The Christian holiday known as Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent, a 40-day (not counting Sundays) period of repentance and fasting before celebrating Easter. Invariably occuring 46 days prior to Easter, it is – like Easter – a movable date. In 2017, it falls on the 1st of March. How […]
Every year, approximately 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged, not counting all the flowers (typically red roses), chocolates and candy that are given on this ‘day of romance’. The question is, how did it all begin – and who was St Valentine? The Mystery of St Valentine’s Day We do know that Valentine’s Day […]
Disfest, or Dísablót, is a day on which sacrifices are made to honour the Disir, who are thought to oversee and protect living family members. Celebrated on the 31st of January, it is a day of honouring female relatives who have passed over; thanksgiving for the loving protection they have provided and remembrance. In some […]
In the Chinese Zodiac, every year is associated with an animal sign based on a 12-year cycle. 2017 is a Year of the Rooster, as are 1909, 1921 and 1933; 1945, 1957 and 1969; 1981, 1993 and 2005; 2029, and so on. The Year of the Rooster Chinese astrology regards the Year of the Rooster […]
Epiphany falls on the 6th of January and marks the end of the festive season. It is however, more than just the 12th and final day of Christmas. Here is what this day means to devout Christians all over the world. The Beginning of Epiphany The Christian feast day of Epiphany originated in the East, […]
Different cultures have their own way of celebrating the coming of the New Year. Some burn scarecrows; others present family, friends and neighbours with bread, salt and lumps of coal; others still practise metal casting to get a glimpse into what the New Year may have in store for them. Metal Casting Practised, for instance, […]
Observed by many Christian communities (predominantly Catholics and many Anglicans) all over the world on the 8th of December, the Feast of Immaculate Conception is a holy day in the Christian calendar. On this ‘day of obligation’, special services (masses) are held in churches around the world. About the Feast of the Immaculate Conception According […]
Every year, the Advent period is marked by colourful special calendars and evergreen (fir, holly and/or ivy) wreaths adorned with four or five candles. Churches hold special services, often known as Christingle services, and members of the clergy will usually wear royal blue or purple robes for this services. But what is it all about? […]
Having discussed the meaning and traditions of Halloween in previous years, I thought I would take a closer look at how the Pagan festival of Samhain actually became Halloween. Let’s begin with a short recap of what this festival is all about. The Meaning of Samhain An important date in the Celtic calendar, Samhain marked […]
The Hindu Festival of Lights, Deepavali or Diwali (also occasionally referred to as Dipawali or Divali) is celebrated not only in India (where it is a public holiday), but also in cities around the world, including cities in the UK, USA and Canada, as well as Australia. When is Diwali Celebrated? The Festival of Lights […]
Known by Pagans as Mabon and celebrated by Druids as Alban Elfed, the Autumn Equinox marks the middle of the year’s harvest and the half-way point between Summer and Winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, this day is celebrated on the 21st or 22nd of September (22nd in 2016). The same date marks the Spring Equinox […]
Celebrated on the 1st of August (Northern Hemisphere; Southern Hemisphere: 2nd of February), the Lughnasadh Festival pays homage to the Sun god Lugh, the god of light and fire and patron of horses, and his wedding to the Earth Goddess, the goddess of fertility. It was their wedding that was believed to cause the ripening […]
Marking the beginning of the astronomical summer and the middle of the ‘ancient’ summer, Midsummer’s Day, the Summer Solstice, or Litha (also known as Midsummer, Gathering Day, Alban Heffyn or Feill-Sheathain) will, here in the northern hemisphere, occur on the 20th of this month (June 2016). Interpreted differently around the world, Summer Solstice is recognised […]
Buddhists around the world will be celebrating the birth of Buddha either this month or in May. The traditional date this important event is celebrated on is April the 8th, although the precise date may vary according to region (April 8 or May 8 in Japan; second Sunday in May in Taiwan; 8th day of […]
We are all familiar with the way the year turns; the process by which winter gives way to spring, which in turn gives way to summer, autumn, winter and then spring once more. Cultures throughout the world have for many centuries marked the turning of the year with certain festivals, marking the high and low […]
Next Monday is an extraordinary day – one that only happens every four years. I refer, of course, to the fact that it is the 29th February – the extra day in the Leap Year. The Leap Year is a relatively modern invention; the Gregorian calendar which is almost universally used today is set to […]
‘Tis the season to be merry, as they say; but in between the merry-making and gift-giving, the festive season carries many superstitions and ancient beliefs. Some are relatively well-known, while others are almost forgotten; some you may have never even heard of before! Festive Luck Traditions As it lies so close to the Winter Solstice, […]
Hallowe’en is, for many, a fun excuse to dress up in outrageous costumes, consume a prodigious amount of sweets and perhaps play a trick or two on the joyless individuals who refuse to provide treats. However, it is a festival with a much deeper meaning, and it is still celebrated as such by certain parts […]
The first of August marks the first harvest festival in the Northern hemisphere; it is the end of the hay-making season and the beginning of the first wheat harvest. It is known as either Lammas or Lughnasadh (pronounced “loo-nah-sah”), and it is one of the eight sabbats of the Pagan Wheel of the Year. The […]
Friday the 20th March 2015 is a very special and unusual date, bringing together a trio of celestial events: the Spring Equinox, the Solar Eclipse and a Supermoon. For astrologers and other observers, it is a very exciting day! Of the three events, the Supermoon is actually the most common; this year will see six […]
At this time of year, it is natural to look back at the year that has passed and to look forward to what may lie in store for you in the year to come. Whether the year has treated you kindly or not, it is important to bear in mind that every moment we live […]
Soon will come the Winter Solstice, also known as Midwinter – the longest night of the year, and the shortest day. It is celebrated by many pagans as the Yule festival, and such festivities have been held for many centuries in many cultures. This is attested by ancient sites such as Stonehenge, which is aligned […]
The 31st of October – Hallowe’en – is a time of celebration for many people. For some, it’s an excuse to wear fancy dress, and perhaps to go from door to door trick-or-treating and get some goodies from your neighbours, or to hold a party for your friends and family. For others, however, it’s a […]
The Autumnal Equinox is the point at which the days and nights are an equal length – just as they were at the Spring Equinox, only now it is the nights that grow longer as the year turns towards winter. This year, the Autumn Equinox falls upon the 23rd September. Many cultures have observed celebrations […]
This Saturday is the Summer Solstice; the point at which we in the Northern Hemisphere enjoy the longest day of the year and the shortest night. The Summer Solstice, or Midsummer, is a day which has been celebrated in many cultures for many, many years – since pre-Christian times. For many of these cultures, it […]
I am often asked by people seeking psychic services whether there is any fact in the belief that Friday 13th is any more unlucky than any other Friday. The fear of Friday 13th is called triskaidekaphobia, which comes from ancient Greek. It is not known for certain why many western cultures think Friday to be […]
The First of May has long been celebrated by many cultures in the Northern hemisphere; many of the May Day traditions that we are familiar with date far back to pre-Christian times. With less than a week until May Day, this is an excellent time to look at some of these traditions and their significance. […]
Throughout the year, there are certain days which hold special significance; the first day of spring, or the Vernal Equinox, is most certainly one of these special days. On the Equinox – which this year falls around the 20th March – the length of day and night fall into balance. The word “equinox” comes from […]
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