Remembrance Day is a Memorial day that falls on 11 November to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. Originally evolving out of Armistice Day. On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, in the 11th month, folk stop for a minute silence to remember those no longer with us. In Australia, Anzac Day is reserved for veneration of fallen service men and women during World War One - it falls on April 25th annually - Lest we forget. Rosemary and Remembrance, features heavy on both days. With a swag of benefits, Rosemary’s uses got way beyond it’s culinary uses.
Read moreFEAST OF APPLES - SAMHAIN
I’ve no doubt candy filled bags of loot and masks of the ghoulish variety are all that’s on the minds of kids. If Halloween fancy dress isn’t your jam, then here’s the download on the true meaning of Samhain. With some very on point cross cultural synergies with Humble apple.
SO WHAT IS SAMHAIN?
Halloween or 'Samhain' (pronounced SOW-win) as Celts called it, was first and foremost a celebration of the end of harvest time and the beginning of a dark half of the calendar year. Naive Irish speakers will know that the calendar months of May and November are called Beltaine and Samhain respectively (oh and August is called Lunasa). These are three of the four Cross Quarter days on the Wheel of the Year, Imbolc in spring completes the quartet. Witches know these markers as Great Sabbats. These power points are Midpoints or Culminating points of a given season - Samhain occurs between the Fall Equinox and Yule (Winter Solstice).
Read moreWitches Sabbath + Samhain + Beltaine
At sunset on Oct 31st, the transition point between two luminaries will exchange the baton from day to night. Forget midnight, it’s sunset that marks the close/ beginning of a Celtic day in their calendar. It’s Hallows Eve, (Halloween) a significant Celtic/Pagan festival marker and 1st of Nov. is Samhain. While those domicile in the S.H shall be celebrating Beltaine’s Eve, or as it’s more commonly known the Eve of May Day. To N.H folk it’s Celtic New Year’s Eve.
Both domiciles mark two major festivals or Witches Sabbaths; the beginning of Summer (S.H) and the beginning of the opposing season of Winter in the N. Hemisphere.
Read moreSamhain + Beltaine + Witches Sabbath
At sunset tonight, the transition point between two luminaries exchanging the baton, and a Celtic day will come to a close. It’s the eve of a Celtic/Pagan festival marker. Known by many names - those domicile in the N.H will be celebrating Walpurgis Night, Beltaine’s Eve or as it’s more commonly known the Eve of May Day. To S.H folk it’s Celtic New Year’s Eve or Samhain’s Eve.
Both domiciles mark two of the major festivals or Witches Sabbaths; the beginning of Summer and the beginning of the opposing season of Winter.
Read moreSamhain + Beltaine + Hemispheres
Samhain and Beltaine are intrinsically linked due to their polarity, standing opposite on the Celtic wheel of the year dial. The Wheel of the year marks eight Festivals which observe a combination of; the sun’s path on the ecliptic, agricultural cues, religious veneration as well as pagan and seasonal changes. But we must beat to our circadian rhythm, and honour the season that unfolds before us, regardless of the ‘date’ linked with the Wheel of the Year.
Read moreSacred Festivals of the Year :: BELTAINE ✳︎ SAMHAIN
Marking Celtic Festivals, speaks to me on both professional and personal levels.
Beltaine and Samhain are Festivals that observe a combination of the sun’s path, agriculture, religious, pagan and seasonal markers. These cross quarter days are represented on a Celtic Wheel (Earth Wheel) which is divided into eight points of the year.
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