent goddess, binding hostile speech and unfriendly mouths. Feb. 19 Goddess month of Bridhe ends Feb. 20 Goddess month of Moura commences Feb. 21 Feralia During the Roman Feralia, the spirits of the dead were
believed to be abroad in the world, hovering above their graves. Provisions were left at graves for
them. This was the last day of the
Roman year for placating ghosts; on February 22 the living were appeased. Feb. 22 Concordia/ Charistia Roman festival of the goddess Concordia, the feast of
favor or goodwill, known as the Charistia.
It is the time for the living to reconcile their differences, the
counterpart of Ferlia on the previous day.
It is also time for a meal with family and friends, at which disputes
are settled. Feb. 23 Terminalia Roman festival of Terminalia, when Terminus, god of
boundaries, is acknowledged Feb. 24 Feb. 25 Feb. 26 Egyptian Day Feb. 27 Runic half-month of Tyr commences/Egyptian Day This is a time of positive regulation, when one must make
sacrifices and work hard in order to progress. Feb. 28 Feb. 29 Leap Year's Day (1996, 2000)/Egyptian Day In the old tradition this is a day when women can propose
marriage to men. March 1 Kalends of March/Matronalia/St. David/Roman New Year Roman women's festival of Matronalia, sacred to the
goddess Juno Lucina. Prayers were
offered for prosperity in marriage, and women received presents from
men. The first of Marchis also a holy
day in Wales, celebrating the patron saint, David, whose emblematic plants,
the leek and daffodil, represent the vigorous growth of springtime and recall
the royal colors, green and white, of ancient Britain. Mar. 2 Cedda/St.Chad/Holy Wells Day A day sacred to Ceadda, deity of healing springs and holy
wells. His symbol is the Crann
Bethadh, the tree of life. As a
meditation, St. Chad was known to spend all night up to his neck in a holy
well, a Northern Tradition technique.
On this day one should honor a holy well by cleaning it and making an
offering of flowers. Some loving care
on Ceadda's day might reinvigorate many abandoned sacred spring. Mar. 3 Aegir/St. Winnal St. Winnal is a Christian version of Aegir, a Teutonic god
of the sea. As controller of the sea's
tides and the weather, St. Winnal's holy day is associated with storms. When a Winnal storm occurs, this March
"coming in like a lion." It
should presage a fine end to the month. First
comes David, Next
comes Chad, Then
comes Winnal, Roaring
mad. Mar. 4 Egyptian Day Mar. 5 Navigium Isis This ancient Egyptian festival recognized the goddess's
invention of the sail and her patronage of sailing. It is observed as the beginning of the new
sailing season. Mar. 6 Mars/St. Martian On this day, the Roman household gods were honored. Mar. 7 Junonalia/ The Nones of March/Purim This festival was observed by the Romans in honor of the
goddess Juno. A procession of twenty-seven
girls, dressed in long robes, accompanied the image of the goddess, carved
from the wood of the cypress tree, which is sacred to her. It is also the Jewish spring festival of
Purim. Mar. 8 Mar. 9 Mar. 10 Mar. 11 Herakles/St. Hercules Day of the semi divine hero Herakles or hercules. It is a day of strength and superhuman
feats of courage. Mar. 12 Martyrdom of Hypatia Commemorates the martyrdom of Hypatia, known as the Divine
Pagan. Born in the year 370 C.E., she
was dean of the Neoplatonic school at Mar. 13 Mar. 14 Veturius Mamurius/Runic half-month of Boerc
commences/Egyptian Day The festival of Veturius Mamurius celebrates the art of armor
making. The half-month of Boerc is
ruled by the goddess of the birch tree, a time of symbolic purification for
rebirth and new beginnings. Mar. 15 Rhea/Anna Perenna/Ides of March The Ides of March.
This date is famous as that on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in
44 B.C.E. It is also a holy day of
Rhea, Greek goddess of the earth, mother of Zeus, and an aspect of the Great
Mother. Traditionally, river sprites
or nymphs are acknowledged on the Ides of March. Mar. 16 Dionysus/Bacchus/Egyptian Day Beginning of the two-day festival of the Greek god
Dionysus, equivalent to the Roman Bacchus, youthful deity of wine. The festival promotes a fruitful grape
harvest. Mar. 17 Dionysus/Bacchus/St. Patrick/Celtic tree month of Nuin
ends/ Egyptian Day Trefuilnid Treochair, the national day of Mar. 18 Athena/Minerva/Eyvind Kinnrifi/Goddess month of Moura ends The day before the equinox is one of the festivals of the
Greek goddess Athena. In Roman times,
this was the festival of the birth of the goddess Minerva called
Quinquartrus. Eyvind Kinnrrifi was one
of Odin's martyrs; their symbol is the Valknut or knot of the slain. Mar. 20 Vernal Equinox: Alban Eilir, Ostara, Fifth Station Of the
Year/Iduna/Goddess month of Columbina commences/Egyptian Day Today is also sacred to the Norse goddess Iduna, bearer of
the magic apples of life who personifies the light half of the year. She appears on this day as a sparrow,
bringing joy to humans. Mar. 21 Tea and Tephi In Irish tradition, the holy city of Mar. 22 Mar.23 Summer Finding This Norse festival acknowledges the light of the sun
becoming more powerful than darkness Mar. 24 Britannia/Heimdall/Archangel Gabriel Day of the guardian goddess of Mar. 25 Mars and Neria/Lady Day/Return of the Goddess The festival of Lady Day (the Annunciation) celebrates the
conception date of the divinity that enters the world on December 25. Goddess worshipers call this day the Return
of the Goddess. March 25 was also once considered to be the date of the
creation of the world. Mar. 26 Mar. 27 Mar. 28 St. Mark's Eve/Sacrifice at the Tombs/Pallas The treatise De Pascha Comutus, written in 243 C.E.,
states that the sun and moon were created on March 28. Before the adoption of December 25 as the
"correct" date (in 336 C.E. at Mar. 29 St. Mark The traditional feast day of St. Mark in Mar. 30 Janus and Concordia/Runic half-month of Ehwaz commences Festival of Janus and Concordia. The runic half-month of Ehwaz, the horse,
is a time partnership between humans and nature, as between rider and
horse. Good time for pilgrimage. Mar. 31 Luna Roman festival of Luna, goddess of the full moon whose
temple on the Aventine hill was the focus of worship on this day. April 1 Kalends of April/All Fools' Day/Fortuna Virilis/Loki Apr. 2 Apr. 3 Apr. 4 Megalesia or Magna Mater The first festival day of Megalesia/Magna Mater, or
Cybele, the Great Mother, of whom al the goddesses may be seen as
aspects. This seven-day festival
celebrates the arrival of the image of Cybele in Apr. 5 Megalesia/Fortuna/Nones of April Festival for good luck, celebrating the goddess Fortuna,
the Lady Luck to whom all gamblers pray. Apr. 6 Megalesia/Passover Passover is the Jewish celebration of liberation from
bondage in Apr. 7 Megalesia/Egyptian Day Apr. 8 Megalesia/Egyptian Day Apr. 9 Megalesia Apr. 10 Megalesia/Egyptian Day The final day of Megalesia was celebrated with sacred
horse racing. Today, this once sacred sport is completely secularized, though
it still carries sacred overtones in its title "the sport of
kings." Apr. 11 Easter Easter is named for the goddess of spring, Easter or
Ostara. Apr. 12 Cerealia Cerealia was the eight-day Roman festival of Ceres,
goddess of the earth and its fruits, who was prayed to for peace, good
government, and plenty. Apr. 13 Cerealia/Libertas/Ides of April The springtime festival of Libertas, the Roman goddess of Apr. 14 Cerealia/Runic half-month of Man commences/Sommarblot/St.
Tiburtius/Celtic tree month Fearn ends The Norse festival of Sommablot is celebrated to welcome
summer. the runic half-month of Man is a time when
the archetypal reality of the human condition should be meditated upon. Apr. 15 Cerealia/Tellus/Celtic tree month of Saille commences Apr. 16 Cerealia/St. Padarn/Egyptian Day Known by its Celtic dedication as St. Padarn's Day. On this day it was customary to begin
weeding the growing crops. Apr. 17 Cerealia/Goddess month of Columbina ends/Egyptian Day Apr. 18 Cerealia/ Goddess month of Maia commences/Egyptian Day Apr. 19 Cerealia Apr. 20 Egyptian Day Apr. 21 Parilia/Earth Day/Egyptian Day The festival of the Roman pastoral deity, Pales, known as
the Parilia, included decorating sheep folds with green branches; kindling
fires, through whose smoke the animals were driven; and offering milk, and
cakes to the divinity. In more recent
times, it has become Earth Day, when people remember their responsibility
toward the environment. Apr. 22 Apr. 23 Jupiter and Venus/Sigurd/St. George In Roman Paganism, today is the festival of Jupiter and
Venus. In Apr. 24 St. Mark's Eve The eve of St. Mark's Day is one of the traditional nights
for divining the future. Any young
woman wishing to see her future lover should fast from sunset and then during
the night make and bake a cake containing an eggshell of salt, wheat meal,
and barley meal. Then she should open
the door of her dwelling place. Her
future lover should come in and turn the cake. Apr. 25 Robigalia/St. Mark/Cuckoo Day St. Mark's Day is the old Roman festival of the Robigalia,
the observance of which was magically intended to avert the spirit of mildew,
which threatens crops around this time.
For many years, the Litania Major of the Catholic church for St.
Mark's Day at Apr. 26 Apr. 27 Apr. 28 Floralia The three-day Roman festival of Floralia commemorates the
goddess Flora, deity of flowers and the pleasures of youth. Her feast day was noted for its license,
and medallions showing various positions of sexual enjoyment were distributed
to the revelers. Beans and other seeds
were thrown into the crowds, denoting fertility and fecundity. Apr. 29 Floralia/Runic half-month of Lagu commences Representing the flowing and mutable-yet irresistibly powerful
and necessary- forces of water, Lagu symbolizes the life-force inherent in
all matter and the organic growth and waxing power of this time of year. Apr. 30 Floralia/Salus/Walpurgis Night/May Eve/St. Sophia May Eve is the festival of the dead in May The merry month of may is named after the goddess who is
chief of the Greek seven sisters (the Pleiades) and the mother of
Hermes. In legend, it is said that
Hermes himself bestowed his mother's name upon the month, Maia majestic
goddess of spring. The Irish Celtic
queen med was an incarnation of this goddess. Later, she became the fairy queen Mab of
Shakespeare. Her sacred plant the
hawthorn or may tree blossoms this month which is one of vigorous
growth. The Anglo Saxon name of may
was thrimilcmonath, "Thris-milk month," because cows give milk thee
times daily during the month of may.
Another old English name for may is sproutkale, conjuring up visions
of luxuriant plant growth. The runes
ruling this month are Lagus, which signifies vigorous and energetic growth
and ingwaz representing fertility and procreation. The old frankinkish name of the marry
month, winnemanoth, "Joy month," describes our pleasure at the
oncoming summer, as does the modern Asatru the back wood full moon is the flower
moon may is the customary time for revels, the maying ceremonies and
traditional love games of may day. As
the first day of summer may day is one of the most important days of
the year it has many alternative names one ancient Irish name Cedsoman which
today has become Ceadamh, meaning literally the first of summer. In Irish may day is the LaBealtaine. The name beltain contains the element
taine which means fire,
The first element is that of the solar deity who is called
variously Beli, Belinus, and Balder.
One traditional name for the customary bonfire on may eve is Balders
Balefirs. Beltain is station six of the year
,mystical union. The may pole
tradition flourishes today in German speaking countries but because it way
attacked ruthlessly by the authorities in Britain during the 16th and17th
centuries it survives there in a very truncated from traditionally may is a
month of the appearance on earth of the mother goddess ,
whether as the lady of Wicca’s, mother
Mays or the various corresponding goddesses of indigenous religious traditions. However she is preserved to manifest
herself she is our lady representative of the archetypical mother. As the consort of Robin Hood she is the
Maid Marion of the traditional may time revels. The emerald is the birth stone of the month of may the
Celtic willow month of Saille.Ends on may 12th, Followed by the hawthorn
month,huath.
This brings protection of the inner and outer realms and is sacred to
the god of thunder Taranis, Thunor, and Thor. Its Sacred Color is purple. The goddess calendar month of Maia fills
the first half of may, ending on the 15th, it is
followed by Hera, which begins on 16th may.
Movable holidays in may include Mjollnir, the festival of Thor's
hammer (celebrated on Thursdays and coinciding with ascension day in the church
calendar), and the commemoration of Buddha's enlightenment, which occurs on
the day of the full moon in may. Rain in may assists the full growth of the crops, this is
recorded in the country adages "Water in may, bread all the
year" and Mist in may, heat in June, Make the harvest come right soon. May 1 Cross quarter day, Beltain, May Day, Sixth station of the
year, Kalends of may This is one of the major pagan festivals of the year. It signifies union, the time when the plant
is in full growth and in harmony with the environment. May 2 Floralai/ Elena/ St Helen A Day sacred to the Goddess Elena. As Helen, she is the
goddess of the holy road, more particularly, the four royal roads of May 3 Floralia/Bona Dea Eve/Egyptian Day The eve of 4 May is the time sacred to Bona Dea ,the Good Goddess in the Roman tradition important in
women's mysteries, to whom offerings were made in secret. May 4 Bona Dea/ Veneration of the Thorn The hawthorn tree, sacred to the Good Goddess, is honored
on this day. The hawthorn id often called the whitethorn and, when it is flowering,
the may tree. At the festival of the Veneration of the Thorn, holy bushes and
trees-those marking sacred places and holy wells-are today acknowledged by
having new scraps of cloth tied to them. May 5 May 6 Eyvind Kelve/ (crescent moon) Enlightenment of the
Buddha/Egyptian Day The Norwegian Pagan martyr, Eyvind Kelve was killed on
the orders of King Olaf Trygvason for refusing to give up his faith in the
Pagan gods. May 7 Nones of May/Helston Furry Dance/ Egyptian Day The famous Furry or Floral Dance is traditionally
performed at Helston in May 8 May 9 Lemuria The Roman lemures are the wandering spirits of dead family
members who revisit their former homes on this day. The shades are
acknowledged on the three days of the Lemuria. The other two days when the
spirits are abroad are May 11 and May 13. May 10 May 11 Lemuria/ St. Mamertius The days of the Eisheilige (ice saints), May 11-15, are
noted in southern May 12 St Pancras/Celtic tree month of Saille ends May 13 Lemuria/ Servatius/ Celtic tree month of Huath commences May 14 St. Bonifatius/ Runic half-month of Ing commences The male consort of the Earth Mother goddess Nerthus, Ing
is the god of the hearth and his rune, the symbol May 15 Maia and Mercury/ Vesta/ Cold Sophie/ Ides of May/ Goddess
month of Maia ends/ Egyptian Day Today is sacred to the month goddess Maia and her son
Mercury, and also to Vesta, goddess of the hearth and eternal fires. On the
Ides of May, the vestal virgins, the ancient Roman priestesses of Vesta,
performed a rite intended to regulate the water supply for the coming summer.
In southern May 16 St. Brendan the Navigator/ Goddess month of Hera commences The legendary voyages of the Irish Celtic priest, St.
Brendan the Navigator, are remembered today. According to some, St. Brendan
was the first European to set foot in May 17 Dea Dia The festival of Dea Dia celebrates the goddess in her
aspect as the cosmos, mother to all of us. May 18 Apollon Day A day sacred to Apollo, the Greco-Roman god of music,
poetry, divination, and sunlight. May 19 May 20 (crescent moon) Mjollnir/ (crescent moon) Ascension/
Egyptian Day The Germanic Pagan festival of Mjollnir celebrates the
hammer of Thor. In medieval times, this day was considered to be a good day
for ritual contest, such as trial by combat. Ascension, falling forty days
after Easter, marks the completion of this spring cycle of holy days. May 21 Plato Plato was born on this day in 429 B.C.E. May 22 Ragnar Lodbrok Ragnar Lodbrok was a Viking leader captured by the
Northumbrians, then tortured and killed by being thrown into a pit full of venomous snakes.
His death song expresses this unwavering faith in the afterlife: "The
Disir call me back home, those whom Odin has sent for me from the halls of the lord of hosts.
Gladly will I sup ale in the high seat with the gods.
The days of my life are finished. I laugh as I die!" In May 23 Rosalia The rose festival was celebrated by the Romans in honor of
the goddess Flora. May 24 The Mothers/ Hermes Trismegistus This day is sacred to the Mothers, three goddesses worshiped in Celtic
countries as bringers of prosperity and a good harvest. Also the feast day of
Hermes Trismegistus, patron of alchemy. May 25 Edmund I The Anglo-Saxon king, Edmund I, was stabbed to death on
this day in the year
949 C.E. May 26 May 27 May 28 May 29 Ambarvalia/ Oak Apple Day/ Runic half-month of Odal commences Ambarvalia was the Roman festival of purification in honor
of Ceres and the Dea Dia, involving ritual walking around fields of growing
crops to gain divine favor for the plants. In May 30 Frigg/ (crescent moon) Whitsunday The holy day of the Norse goddess Frigg, queen of heaven, consort
of Odin. Although a major holy day in the Church (signifying the descent of
the holy spirit to the apostles), in the country this Sunday was also a
traditional time for brewing Whitsun
ales and for making love bowers and mazes. May 31 June June is named after the Roman Great Mother goddess Juno,
the Greek Hera. The month's name was originally Junonius. Juno has many
attributes, the chief of which is as the queen of heaven. This attribute is
ascribed to Frigg in the Northern Tradition and Mary in the Christian. As
ruler of the On or about June 21 is the summer solstice, the festival
of Midsummer, the Anglo-Saxon Litha and the Alban Hefin of the Druids. The
Irish name for June is Meitheamh, while the Anglo-Saxon was Aerra Litha,
"before Litha."The Franks called June Brachmanoth, "break
month," while in modern Asatru it is called Fallow. The Hot or
Strawberry Moon is the backwoods' full moon. The month of June is "the
door of the year," the gateway to the inner realms. The rune Dag that
rules the middle of the month, is the rune of
opening, representing the door that excludes bad things and admits only that
which is beneficial. The runic year begins in June with Feoh. The Celtic
tree-calendar month of Huath-hawthorn-ends on June 9 to be followed on the
10th by the oak month, Duir. This is a
month of strengthening and consolidation of gains. It can also be said to
represent the "door" of the year, opening to let the sun shine in.
Duir has the sacred color of black. In the goddess calendar, the first twelve
days of June
belong to Hera. On June 13 begins the month of Rosea. The precious stone
associated with June is the agate, whose traditional rhyme is as follows:
Who comes with
summer to this earth, And
owes to June her hour of birth. With
ring of Agate on her hand Can health,
wealth and long life command. Good weather in "Flaming June" is necessary if
there is to be a good harvest. Country weather lore states: If
June with bright sun is blessed, For
harvest we will thank the goddess. Conversely, it is said that if it rains on June 27, then
it will rain for the next seven weeks. But "A wet June makes a dry
September," and "A dripping June brings all things in tune."
If swallows fly near the ground in June, it is a sign of coming rain. Bats
flying on a June evening are a sign of hot, dry weather the next day. June 1 Kalends of June/Carna/ Syn/ Tempestas This festival was sacred to Carna, the Roman goddess of
doors and locks. She was the protector of family life, equivalent to the
Norse goddess Syn, the includer and excluder. Doors and windows should be
repaired on this day, which is also the day of the goddess of the storm,
Tempestas, who tests them without mercy! June 2 Mother Earth/ (crescent moon) Mother Shipton's Day Sacred to Mother Earth in her fecund aspect. Mother
Shipton (Ursula Sontheil) was a famous seer in June 3 June 4 Socrates/Egyptian Day Socrates was born on this day in 470 B.C.E. June 5 St. Gobnatt The Irish saint, Gobnatt, is a version of the deity,
Domna, patroness of sacred stones and June 6 June 7 Vesta/ Nones of June The day of the Vesta Aperit, the opening of the sanctuary
of the June 8 Mens/ The old Roman festival of consciousness, personified as
the goddess Mens, the mind, is intended to remind us that our consciousness
makes us human, and so we should always act consciously. It is celebrated by
Odinists as Lindisfarne Day, commemorating the first Viking raid in If on the
eighth of June it rain, It
foretells a wet harvest, men sain. June 9 Vesta/Celtic tree month of Huath ends The feast day of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and its
fire. June 10 Celtic tree month of Duir commences/Egyptian Day The month of the oak,Duir, the
most sacred tree of the Druids, during which the summer solstice, the solar June 11 Fortuna A sacred day at the June 12 Goddess month of Hera ends June 13 Athena/ Alexander the Great/ Goddess month of Rosea
commences The goddess Athena, known to the Romans as Minerva, represents
the harmonious blending of power and wisdom and is patroness of both the
practical and aesthetic arts. June 14 Vidar/St. Vitus/ St. Dogmael/ Runic half-month of Dag
commences In modern Asatru, a day sacred to Vidar, son of Odin.
According to Viking tradition, leather workers should put aside all of their
off-cuts for Vidar's boots, so that the god can combat the demonic wolf,
Fenris. The runic letter is a beneficial rune of light, health, prosperity,
and openings. signifying the If St. Vitus's Day be rainy weather,
It will rain for thirty
days together. June 15 Vestalia/ Ides of June The Vestalia is the Roman women's festival of first
fruits, sacred to the goddess Vesta. It is the day on which the sanctuary of
the June 16 June 17 Ludi Piscartari, St Botolph The Roman Festival Of Ludi Piscatari, Festival of
Fishermen, is sacred in June 19 June 20 Iron Skegge The eve
of summer solstice, marks the martyrdom of the iron skegge,
torture on the orders of Norwegian king, Olaf Tryggvason, he died rather that
give up his pagan Faith. The triple
triangle knot is the Valknut, the knot of the slain, symbol of Odin’s
martyrs. June Summer Solstice:
Midsummer, Litha, Alban Hefin, Seventh Station of the year, All
Heras, Islamic New Year. Midsummer Druidic festival of alban Herfin, Anlgo-Saxon
Litha, is the longest day of the year, the time of sanctification. At June 22 Egyptian Day June 23 St. John's Eve was a traditional time of meditation,
awaking the northernmost sunrise. June 24 Fortuna, A sacred day of the goddess Fortuna, Lady Luck, As St John
the Baptist day, it is also the official Midsummer’s day, It is customary to light midsummer bonfires
on high points to celebrate the high point of the year and the solar
light. Traditional locations for St.
John Day fires are often places where the sun was observed in former
times. June 25 June 26 June 27 Initium Aestatis, Death of Julian the blessed Initium Aestatis, the roman festival of the beginning of
summer, celebrates aestas, the tutelary goddess of summertime. The Roman emperor Julian the blessed,
champion of the Pagan religion, died on this day in the year 3632 c.e.
Country weather lore assets that if rain falls on 27 June, there will be
several weeks of hot weather. June 28 Runic New Year's Eve Final Day of the Runic year, the last day ruled by
Daggaz. The eight pointed sigil is symbolic of
completion. June 29 Runic New Year ,
Half month of Fehu commences, Petosiris, St. Peter This is an important day in the runic year cycle, marking
the beginning of the first rune, Fehu, sacred to Frey and Freya, the lord and
Lady worshiped in modern Wicca. It is
the half month of wealth and success.
As St. Peter day it is the day of foundations, it also commemorates
the Egyptian astrologer and high priest of thoth, Petosiris of Hermopolis 300
b.c.e. whose tomb became a place of pilgrimage after his death and
canonization. In the traditions of June 30 July July is named for Julius Caesar, who reorganized the
previous chaotic Roman calendar with the help of Alexandrian Sages to form
the Julian calendar. Known as the
year of confusion after the chaos caused by becoming the main calendar in the
west for the next 1600 years. It was
current in As with the modern English name, the Irish name of this
month is based on Lulian, Iuil. The
Anglo-Saxon name for July is Aeftera Litha, "after Litha",
acknowledging its position after the summer solstice. An alternative
Anglo-Saxon name for the month of July is Maedmont, "Meadow month",
because the meadows are at their greatest point of growth in the month. July's Frankish name is related to
Hewimanoth, "Hay month" a name that is continued in modern Asatru
as Haymoon. These month names
describe the traditional labor of the month, hay cutting. The full moon this month is buck moon in
American backwoods tradition. The birthstone of July is the ruby, whose adage goes: The
glowing Ruby shall adorn Those
who in warm July are born. Then
will they be exempt and free From
love's doubt and anxiety. Weather lore for July says that rain in the third hour of
a July afternoon is the heaviest in the year. July 15 is St. Swithin's Day, a
weather marker. A country weather rhyme for July is: A
shower of rain in July, when the corn begins to fill, Is
worth a plough of oxen, and all belongs theretill. In
this month is Swithin's Day, On
which, if that rain, men say,
Full forty days
after it will For
more or less some rain distil, Till
Swithin's Day is past and gone There
may be hops, or there may be none. July 1 Kalends of July A weather marker: If July the
first be rainy weather, It will rain
for four more weeks together. July 2 July 3 Dog Days begin/ Loki's Brand The dog days, ruled by the Dog Star, Sirius, called Loki's
Brand in the Northern Tradition, begin today. Traditionally, the hottest part
of the year. July 4 July 5 July 6 Julian the Blessed The Roman emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus (331-363
C.E.), known as Julian the Blessed, was a learned philosopher in his own
right and the restorer of the Pagan religion to the July 7 The Consualia/ Caprotina/ Feriae Ancillarum/ Nones of
July/ Celtic tree month of Duir ends The Roman festival of the Consualia commemorates Consus,
the god of harvests, presaging a good harvest later in the month. Today is
also the Feriae Ancillarum, the Festival of Handmaids or the maids' day out,
when the maids of July 8 St. Sunniva/ Celtic tree month of Tinne commences Sometimes observed as the continuation of the Caprotine
Nones this is also the feast of St. Sunniva, the medieval version of the
Norse solar maiden, Sunna. July 9 Egyptian Day July 10 Holda/ Hela/ Skadi/ Lady Godiva/ Knut the Reaper/ Goddess
month Rosea ends Holda, Hela, and Skadi are north European goddesses of the
shades and the underworld. The sky-clad Lady Godiva was said to have ridden
through July 11 Theano/ Goddess month of Kerea commences Commemorates Theano, wife of the Greek philosopher
Pythagoras, who was a philosopher in her own right and sometimes seen as
patroness of vegetarianism. July 12 July 13 July 14 Runic half-month of The half-month of July 15 Ides of July/ Olympic New Year/ Rowana/ St. Swithin/
Egyptian Day The rowan tree goddess, Rowana or Rauni, is patroness of
the secret knowledge of the runes. The rowan is the tree of protection and
its wood, used in making defensive amulets, is especially effective if cut on
this day. St. Swithin's Day is a weather marker. If it rains this day, it is
said, then it will rain for the next forty days. July 16 July 17 July 18 John Dee Dr. John Dee, English astrologer, alchemist, and
mathematician born in 1527. July 19 Adonia Today marks the high point of Adonis's six-month presence
in the world through the summer half of the year. A sacred drama of the
wedding of Adonis and Aphrodite is celebrated on this day. July 20 July 21 Damo/ Egyptian Day The seeress Damo, venerated today, was the daughter of the
Greek sage, Pythagoras. All of the secrets of his philosophy were entrusted
to her at his death. July 22 July 23 Neptunalia and Salacia/ Aegir and Ran The Neptunalia celebrates the divinity of the sea god,
Neptune. His wife, Salacia, is goddess of the wide open, salty sea. Inland,
she rules over springs of highly mineralized waters. The goddess Sulis,
worshiped at the sacred July 24 July 25 Furrinalia Furrina was an ancient Italian goddess of springs. This
festival is related closely to that of July 23. Now is the time when a
drought may begin to " bite," and the
value of springs is appreciated. A good day to remember our vital reliance on
sources of water. July 26 Sleipnir Sleipnir is the shamanic steed that can be used to travel
to other levels or states
of consciousness. The associated Asatru festival commemorates
Odin's eight-legged steed, which takes the rider between the three worlds,
from the upper one of the gods, Asgard, through our own middle one, Midgard,
into the underworld of the shades, Utgard. July 27 St. Pantaleone St. Pantaleone, worshiped today, was among other things
the patron saint of trousers! July 28 Domhnach Chrom Dubh The Irish sacrificial god, Domhnach Chrom Dubh, is
connected with the festival of Lammas as is John Barleycorn, personification
of grain, who is killed by being cut at this time. At right is Fionn's wheel,
a shield with magical formulae that make it a symbol of protection. July 29 St. Olaf/ Thor/ Runic half-month of Thorn commences Northern Tradition honors the god known to the Anglo-
Saxons as Thunor and to the Norse as Thor. The time of Thorn is one of
ascendant powers and orderliness. This day also honors the sainted Norwegian king, Olaf, slain around
Lammas Day. Its traditional calendar symbol is an axe. July 30 July 31 Lammas Eve/ Loki and Sigyn Norse trickster god Loki and his consort Sigyn are honored
today. August August is named after the first Roman emperor, Augustus
Caesar (
Heaven, Earth, Sun, Moon and Sea, Fruits of Earth and Sea-stuff,
Mouths, ears, eyes, possessions,
Feet, hands, warriors' tongues. Lammas is the first harvest of the traditional year, that
of grain. This month is sacred to the god of wisdom, Lugh, tutelary deity of The birthstone of August is the sardonyx, whose adage
goes: Wear a
Sardonyx or for thee No
conjugal felicity. Those
August born without this stone
"Tis said must live unloved, alone. Country weather lore for August links it as follows:
"As August, so next February." Also, " A
fog in August means a severe winter and plenty of snow." The immediate
weather concerns the forthcoming harvest, so of course, "
Dry August and warm, doth harvest no harm." A "green
sky" above the sunset presages a rainy morning. In this month, moon lore
is important too. If a ring or halo appears around the moon, it foretells
coming rain. The moon features in another traditional August weather rhyme: Pale
moon doth rain, red moon doth blow.
White moon doth
neither rain nor snow. Of course, the likelihood of snow in August is almost nil. August 1 Cross quarter day: Lammas, Lughnassadh, Eighth Station of
the Year/ Kalends of August/ Egyptian Day At this festival of the first harvest, the first corn is
cut, baked into a loaf, and offered to the goddess in thanksgiving. Lammas is
the eighth and last station of the year, completion, sacred to Odin and
Frigg. Celebrants would ascend the spiral path of the Lammas hill on their
way to Lammas festivities. August 2 William II Rufus The anniversary of the death of the second Norman king of
England, William II Rufus, killed by an archer in the New Forest in 1100.
Many Pagans believe that he, along with other "sacred" kings who
died violently on days close to the cross-quarter days, such as Olaf of
Norway, were victims of the tradition of sacrificial kingship. August 3 August 4 Vigil of St. Oswald/ Celtic tree month of Tinne ends Commemorates the Anglo-Saxon king of August 5 St.Oswald/ Celtic tree month of Coll commences Coll,the hazel, is symbolic of
wisdom and druidry. It signifies the art of regeneration through the use of
words, the power of meditation, and --through its use by water dowsers--
divination of hidden or lost things. August 6 Tan The Tan Hill festival commemorates the personified Celtic
holy fire, Teinne or Tan. A festival related to Lammas, it takes place
two days after the end of the Celtic tree month of Tinne. August 7 August 8 Goddess month of Kerea ends August 9 Goddess month of Hesperis commences August 10 August 11 August 12 Lights of Isis/ St. Clare/ William Blake Ancient Egyptian festival of the Lights of Isis, later became the Christian day of St. Clare. Today
is also the anniversary of the death of visionary artist and poet William
Blake. August 13 Hecate/Runic half-month of As commences Another festival of the goddess Hecate. The rune As is
sacred to the deities of Asgard: a time of stability, with the divine force
obviously at work in the world. This letter corresponds with the ash tree.
The world ash, Yggdrasil, is a symbol of continuity in times of change and
chaos. The Odinic festival of the runes falls within this half-month.(see
August 25) August 14 August 15 The Great Mother Goddess/ Assumption of the Virgin Mary/
Dog Days end Day of St. Mary, the continuation of the Great Mother
goddess in her fertile aspect, when she is invoked to ensure a good vintage:
On St. Mary's Day, sunshine
Brings much good wine. This is the Christian festival of the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary. It also marks the end of the dog days, the hottest period of the
year. August 16 August 17 Odin's Ordeal (1) The first day of Odin's ordeal on the world tree
Yggdrasil, leading to the discovery of the runes. According to the Edda, Odin
hung on the tree for nine days and nights. This is commemorated from August
17 to August 25, the final day being the festival of the Discovery of the
Runes, when Odin fell "screaming " from
the tree, having gained the knowledge. August 18 Odin's Ordeal (2) August 19 Odin's Ordeal (3)/ The Rustic Vinalia/ Egyptian Day Roman festival of the Rustic Vinalia is a day of offering
to the ripening grapes. This is a festival of the goddess Venus in her aspect
as guardian of gardens, olive groves, and vineyards. August 20 Odin's Ordeal (4)/ Egyptian Day August 21 Odin's Ordeal (5) August 22 Odin's Ordeal (6)/ Aedesia The fifth century Neoplatonic philosopher Aedesia
remembered today. August 23 Odin's Ordeal (7)/ Nemesea/ Vertumnalia/ Vulcan and the
Nymphs Day of the Nemesea, the celebration of the Greek goddess
Nemesis, defender of the relics and memory of the dead from insult and
injury. Day of the Vertumnalia, held in celebration of Vertumnus, Roman god
of the change of the seasons and transformation of flowers into fruits. It is
also the festival of Vulcan and the Nymphs. August 24 Odin's Ordeal (8)/ Mania (first day)/ St. Bartholomew The Mania is a Roman festival acknowledging the manes,
deified spirits of the ancestors. St. Bartholomew's (or Bartlemy's) Day is a
weather marker: If Bartlemy's
Day be fair and clear, Hope for a prosperous
autumn this year. August 25 Ops/Odin's Ordeal (9)/ Discovery of the Runes The Italian earth goddess of sowing and reaping,Ops, is remembered in the Opiconsivia, a ceremony at
which only vestal virgins were present. Her worshipers always sat on the
earth. August 26 Ilmatar Ilmatar
is a FInnish Goddess, known as the Water Mother. According to tradition this goddess is the
creator of the world, traditional sigal for this day upside down triangle
with a line connecting the bottom to the top. August 27 Nativity of August 28 Nativity of Nephthys Nephthys is the Egyptian equivalent of Aphrodite. August 29 Urda, Nativity of Hathor, Augustusm, Runic Half month of Radho commences, Egyptian
day Urda is the eldest of the tree Norns (Fates) and
represents "That which was".
She is honored today. The
deified Roman emperor, Augustus after whom the month is named, is remembered
on this day, the day of his death.
The Egyptians celebrated the nativity of the goddess Hathor on this
day. The runic half month of Radho
denotes the channeling of energies in the correct manner to produce the
desired results. August 30 Alexandrian New Year,
Charisteria the first day of the month of
Thoth, the new year day of the fixed Greco-Egyptian calendar of September September is so called because it is the seventh month of
the old roman calendar. The name of
the tree following months October, November, and December also bear old roman
month numbers, eight, nine, and ten, respectively. The Goddess pomoma, patroness of fruit and
fruit bearing trees, is the ruling deity of the month of September. This is the Irish month of Mean
Fomhair. Its Anglo Saxon name was
Haligonath, "Holy month".
This is rather paradoxical, as the first part of the month has
significantly fewer sacred festivals that most other months do. To the franks it was Witumanoth, "Wood
month" in which wood was gathered in advance of the approaching
winter. To modern Asatru, it is the
month shedding. The backwoods' moon
of September is the harvest moon. The Celtic tree calendar month of coll ends on September
1. From September 2 until September 29
is the vine month of Muin, sacred to the God Lugh, with
"Variegated" colors. Gort begins on September 30. This is the ivy month, sacred to the
goddess Brigid, with the color of sky blue.
The month of Gort is a time for the development of the self, a period
when one can see beyond the everyday world to that which lies within and
beyond. It symbolizes the spiral
ascent of the spirit from the plane of Abred (material world) to Gwynvyd (the
world of enlightenment). The goddess
calendar month of Hesperis runs until September 5, giving way to the month of
Malay on September 6. The stone for September is sapphire. A maiden born when rustling leaves Are blowing in the September breeze, A Sapphire on her brow should bind, 'Twill cure diseases of the mind. September is most noted for containing the Autumn Equinox,
the Mabon of Celtic tradition, the Alban Elfed of Druids, and the Winter
Finding of the Norse. Moveable days
that occur in September (or October) include the Jewish New Year(Rosh Hashanah), Yom Kippur, and Simhat Torah. Weather lore for September says that the
month is one of extremes. It is able
to either dry up wells or break down bridges.
"If it be Fair on the first day of September, it will remain so
at least to the beginning of October."
It is said in East Anglican lore that there are three very windy days
during the mid-September Barleysel (Barley Harvest). These are the equinoctial storms
associated with the period.
"September blow soft, till the fruits in the loft" is the
spell against potential wind borne disasters during the fruit harvest of the
month. September 1 Kalends of September, St, Giles, Celtic tree month of Coll
ends Wounded in the leg by arrow while protecting a stag that
the king of Provance was trying to shoot, Giles became patron of the
disabled, and was praying to for cures, many hospitals were dedicated to him,
all later closed by Henry VIII, as were the catholic
monasteries and fairs at September 2 Celtic Tree month of Muin commences, St. Sulien, Egyptian
Day This is harvest time when the raw materials of life, both
physical and spiritual, are collected for processing into something
higher. These are of prophetic powers
is promised by the month of Muin, which is sacred to the god Lugh, Celtic
deity of the light of the intellect and illumination. September 3 September 4 Egyptian day September 5 Nones of September,
Goddess month of Hesperis ends September 6 Goddess month of Mala commences, Egyptian Day September 7 Egyptian day September 8 Mary, the blessed Virgin The feast of the nativity of Amy. The weather today is said to determine that
of the following four weeks. September 9 Asclepigenia, Horned dance at Abbots Bromley The day on which Asclepigenia, a
priestess of Greek Eleusinian mysteries, is commemorated, traditionally, the
horned dance at abbots bromley is held two weeks before the equinox when
dancers carry ancient reindeer horns.
This custom, now and at the New Year, is a Pagan tradition
representing the horned one, who is most commonly called CERNUNNOS. This day is also a weather marker. If the weather is fine today, it will
continue for another forty days. September 10 Egyptian day September 11 September 12 September 13 Ides of September, Lectisternia, Runic half month of
Kannaz commences The Roman festival of Lectisternia was held in honor of
Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. The rune Kannaz
represents the flaming torch within the royal hall, the time of the creative fire- the
forge where natural materials are transmuted by the actions of the human will
into a mystical third, an artifact that could not otherwise come into
being. The positive aspects of
sexuality immanent in the goddess Freya and the god Frey come into play at
this time. September 14 Feast of lights This ancient Egyptian ceremony involved offering light
burning all night before images of the gods and the tombs of the dead. September 15 September 16 Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated. September 17 September 18 Egyptian day September 19 Fast of thoth In the Alexandrian calendar this was a day-long fast in
honor of thoth, Egyptian god of wisdom and magic. September 20 Alexander Alexander the great, deified after his death, was born
accompanied by great omens on this day in 356 b.c.e. September 21 St. Matthew, Feast of the Divine life, raud the strong,
Egyptian day The Egyptian feast of divine life is dedicated to the
threefold goddess the mother(creatrix of all things)
,. the daughter (renewer), and the dark mother (the
absolute). The martyrdom of raud the
strong by the Norwegian King , Olaf Tryggvason, is also commemorated on
the eve of the autumnal equinox. Raud
died under hideous torture rather that abjure his faith in the old gods of
the North. September 22 September 23 Autumn Equinox: Mabon, Alban Elfed, Winter finding, second station of the year,
Carpo, Carman, Egyptian day A time when darkness overtakes light, and nights grow
longer than days. It marks the second
station of the year. It is the time
of calling, ripening of the harvest, a prelude to awakening at Samhain. If it is warm at the autumnal equinox, the
season should be fine. The goddess
Carpo and Carman are deities of Autumn and Poetry, respectively. September 24 September 25 Yom Kippur Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, is a day of fasting. September 26 September 27 September 28 Runic Half month of Gebo commences Gebo represents the unity that a gift brings between a
donor and recipient. It is a time of
unification, both between the members of society and the human and the
divine. September 29 Michaelmas, Gwynn ap Nudd, Heimdall, Celtic tree month of
muin ends St Michael is chief of the angels in Christian tradition,
a warrior as well as a master of heaven.
Equivalent figures celebrated on the same day are the Celtic Gwenn ap
Nudd, Lord of the underworld and the faerie kingdom, whose sacred mountain is
Glastonbury Tor, and the Norse Heimdall orderer of society, watcher of the
gods, and captain of the 432,000 Einheriar, the chosen warriors who defend
Valhalla. September 29 is weather
marker: "Harvest comes as long before Michaelmas as god roses bloom
before midsummer" Curious ritual biscuits in a form of a man riding a goose,
known as taffy on a goose, were sold on this day in Norwich, Norfolk,
England, until the outbreak of WWII in 1939. September 30 Medetrinalia, Celtic tree month of Gort Commences Offering of fruit are made on this day of medatrina, the
roman goddess of medicines. October October , the eighth month of the
Roman calendar, is sacred to the goddess Astraea . She was the daughter of Zeus and Themus and
lived among humans during the golden age.
But when civilization began to deteriorate, she withdrew to the
upperworld. The myth of the loss of
the golden age is appropriate for the time of year when the chills of autumn
tell us that the golden days of summer are past and that winter is drawing
near. The autumn leaves turn to gold
and fall during this month, echoing Astraea's departure from the earth. October is the
Irish month of Deireadh Fomhair. Its
Anglo Saxon name Winterfelleth, means winter is coming"
. Its Frankish name,Windermanoth, "Vintage month" refers to the
wine harvest. The American backwoods
tradition calls the October full moon the hunter’s moon, and the Asatru name
for the month is Hyunting. In the Celtic tree calendar, October begins in the ivy
month, Gort, which runs until October 27.
The Reed month, Noetal follows, this is sacred to the fertility sprite
Robin Goodfellow, and has the color of grass-green. It is a time of direct ,
penetrating vision, the gaining of knowledge and the capability of
discovering order in the unknown.
Solar and lunar forces are said to be in unison during this tree
month. October 28 is also the first
day of the Runic half month of Haggalaz, a time of transformation. This rune also symbolizes an underlying
orderliness of all things, without which there would be chaos and
nonexistence. The Goddess calendar month of Mala expires on October
2. It is followed by the month
dedicated to Egyptian goddess Hathor, ending on the 30th. The final day of October, Halloween or
November eve, is the first day of the month ruled by the Goddess
Samhain, This is the Irish name of
the month of November, and this goddess is the personification of the virtues
of this time of year. The festival of Samhain begins at sunset on October 31,
the New year of the Celtic tradition. Traditionally, this is the time of the
first frosts and the final harvest.
At this festival, the herds were brought back from the upland fields
into the warmth of the lowland home pastures and cattle shed old and surplus
stock was slaughtered and salted or smoked for use during the forthcoming
winter. Some of the meat was consumed
at the great feast of Samhain, washed down with the new harvests beer or wine. The birthstone of October is the opal, which as an averter
of otherwise painful times, as an adage tells. October's Child is born for Woe, And life's vicissitudes must know: But lay an opal on her breast, and hope will lull those woes to
rest. The weather lore of the October states that the more bright berries haws and hips that can be seen in the
hedgerows, the more frost and snow there will be in the forthcoming
winter. But the month itself need not
be cold and wintry. October is noted
for its second summer in many lands of the Northern Hemisphere. In IF October bring much frost and wind Then are January and February Mild. October is also the month for fertilizing the fields for
the next years growing season: IN October dung your field and your land its wealth shall
yield. October 1 Kalends of October/Fides Fides was the personification of faithfulness, worshiped
as a goddess in October 2 Goddess month of Mala ends/ Holy Guardian Angels Whether as guardian angels, sprites, or spirits many
believe in something that protects each of us from ill. The four-cornered
labyrinth is a sigil of guardianship. October 3 Dionysus/ St. Dionysius/ Goddess month of Hathor commences The Grecian divinity Dionysus ( and
Roman Bacchus) was god of wine and revelry--so this is a time of celebration
after the harvest. Old and new wine are mixed
together, and the goddess Medetrina is also invoked:” Wine new and old I
drink, to cure me of illnesses new and old." St. Dionysius is a
Christianized form of the Pagan god. October 4 Egyptian Day October 5 Mania On the second day of the Mania, the Mundud, the passage to
the underworld, was believed to be open, allowing the passage of spirits up
into our middle world, and the journeys of shamans down into the underworld
and back. It is a festival when departed ancestors are remembered. October 6 Egyptian Day October 7 Nones of October/ Pallas Athena/ Pallas Athena, patroness of October 8 (crescent moon) Simhat Torah The Jewish celebration of Simhat Torah, the Rejoicing of
the Law, marks the end of the year's cycle of readings from the Torah. October 9 Felicitas Felicitas, Roman goddess of good luck and joy, is
celebrated today. October 10 October 11 Vinalia The Roman Bacchanalian festival of Vinalia was a harvest
thanksgiving, at which the new wine was tested. In modern times, this can be
taken as the excuse for a party! October 12 Fortuna Redux Fortuna Redux, the Roman goddess of successful journeys
and safe returns, is worshiped today. October 13 Fontinalia/Runic half-month of Wyn commences Fontinalia was a Roman festival at which fountains, that
is, holy wells and springs, were venerated. Wyn literally means joy, the rune
being the shape of a weather vane. The mystery of harmony within a
disharmonious world is now manifest. Wyn stands for
the creation of harmony within the given conditions of the present. October 14 Winter's Day/ Vinternatsblot Winter's Day marks the beginning of the winter season in
the old northern European calendar. Long-distance sailing and other summer
activities also stopped on this day, as preparations for the winter took
priority. October 15 Ides of October In ancient October 16 Egyptian Day October 17 St. Audrey/ Hengest St. Audrey's Day is the date of the famous fair at St.
Ives in Huntingdonshire, where St. Audrey's trinkets (
tawdry jewelry) were sold. It is also the Asatru festival of Hengest,
which commemorates the Anglo-Saxon settlement of eastern October 18 Pandrosos The Greek goddess Pandrosos was known as the all-bedewing
or all-refreshing one. She was the deified first priestess of Minerva. Today
is the final chance in the year for really good weather, the St. Luke's
summer of English tradition. October 19 October 20 October 21 October 22 October 23 (crescent moon)
Winter Saturday This two-day Asatru festival commemorates the changeover
to the winter half of the year. October 24 (crescent moon) Winter Sunday/ Egyptian Day Winter Sunday is the second day of the Asatru observance. October 25 Dioscuri/ The feast of Saints Crispin and Crispinianus was
immortalized by Shakespeare in Henry V, in the king's speech on the eve of
the battle of
Now shoemakers
will have a frisken, All in honour
of St. Crispin. October 26 October 27 Celtic tree month of Gort ends October 28 Fyribod/ Runic half-month of Hagal and Celtic tree month
of Ngetal commences Then festival of Fyribod, or Forebode, is a marker of
winter and bad weather. The runic half-month of Hagal, the transformative
hailstone, is a time to undergo the changes leading up to winter. The Celtic
tree month of Ngetal, the reed, is symbolic of measurement(
as a metewand) and of record (as the reed pen). A time of introspection,
analysis, seeking, and finding order. October 29 October 30 Goddess month of Hathor ends October 31 Samhain Eve/ Halloween/ Goddess month of Samhain commences Samhain of ( Celtic)'Deireadh Fomhair', (English)winter is coming,
(Frankish) 'Windurmanoth' vintage month as time of the wine harvest, Asatru
'the month of hunting. The feast of Samhain marks the onset of a darker, more
introspective time of year, when access to the otherworld is easier than
usual. The festival is also known as Halloween. November In the natural year, November is the first month of the
winter quarter. This commences at the festival of Samhain/ All Saints, the
first day of the month. In Celtic tradition, the beginning of the winter
quarter also marked the beginning of the year. Samhain (pronounced sow-wun)
was the first day of the old Celtic year. In Irish, the name of the day itself,
La Shamhna, is given to the whole month. Although it is now the eleventh month,
November takes it name from being the original ninth month of the Roman
calendar. But wherever it is placed in the year circle, this is a month of
endings and beginnings. The quarter starting now is under the guardianship of
the Cailleach ( the veiled woman), the old woman
goddess. Until Yuletide, this is a time of increasing darkness, the apparent
decline of the living world. It is the time when the link is strong between
the world of the living and the underworld of the dead. As the third station
of the year, it is the time of awakening and letting go, when the seed falls
to earth from its mother plant. The Anglo-Saxon name for November was Blotmonath, the
month of sacrifice, the time for killing the livestock that could not be kept
through the winter months. In the Frankish tradition, it was Herbistmanoth, " harvest month," also referring to the third
harvest of animals. Adherents of Asatru call November Fogmoon, after the most
common weather of the month. This is the Beaver Moon of the American
backwoods tradition. The Celtic tree-calendar month of Ngetal occupies most of
November, ending on the 24th. It is followed by Ruis, the elder month. The
elder is the tree of timelessness in which youth and age, life and death, are
in balance. It is sacred to the Mothers, the three goddesses that personify
the triple goddess of girl, mother and old woman, particularly in her third
aspect. Its sacred color is red. Almost all of the month is coincident with the
goddess-calendar month of Samhain, the feminine personification of the
November cross-quarter day. This goddess is an aspect of the Cailleach. Her
month expires at If
ducks do slide at Hollantide, At
Christmas they will swim. If
ducks do swim at Hollantide, At
Christmas they will slide.
Winter is on his way
At The feast day of Wayland, commemorated under the guise of
St. Clement, patron saint of smiths, falls on
November 23. The chains binding the demons of the underworld should now be
hammered to keep them strong! The topaz is the jewel of November. It is the emblem of
true friendship. The first half of the month is ruled by the rune Hagal, the
icy hailstone rune of transformation, connected with the underworld goddess
Hela, and the Norn of past times, Urda. From November 13, the rune Nyd rules.
This is the rune of necessity, urging us to accomplish the tasks we need to
fulfill before the coming wintertime renders them impossible. At the end of
November, the runic half-month of Is-ice-comes into play. This is a time of
restricted activity, as the days grow shorter toward the solstice and the weather
worsens. Nov 1 Cross quarter day :Samhain, Festival of the Dead, Third
Station of the Year/Kalends of November/All Saints/Isia The third station of the year, awakening, is a time of
letting go, when the seed falls to Earth. Samhain is the beginning of winter in the
natural year. All Saint's Day is the first day of the two-day Christian
commemoration of the dead elevated to sainthood. As a continuation of
Samhain, the Eve of All Souls' Day begins at sunset when it is customary to
light the bonfires known as tinley fires (teanlas or tindles). The theme of
this week is memory of the dead, communication with the underworld, and
purification for the future. November 2 Isia(2)/ All Souls All Souls' Day commemorates departed spirits not elevated
to sainthood. Before becoming a church festival in 998 C.E., it was marked
with celebrations from the festival of Woden (Odin) as god of the dead:
parading the Hodening wild horse and other guising including mummers' plays
enacting the mysteries of life, death, and rebirth. Ceremonial soulcakes were
cooked and eaten on this day. November 3 Isia (3)/ St. Malachy The medieval Irish prophet St. Malachy, the "Irish
Nostradamus," is commemorated today. In Celtic tradition, this is the
day for starting new enterprises and the day the cattle are taken from the
hills to the lowlands for wintertime. November 4 November 5 Nones of November/ Guy Fawkes Night/ Egyptian Day Guy Fawkes Night, celebrated by the burning in effigy of a
would-be regicide, continues the earlier tradition of burning effigies of the
evil spirits of the past old year. By cremating them, along with outworn
hurts and grievances, the new year may be faced in a purer way, free of
unnecessary and unhelpful psychic leftovers. November 6 November 7 November 8 Mania/ Gwynn ap Nudd The Roman festival of the Mania commemorates the Manes,
spirits of the underworld. A day when the lower worlds are accessible. In
Celtic tradition, Gwynn ap Nudd (Light, son of Darkness), lord of the faerie
kingdom, permits the door to be opened for a day. His abode is Glastonbury
Tor, one of the ancient holy mountains of November 9 Helena/ Quatuor Coronati Helena, deified wife of Emperor Julian the Blessed, is
commemorated today. It is also the feast of the Four Crowned Martyrs, held in
great regard by Freemasons. November 10 Nincnevin (Diana)/ Reason/Old November Eve/ Egyptian Day The Scots Pagan festival of Nincnevin (Martinmas Eve)
honors an aspect of Diana, who rides with her entourage in the night hours of November 9-10.
During the French Revolution, the goddess of Reason was celebrated in the
cathedral of Notre Dame in November 11 Old November Day/ Martinmas/ Einherjar This day marks the full onset of winter. Hiring fairs used
to take place today. In Asatru, it is the festival of the Einherjar, the
432,000 spiritual warriors who guard the gods. In November 12 November 13 Feronia/ Juno, Minerva, and Jupiter/ Runic half-month of
Nyd commences At the Roman festival of Feronia the goddess of this name
was worshiped along with Juno, Minerva, and Jupiter, the three Capitoline
deities. The runic period of Nyd is a time to prepare for winter. November 14 Moccas/ St. Dubricius The Celtic saint, Dubricius, is reputed to have been the
priest who crowned King Arthur. His legend is associated with the Celtic pig
goddess Moccas. November 15 Egyptian Day November 16 St. Edmund, king of November 17 November 18 November 19 November 20 Praetextatus and Paulina
Praetextatus and Paulina, guardians of the Eleusinian
mysteries, are commemorated today. In 364 C.E., they resisted the order of
Christian emperor Valentinian to suppress these Greek Pagan mysteries. They
continued to allow the entire rite to be performed in the traditional way.
Demeter is the presiding goddess of the mysteries. November 21 November 22 Ydalir/Artemis Calliste/ St. Cecilia In the Northern Tradition, this is Ydalir, the Valley of
the Yews, under the rulership of the wintertime god of skiing and archery,
Ullr. Today is celebrated by all music lovers as St. Cecilia's Day. She is
patroness of music, an aspect of the goddess Artemis Calliste, the Lily of
Heaven. November 23 St. Clement's Day marks the first day of winter in the
Julian calendar. As patron saint of blacksmiths and metalworkers, Clement is
an aspect of the Saxon and Norse godling Wayland the Smith. At the annual
blacksmith's feast held at November 24 Celtic tree month of Ngetal ends November 25 Persephone/ Proserpina/ Kore/ St. Catherine/ Womens'
Merrymaking Day/ Celtic tree month of Ruis commences Commemorates the wheel goddess of the underworld, known
variously as Persephone,Proserpina,Kore, Arianrod, and
Catherine--Queen of the Shades, ruler of the souls of the dead. It was
formerly known as Women's Merrymaking Day, a festival of the celebration of
women's mysteries. November 26 Paracelsus The Swiss alchemist was born on this day in 1493. November 27 Goddess month of Cailleach November 28 Runic half-month of Is and goddess month of Astraea
commence The runic half-month of Is, literally "ice," is
a static period : a time of the cessation of flow
and enforced rest. November 29 Sons of Saturn/ St. Saturnius/ Egyptian Day One of the festivals of the sons of Saturn, in their
saintly guise as St. Saturnius. Saturnius, son of Saturn, is the surname of
the gods Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto, who are commemorated on this day. November 30 St. Andrew/ Egyptian Day The saint worshiped today as St. Andrew is a version of
the divinity known as Andros, the Man, personification of manhood and the
principle of virility, seen as an aspect of Dionysus. This is the patronal
day of December December is named after the tenth month of the Roman
calendar and the middle goddess of the Three Fates, Decima, she who
personifies the present. The Roman goddess Vesta, patroness of fire, an
archetypal symbol of the eternal present, was also said to rule this month.
December's Anglo-Saxon name was Aerra Geola, "the month before
Yule." Another version was Wintermonat, "winter month."Because
of its unusually large number of sacred festivals, the Frankish tradition
called it Heilagmanoth, "holy month," but modern Asatru does not
refer to the Yule/Christmas tradition, preferring Wolfmoon. The Irish name of
December is Mi na Nollag, Christmas month. The December full moon is the
backwoods' Cold or Hunting Moon. The Celtic tree month of Ruis runs until
December 22, when it gives way to the intercalary day of December 23. The
elder month signifies the paradox of a time of timelessness, youth in old age
and old age in youthfulness, life in death and death in life. It is the end
of the year's cycle and the herald of a new beginning. Change is linked to
creativity in the month of Ruis. It is followed by the single blank day in
the Celtic calendar known as "the secret of the unhewn stone." From December 24, the month of Beth begins. Beth is the
first letter of the Celtic ogham alphabet, signifying the birch,
sacred to the Great Mother goddess and the prime tree of the tree alphabet,
representing new beginnings, purification, and the expulsion of all bad
thoughts and influences. The goddess calendar month of Astraea runs until
December 25, Yule Day. It is followed by the month of Hestia, which spans the
New Year, ending on January 22. The major festival of December is the winter solstice,
also called Yule, Alban Arthuan, and Midwinter. The birth of many solar
saviors and dying gods is celebrated at this time, usually on December 25.
These saviors include Osiris, the Syrian Baal, Attis, Adonis, Helios, Apollo,
Dionysus, Mithras, Jesus, Balder, and Frey. In the Roman tradition December
25 was Dies Natalis Solis Invictus, the Day of the Birth of the Undefeated
Sun. All of these deities were given similar titles: the Light of the World,
Sun of Righteousness, and Savior. The festival of Christmas is a wonderful
amalgam of many religious traditions, ancient and modern, Pagan, Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Mithraic, and Christian. December 31 is the Scottish New Year's festival of
Hogmanay. Its name commemorates the solar divinity Hogmagog. As Gogmagog,
this solar giant was formerly a
chalk-cut hill figure at Wandlebury, close to Cambridge, while, divided into
two gianta, Gog and Magog, he is the spiritual guardian of the city of
London. The traditional Hogmanay ceremonies involved dressing in the hides of cattle and running
around the village, being hit by sticks. Hogmanay festivities include the
lighting of bonfires, rolling blazing tar barrels, and tossing blazing
torches. In former times, animal hide was wrapped around sticks and ignited,
producing a smoke that was said to be effective against evil sprites. The
talismanic smoking stick itself was known as a Hogmanay. Hogmanay has its own
customary goods: bannocks, oarsmen, shortbread, black buns, and ankersocks ( ginger loaves made with rye meal). In former times, the
shamanic tradition of dressing in animal skins, and often wearing horns or
antlers upon the head, was customary on New Year's Eve. At the moment of New
Year, the doors and windows of the house were opened to let out the old year
and to let the new year in. Household utensils were rattled and banged, to
drive away any remaining psychic vestiges of the old year. In If cold
December gave you birth, The month of
ice and snow and mirth, Place on your
hand a Turquoise blue,
Success will bless whatever
you do. Traditional weather lore for December states that if it
rains during the twelve days after Christmas, then the coming year will also
be wet. An old Highland Scottish saying uses the wind direction on the last
day of the year to predict the coming weather: If New Year's
Eve night and wind blow south, It betokeneth
warmth and growth; If west, much
fish in the sea; If north, much cold and
storms there will be. If east, the
trees will bear much fruit; If north-east,
flee it, man and brute. Christmas Day is a major weather marker, with the
following traditional adages linking it to Eastertide: A warm
Christmas, a cold Easter; A green
Christmas, a white Easter; Christmas in
snow, Easter in wind; Snow at
Christmas brings a good hay crop next year; A light
Christmas, a heavy sheaf; Christmas wet,
empty granary and barrel; If the sun
shines through the apple trees on Christmas day, there will
be a fine crop on the following year; If there is wind
on Christmas day, there will be much fruit. December 1 Kalends of December/ Poseidon Festival of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea and of rebirth. December 2 December 3 Bona Dea Roman festival of Bona Dea, the Good Goddess. December 4 Pallas Athena/ St. St. December 5 Eve of St. Nicholas/ Nones of December In former times, on the Eve of St. Nicholas, Children put
out carrots, hay, and straw, supposedly for his horse, to be exchanged for
presents in the night. December 6 Thor/ St. Nicholas/ Santa Claus/ Egyptian Day The Gnostic followers of St. Nicholas, the Nicolaites,
taught that the only way to salvation lay through frequent sexual
intercourse. In northern December 7 Egyptian Day December 8 Astraea A day sacred to Astraea, a Greek goddess of justice. December 9 (crescent moon) Hanukkah/ Egyptian Day The Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins today. December 10 Lux Mundi/ This French festival coincides with the older Roman one
known as Lux Mundi, the Light of the World, and epithet of the goddess December 11 Egyptian Day December 12 December 13 Ides of December/ St. Lucy/ Little Yule/ Runic half-month
of Jara commences St. Lucy's Day , or Little Yule,
is a festival of lights. Jara signifies the completion of natural cycles,
such as fruition, and has a more transcendent meaning of mystic marriage
between the earth and cosmos. December 14 Nostradamus Nostradamus, the great French seer, is remembered today. December 15 Alcyone/ Halcyon Days commence/ Egyptian Day The Greek goddess Alcyone was symbolized by the
kingfisher. Her feast day marks the beginning of the halcyon days, December 16 Sapientia/ Sophia The festival of the goddess of wisdom Sapientia, or
Sophia, immediately precedes the major period of
licenses during the year, when wisdom may not be the ruling quality. December 17 Saturn/Ops/ First day of Saturnalia The Roman festival of Saturnalia ran for seven days and
was known for its extravagant decadence. Slaves were allowed to meet their
masters on equal terms. In this season of goodwill to all, the greeting was " Bona Saturnalia!" The modern celebration of
Christmas is a continuation of this midwinter festivity. December 18 Egyptian Day December 19 December 20 The Mother Night The Mother Night is the Odinist festival of midwinter. Dreams
on this night are believed to foretell events in the upcoming year. December 21 (moon with dot in middle) Winter Solstice: Yule,
Midwinter, Alban Arthuan, Fourth Station of the Year/ The Druidic Alban Arthuan, and Christian St. Thomas's Day,
when the poor traditionally given money or presents. In former times the
needy could ask for money, a practice known as "thomasing" or
"mumping." The fourth station of the year signifies enlightenment,
when the light is reborn within the womb of darkness. December 22 Celtic tree month of Ruis ends/ Egyptian Day December 23 The Secret of the Unhewn Stone/ Last day of Saturnalia/
Acca Larentis This is the blank day of the Celtic tree calendar, the
only day in the year not ruled by a tree and its corresponding Ogham letter.
Its name, the Secret of the Unhewn Stone, denotes the quality of potential in
all things. As the Roman festival of Acca Larentis, today is sacred to the
goddess Laurentina, mother of the Lares, an earth goddess who guards the dead
and the seed corn. She commemorates the old year and the potential of the
new. December 24 Celtic tree month of Beth commences The birch tree month, corresponding with the Ogham letter
Beth, is a time of purification and new beginnings. December 25 Christmas Day/ Goddess month of Astraea ends The observance of Christmas contains many elements from a
number of different religious sources. The many ceremonies and religious
sources of the day make it the most important festival of the year. December 26 Boxing Day/ St. Stephen/ Goddess month of Hestia commences The custom of wren hunting was once widely observed on
this day. The tiny bird, whose slaughter was prohibited at other times of the
year, was imprisoned in a lantern or a wren house, then solemnly paraded
around the village, hung on a holly branch and borne to its funeral by the
"droluns" or wren boys. December 27 A traditional feast day in freemasonry. December 28 Bairns' Day/ Holy Innocents' Day/ Runic half-month of Eoh
commences/ Egyptian Day Holy Innocents' Day, or Bairns' Day, commemorates Herod's
slaughter of infant boys under the age of two. Folk tradition considers
Bairns' Day by far the unluckiest day of the year, when no work should be
started. This is the month of rune Eoh, representing the dead, and the yew
tree, sacred to winter shamanism. December 29 December 30 December 31 New Year's Eve/ Hogmanay/ Asatru Twelfth Night New Year's Eve/ Hogmanay commemorates
the solar divinity, Hogmagog. Traditional festivities include dressing in
hides and horns of animals-"guising"-burning smoking sticks
(Hogmanays) to ward off evil sprites, and eating special cakes. At the moment
of the new year, doors are opened and utensils rattled to drive off the last
psychic vestiges of the old year and welcome the new: Get up, good
wife, and shake your feathers, And dinna
think that we are beggars; For we are
bairns come out to play, Get up and
gie' us our Hogmanay. The Sabbats Festival Date Event Agricultural 1.
Death/Rebirth Plant producing seeds die 2 Madon Sep..
23 Calling in the new
year Harvest 3. Samhain Oct. 31,Nov 1 Awakening Seed released from the
fruit 4. Yule Dec 22 Enlightenment Rebirth of the seed 5. Imbolc Feb. 4 Eostar Mar 20 Reconciliation Seed rebirth 6. Beltain May 1 Mystic Union Plant growth 7. Litha June 21 Sanctification Flowers opens and fertilize the earth 8. Lughnasad July 31,Aug 1 Completion Start of a new Cycle ref, this is partially from the book pagan days, by Nigel Pennick, I just flat out do not have time to rewrite
this. So its mostly Nigel’s work but
most of this info is P. D. . |
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