- fixed holy days (same date every year)
- Zoroastrian calendar
- Celtic Ogham tree calendar
- Roman calendar
- numerology
- tarot
- 2010 lunar days
- 2010 astrological
- 2009 lunar days
- 2009 astrological
- Kemetic calendar
- 2008 holy days
- 2008 lunar days
- 2008 astrological
- birthdays
fixed holy days
These holy days are on the same day every year on the solar calendar.
Gamelia:
Festival of Gamelia: Roman holy day. Held on the Kalends of January (first day of the month) and dedicated to Juno Gamelia, the patron Goddess of marriage. Named for the Greek month of Gamelion on the Attic calendar, a lunar month that occurred in December or January. The Greek month of Gamelion celebrated the marriage of Zeus and Hera. According to Plutarch, marriages required the protection of Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Peitho, and Artemis.
Feast of Hera:
Feast of Hera: Greek holy day. Hera is the Greek Goddess of marriage. This feast is part of Gamelia (see above). On the Greek island of Samos (the withy bushes of the island were believed to be Hera’s birthplace) a priestess secretly took the idol of Hera from the temple and hid it in a lonely place among the willow branches in the woods along the island’s shore. The idol was discovered with great celebration and cakes set beside it as bridal offerings.
The idol was wrapped in withy (willow) and placed in a secluded osier couch (osier is a kind of willow). After the feast, the idol was purified and restored to the temple. The restoration of the idol to the temple indicated that the sacred marriage to Zeus was complete.
This ritual echoed Zeus’ abduction of Hera. In Greek mythology, Zeus turns into a cuckoo and chases Hera to the top of Mount Ida, where he forces himself on her sexually in the midst of a great cloud. When the cloud clears, flowers spring from the ground and Zeus and Hera are married. Premarital sex may have been practiced in celebration of the myth. A Samoan poet wrote “Bring wine and the Muses’ charmful lyre that we may sing of the far-famed bride of Zeus, the mistress of our island.”
Withy (willow) branches were woven for the Feast of Hera. Withy was also used in Greek marriage ceremonies. Hera, who started as an Earth Goddess in pre-Greek times became the Greek Goddess who protected marriage and birth.
Frost Faeries:
Frost Faeries: Wiccan holy day. The frost faeries of winter are out on this morning. You may find wonderful pictures in the morning frost on your windows.
New Year’s Day:
New Year’s Day: International holiday (originally Western holiday). New Year’s Day. This is the most international of all holidays, celebrated worldwide with parties and fireworks displays. The dropping of a large public ball to mark the local midnight, most famous from New York City’s Times Square celebration, is common throughout the world. The modern calendar is based on the Roman calendar, which was based on the Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) solar calendar. The Romans realigned the start of the months to match their New Year’s Day in March (which is why September, October, November, and December are named the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th months respectively) and renumbered the years to match the mythical founding of Rome. Later the New Year was moved to January first and the Christians renumbered the years for the desingated birthday of the mythical Jesus. Currently 162 nations celebrate January 1st as New Year’s Day. An old British magick tradition states that if you leave a loaf of bread and a penny on a table overnight, that you will have plenty of food throughout the coming year.
There is a folk superstition that if you use scissors on New Year’s Day that you will cut off your own good fortune for that year.
New Year’s Day Magick:
New Year’s Day Magick: A spell requesting Seshat grant your wish for the new year. Tie four knots equal distance into a piece of red hemp twine less than one meter (or one yard) long. Red represents life force. The hemp twine represents time. Tie the knots from left to right and concentrate on your wish for the year being tied into the fabric of time. Open your front door. Tie the knotted hemp twine into a circle. On the first knot tell Seshat your hope. On the second knot tell Seshat your wish. On the third knot tell Seshat your belief. On the fourth knot receive Seshat’s blessings. Place the knotted red hemp twine on your altar to remind yourself of your request of Goddess. Note that this spell involves breathing on knots and therefore carries the death penalty in Islamic nations.
German New Year:
German New Year: German holy day. German New Year (based on Roman New Year), dedicated to Perchta or Bertha.
Roman New Year:
Roman New Year: Roman holy day. Sacred to Jupiter, Juno, and Janus. January is named for Janus.
Japanese New Year:
Japanese New Year: Japanese holy day. Japanese New Year. To compute the Japanese year add 660 to the Western year.
New Year’s Day Celebrations:
New Year’s Day Celebrations: Celebrated with making of noise at local midnight. Shooting gunsinto the air is dangerous. Spells and rituals for protection and divination. Exchange of gifts, especially herring, bread, and fuel for the home fire.
Day of the Tuatha de Danaan:
Day of the Tuatha de Danaan: Celtic holy day. Day of the Tuatha de Danaan (the people of Danu). Their Gods are Brian, Luchar, and Uar, sons of Brighid, who is associated with Danu, the ancestral Goddess and grandmother of the Tuatha de Danaan. — Celtic information provided by Shelley M. Greer ©1997.
Day of Keeping Things:
Day of Keeping Things: Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) holy day. Day of keeping things of the Wabet of Asar [Osiris] which have been placed in the hands of Anpu [Anubis].
Oshogastu:
Shogastu: Japanese holy day. Oshogastu (or Shogastu)is for the Household Gods. This is the first of a six day Shinto New Year festival, originally aligned with the start of the Chinese/Asian New Year, but now aligned with the Western calendar. Honor the kami (divine spirits) of the four directions and they will provide good health, prosperity, and happiness for those who live in divine order.
Fortuna:
Sacrifice Day for Fortuna: Roman holy day. Day of offerings to the Roman Goddess Fortuna in hope that she will bless the new year. Romans made offerings to Fortuna, first-born daughter of Jupiter and Goddess of fortune, women, and fertility, in hopes that she would grant them good luck. In addition to offerings of material goods, Romans could make offerings to Fortuna through their actions, such as helping the poor or unfortunate. Because Fortuna had a capricious and unpredicatable nature, these offerings of good works could result in Fortuna treating you less cruelly when she turns bad fortune to you.
Birthday of Chronos:
Birth of Chronos: Roman holy day. Birthday of Chronos (same as the Greek Uranus), lord of time and father of Jupiter (same as the Greek Zeus). The common illustration of the old man with the hourglass and scythe is Chronos.
Kwanzaa:
Last Day of Kwanzaa: Swahili and Afro-American holy day. December 26-January 1 is Kwanzaa (Swahili for “first fruits”), created by Maulana Karenga in 1967, based on a traditional Swahili festival for the first fruits of the harvest, dedicated to the Seven African Principles. In the Swahili language the Seven Pricniples are called the Nguzo Saba and are: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. Umoja (unity) is to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Kujichagulia (self-determination) is to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. Ujima (cooperative work and responsibility) is to build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together. Ujamaa (cooperative economics) is to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. Nia (purpose) is to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community, to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Kuumba (creativity) is to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, so as to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Imani (faith) is to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Celebrated by more than 20 million Blacks in the United States, Canada, England, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa with parades, community festivals, and family gatherings in the home. Participants dress in African garb, exchange Swahili greetings, decorate their surroundings in the symbolic colors of red, green, and black, tell stories, feast on traditional foods, and exchange homemade gifts. In the Yoruban tradition the Seven African Powers are: Obatala, Yemaya, Elegba, Oya, Oshun, Chango, and Ogan.
Black Nazarene Fiesta:
Black Nazarene Fiesta: Philippino holy day. Black Nazarene Fiesta in Manila, the Philippines (January 1-9).
St. Concordius’ Day:
St. Concordius’ Day: Christian holy day. Roman Christian saint.
calendar
This day on different world calendars.
Information on various calendars from around the world.
calendar
This day on different world calendars.
Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) information
Season of Proyet (Sowing)
Month of Mekhir (Rekh-Ur)
Day 17
Zoroastrian information
(Fasli calendar)
Month of Day (tenth month)
Day of Srosh
Day 17
The day of Srosh celebrates the Av. Sraosha, Yazad of “Hearkening” (paying attention). Special prayers from the Khorda Avesta are recited in honor of the day’s spiritual being.
Activity for the day from the Counsels of Adhurbadh, Son of Mahraspand: “(135) On the day of Srosh ask a boon of the blessed Srosh for the salvation of your soul.” Adarbad Mahraspandan was a famous saint, high priest, and prime minister of Shapur II (309-379 C.E.).
The third week (eight days) of each Zoroastrian month celebrates moral qualities.
The Fasli, or seasonal, calendar is one of three Zoroastrian calendars still in use.
Celtic (ancient Druid) information
Ogham tree calendar
Beth (B)
Birch Moon
Day 9
The Celtic calendar started out as a moon calendar, but was aligned with the solar year during antiquity. Robert Graves proposed the Celtic tree calendar described here. While widely used by Neo-Pagans, many critics dispute the authenticity. The Beth-Luis-Nion calendar (the one used here) starts with New Year on the Winter Solstice. The Beth-Luis-Faern calendar starts with New Year on Samhain.
Each Celtic tree month (or moon) is named for a Celtic Ogham letter (first line above) and a tree (second line above). All of the Celtic months also had additional folk names (folk names for this month listed below). Robert Graves claimed that the Celts used a 13 month tree calendar. Critics dispute this claim. Graves’ claims are based on 19th century work by Edward Davies, who found references to the trees in the 1685 work Ogygia by Ruairi Ó Flaitheartaigh, which was in turn derived from oral history and older works such as Book of Ballymote and Auraicept na n-Éces.
Polarity: Feminine
Planet: Sun
Archetype: Taliesin (Celtic God of Bards)
Symbol: eagle or stag
Folk Names:
Moon of Inception
Moon of Beginning
Asatru (ancient Norse) information
Month: Snowmoon
Roman information
Kal. Ian.
Kalends of January
Month: Ianvarivs or Ianuarius or Januarius or Janus
The Kalends is the first day of the month and was celebrated as a religious holy day to Juno, the Roman Queen Goddess. In the earliest Roman lunar calendar, the Kalends was the day of the New Moon. In Roman society, interest on a debt was due on the Kalends. Under the lunar calendar, a pontifex (priest) would observe the sky and call out the first sighting of the thin lunar crescent of the New Moon, indicating the start of a new month. The English word calendar comes from the Latin word Kalends, which in turn came from the Latin word calare meaning to announce solemly or to call out.
The Roman month of January is named for Janus (Ianvs). January was sacred to Janus, the Roman God of gates, doors, and entrances. Janus was an early Italic sky god that long predated Rome. Ovid claimed that Janus said “The ancient called me chaos, for a being from of old am I.” Ovid also claimed that after the world’s creation, Janus said, “It was then that I, till that time a mere ball, a shapeless lump, assumed the face and members of a god.” Joannes of Lydia said, “Our own Philadelphia still preserves a trace of the ancient belief. On the first day of the month there goes in procession no less a personage than Janus himself, dressed up in a two-faced mask, and people call him Saturnus, identifying him with Kronos.” The beginning of each day, month, and year were sacred to Janus. The Romans believed that Janus opened the gates of heaven each day at dawn , letting out the monring, and closed the gates of heaven each day at dusk.
The earliest Roman months were lunar. According to Roman mythology, the ten month solar calendar aligned to the vernal equinox was introduced by Romulus, the founder of Rome, around 753 BCE. In Romulus’ calendar, January did not exist. Numa Pompilius, the second of the seven traditional kings of Rome, added two more months, for a 12 month year. In Numa’s calendar, January was added to the beginning of the year (following February) and had 29 days. Gaius Julius Caesar, as Pontifex Maximus (supreme bridge-builder, a religious title), reorganized the calendar on the first day of 45 BCE. In Caesar’s calendar (the Julian Calendar), January had 31 days and February was moved to after January. Caesar’s calendar was calculated by Sosigenes, an Egyptian astrologer/astronomer. In 8 BCE, Augustus Caesar fixed errors by pontiffs after Julius’ death and made other minor modifications, resulting in the modern Western calendar. The modern Gregorian Calendar, named for Roman Catholic Pope Gregory the Thirteenth, was a realignment in 1582. The Romans avoided giving January 30 days (skipping from 29 to 31) because of a superstitious dread of even numbers.
numerology
Today totals 1 in modern Western numerology. See the article on one for more information.
tarot
Today’s tarot card is The Magician.
birthdays
James Frazer: Sir James Frazer, author of The Golden Bough, was born on January 1, 1854.
| date: | Friday | January 1, 2010 | |
Moon: | waning gibbous | 3rd Quarter | enters Leo |
Mercury: | Retrograde until January 15  | ||
Mars: | Retrograde until March 10 | ||
lunar information 2010
| Moon: | waning gibbous | 3rd Quarter | enters Leo |
 Next Waning Quarter January 7 |  Next New Moon January 15 |  Next Waxing Quarter January 23 |  Next Full Moon January 30 |
Third Quarter in Cancer:
Third Quarter: The moon is in the third (3rd) quarter (waning gibbous) in Cancer.
Void of Course:
Moon Void of Course: The moon is Void of Course (V/C) starting at 10:43 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 7:43 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Moon enters Leo:
Moon Enters Leo: Lunar Ingress. The Moon enters the sign Leo at 9:41 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 6:41 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Third Quarter in Leo:
Third Quarter: The moon is in the third (3rd) quarter (waning gibbous) in Leo.
Planting: The Moon makes this day excellent for planting.
Fishing: The Moon makes this day excellent for fishing.
Cancer Rewarding: This day in 2010 is rewarding for those who are Sun sign Cancer because the Moon is in your Sun sign.
Capricorn Challenging: This day in 2010 is challenging for those who are Sun sign Capricorn because the Moon is in the sign opposite your Sun sign.
astrological information 2010
Moon Opposite Mercury: The Moon is in opposition with Mercury at 3:35 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 12:35 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Work on details.
Moon Trine Uranus: The Moon is trine Uranus at 10:43 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 7:43 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). Moon Void of Course (V/C). Creativity spells (perform before Moon is void of course). Time for originality.
Moon Quincunx Neptune: The Moon is quincunx Neptune at 1:06 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 10:06 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). Relax.
Moon Quincunx Jupiter: The Moon is quincunx Jupiter at 4:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 1:10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). Seek enjoyment. Be extravagant.
Magick Color:
Coral: The magick color for this day, based on planetary influences and the day of the week, is coral. You may want to burn a coral candle or wear some coral this day.
Magick Incense:
Yarrow: The magick incense for this day, based on planetary influences and the day of the week, is yarrow. You may want to burn yarrow incense this day. You may substitute a similar incense if you don’t have or don’t like yarrow.
See also the article on incense. An American source for high quality incense is Mountain Rose Herbs. A British source for incense is Pagan Magic.
| date: | Thursday | January 1, 2009 | |
| Moon: | waxing crescent | 1st Quarter | in Pisces |
| Mercury: | Direct until January 11 | ||
Saturn: | Retrograde until May 16 | ||
lunar information 2009
| Moon: | waxing crescent | 1st Quarter | in Pisces |
Next Waxing Quarter January 4 | Next Full Moon January 10 | Next Waning Quarter January 17 | Next New Moon January 26 |
First Quarter in Pisces:
First Quarter: The moon is in the first (1st) quarter (waxing crescent) in Pisces.
Planting: The Moon makes this day excellent for planting.
Pisces Rewarding: This day in 2009 is rewarding for those who are Sun sign Pisces because the Moon is in your Sun sign.
Virgo Challenging: This day in 2009 is challenging for those who are Sun sign Virgo because the Moon is in the sign opposite your Sun sign.
astrological information 2009
Mercury enters Aquarius:
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Mercury Enters Aquarius: Planetary ingress. Mercury enters the sign Aquarius at 4:51 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Moon Sextile Mars: The Moon is sextile Mars Venus at 2:49 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Sun Sextile Moon: The Sun is sextile the Moon at 6:09 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Work hard and make positive gains towards your desires. Ritual related to Athena. [See also sextile, Sun, Moon]
Magick Color:
Purple: The magick color for this day, based on planetary influences and the day of the week, is purple. You may want to burn a purple candle or wear some purple this day.
Magick Incense:
Bay Leaf, Jasmine: The magick incense for this day, based on planetary influences, is jasmine. The magick incense for this day, based on the day of the week, is bay leaf. You may want to burn bay leaf or jasmine incense this day. You may substitute a similar incense if you don’t have or don’t like bay leaf or jasmine.
See also the article on incense. An American source for high quality incense is Mountain Rose Herbs. A British source for incense is Pagan Magic. Another American source for incense is Pagan Shopping.
holy days 2007 and 2008
These holy days are on different day each year on the solar calendar.
Maidyarem:
Maidyarem: Zoroastran holy day. ‘mid-year’ or winter feast, one of the seven obligatory feasts of Zoroastrianism and one of the six gahanbars (or gahambars). The gahanbars date back to the pre-Zoroastrian agricultural people of the Iranian Plateau and mark the changing of the agricultural seasons. The gahanbars were absorbed into Zoroastrianism as religious holy days and are celebrated with feasting and fun.
Maidyarem celebrates Vohu Manah, the creator and protector of all animal life, one of the seven male emanations of Ahura Mazda. There are also seven corresponding female emanations of the deity Ahura Mazda.
In the Fasli (seaonsal) calendar, Maidyarem is celebrated from December 31 to January 4. In the Shahanshahi (or Shenshai) calendar, Maidyarem is celebrated from June 1 to June 5 during the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. In the Qadimi (ancient) calendar, Maidyarem is celebrated from May 2 to May 6 during the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
lunar information 2008
Last Quarter in Libra:
Last Quarter: The moon is in the fourth (4th) quarter (waning crescent) in Libra.
Void of Course:
Moon Void of Course: The moon is Void of Course (V/C) starting at 7:33 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Moon enters Scorpio:
Moon Enters Scorpio: Lunar ingress. The Moon enters the sign Scorpio at 8:32 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Fishing: The Moon makes this day excellent for fishing.
astrological information 2008
Moon Trine Neptune: The Moon is trine Neptune at 12:53 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Moon Sextile Pluto: The Moon is sextile Pluto at 6:52 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Moon Trine Mars: The Moon is trine Mars at 7:33 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Moon Void of Course (V/C).
Libra Rewarding: This day in 2008 is rewarding for those who are Sun sign Libra because the Moon is in your Sun sign.
Aries Challenging: This day in 2008 is challenging for those who are Sun sign Aries because the Moon is in the sign opposite your Sun sign.
Magick Color:
Maroon: The magick color for this day, based on planetary influences and the day of the week, is maroon. You may want to burn a maroon candle or wear some maroon this day.
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