Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, England : Traditional 'Candle Auction'.

Norse 'Yule Sun Festival' (For further information see Mystical WWW Christmas Special).

Benjamin Disraeli, politician, born on this day in 1804.

Giacomo Pucinni, composer, born on this day 1258.

Guernsey, UK : 'La Longue Veille' Knitting Festival.

Glastonbury, Somerset, England : Ceremony of the 'Cutting the Holy Thorn'. (For further information on Glastonbury see Mystical WWW Glastonbury, for symbolic trees see Mystical WWW Trees).

Saint-Beauve, critic, born on this day in 1804.

'Rauhnaechte' : Central European tradition, the first night of the 'Rough Nights' which run through to 6 January. Animals are given the gift of speech, and those of the spirit world return. The 'Wilde Jagd' or 'Wild Hunt' were traditionally said to cross the sky. The hunt was believed to made up of pre-Christian people, demons and heathen gods.

'St. Nicholas Eve' (For further information see Mystical WWW Christmas Special).

Dunster, Somerset, England : Traditional 'Burning the Ash Faggot' festivities.

Hannukkah : Jewish festival.

Traditionally this day is associated with the folklore of Bees. (For further information on Bees see Mystical WWW Mystic's Menagerie, for further information on Bees & Christmas see Mystical WWW Christmas Special).

In 1965 a large meteorite, thought to be one of the largest of modern times fell to earth in Leicestershire, England.

Traditionally this day is associated with the Hawthorn. (For further information on tree folklore and symbolic trees see Mystical WWW Trees).

Traditionally this day is associated with the Apple Tree. (For further information on tree folklore and symbolic trees see Mystical WWW Trees).

Traditionally this day is associated with the Pear Tree. (For further information on tree folklore and symbolic trees see Mystical WWW Trees).

Traditionally this day has associations with Christmas love divination. (For further information on Christmas Love see Mystical WWW Christmas Special).

Traditionally this day is associated with the herb Sage and love divination. (For further information on herb folklore see Mystical WWW Plants).

'Rauhnaechte': The second of the 'Wild Nights', see December 24 for further information.

Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney, Scotland : Traditional 'Ba' Game' activities.

Christian feast of 'St. John the Evangelist'. The national saint of Scotland before St. Andrew. (See May 6 for Celtic associations). There is a stone cross on the Isle of Iona dedicated to him, and is all that remains of Columcille's (9 June) church.

'Rauhnaechte' : The fifth of the 'Wild Nights', see December 24 for further information.

Believed by some sixteenth century astronomers that this was the unluckiest day of the year (For more information see Mystical WWW Unlucky December Days).

Christian feast of the 'Holy Innocents'.

Maurice Ravel, composer, died on this day in 1937.

'Rauhnaechte' : The sixth of the 'Wild Nights', see December 24 for further information.

William Gladstone, Prime Minister, born on this day 1809.

Rasputin, Russian mystic according to some sources, murdered on this day in 1916.

All Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark) : Traditional 'Log-burning' to celebrate the Old Years' passing.

Comrie, Perth, West Highlands & Hebrides of Scotland : Traditional 'Flambeaux Procession'.

Stonehaven, Kincardine, Scotland : Traditional 'Swinging the Fireballs' ceremony and festivities.

Wassailing : a traditional time to wassail the trees and celebrate the harvest reaped and that of future hopes (For further information on wassailing see Mystical WWW Christmas Special, and Mystical WWW Trees : Apple Tree).

'Rauhnaechte' : The eighth of the 'Wild Nights', see December 24 for further information.

Bonnie Prince Charlie, who led the Jacobite rebellion against George II born on this day 1720.