I like to celebrate something every
opportunity I can and so I have listed here all of the God/Goddess Days,
Feasts, and general festive practices that I respect, honour and celebrate in
the month of January. This also includes the end and start of a Celtic Tree
Month, although I am not elaborating on this too much because my very good
friend Shiann Raven Moon will be
posting detailed information on each tree over the coming months.. This is by
no means a complete list of the myriad of deities, historical events, beings
and myths that could be incorporated into daily celebrations because there are
far too many. This is simply a list of who and what I give thanks to and for
throughout the year (later months to be posted in time).
1st
·
New Years
Day
The first
day of the year based on the Julian and Gregorian calendars.
·
Tewa
Turtle Dance
The
celebration of a creation myth detailing when Sky Father embraced Earth Mother
and all life was created.
·
Gamelia Festival
It is a wedding
festival; consisting of a month of marriages; celebrated in Athens
·
World Peace Day
This is a day set
aside to meditate for peace to be brought to the world.
2nd/3rd
·
Inanna’s Day
Inannna is the
Sumerian Goddess of Love, War and Fertility; daughter of Anu; the 2nd
and sometimes 3rd of January are celebrated in honour of Inanna
because it is believed that this is when she was born.
3rd
·
Thesmophoria
Greek in origin, the
festival was based on secret women-only rituals related to marriage customs. It
is commemorated on the third of the year because this is when Kore
(Persephone’s maiden aspect) was taken to the Underworld by Hades.
5th
·
Kore’s Day
Kore is the name of
maiden aspect of the Greek Goddess Persephone (Queen of the Underworld and
daughter to Zeus and Demeter). The word ‘Kore’ itself means ‘maiden’.
6th
·
Feast of Kore/Epiphany
of Persephone
Celebrated at midnight on the 5th
and continues into 6th January.
7th
·
Day of Sekhmet
This is a festival of
intoxication; Egyptians would dance and play music to soothe the wildness of
the Goddess..
·
Feast of Aphrodite
To honour peace and
compassion the feast held on this day is in Aphrodite’s name.
21st
·
Start of Celtic Month – Rowan (Luis)
This Celtic month
named by the tree Rowan runs until 17th February is associated with
the Celtic Goddess Brighid and indicates a good time of year for initiations or
self-dedications.
·
Sun enters Aquarius
The start of the
Aquarian astrology sign.
23rd
·
Day of Hathor
Egyptian Goddess of
Love, Beauty, Motherhood, Healing, Music, Dance and Joy. Celebrated by wearing obsidian
and/or blue lace agate as they are both associated with Hathor. A symbolic
reference to cows is also appropriate so I put cattle pictures on my altar on
this day.
27th
·
Day of Ishtar
Babylonian/Assyrian
Goddess of fertility, love, war & sex counterpart of Inanna. She has the
title of ‘Queen of Heaven’. Symbolised by the Morning Star, the planet Venus
and the star Sirius; also eight and sixteen pointed stars and lions. Celebrate
and honour by using these symbols and/or invoking her for a working relating to
her specialities.
31st
·
Festival of Hecate
Hecate is the Crone
aspect of a Greek Triple-Goddess archetype; generally considered a moon
Goddess, given her association with Dark Moon. Renewed later as
Artemis/Persephone, and later coming to fruition as Selene/Demeter. I indulge
in her Festival by invoking her and meditating on her wisdom and drawing down
dark moon energy.
·
Imbolc Eve
Imbolc is the first
spring festival, the true embracing of light returning to the world and so the
eve of this celebration is much like the last day of darkness.
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