January

Ancient Rome : day dedicated to celebration the 'God Janus', and 'Goddess Fortuna'.

'The Three Fates' : Sacred day of remembrance.

Germany : the 'Goddess Bertha'.

Japan : 'Seven Deities of Luck'. This date is traditionally associated with the Ash Tree (See Mystical WWW Trees for more information).

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

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

The tradition known as 'First Footing' was popular in many parts of the UK and Europe encouraging protection and prosperity for the home. Once midnight had struck on New Year's Eve, the 'First Footer' who had to be dark haired entered the house carrying a shovel full of coal. It is believed that this tradition originates from Scotland. A fair haired man or woman were believed to encourage the opposite fortunes.

Ancient Sumeria : celebrations dedicated to 'Inanna, Queen of heaven and earth'.

Ancient and modern astrologers believed this to be a day of great significance. This is the day when the planet earth is at it's closest point to the sun. It has become known as the 'Perihelion of the Earth'.

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

Ancient Greece : a day of festivity called 'Lenaia' dedicated to the God Dionysus.

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

J.R.R. Tolkien, Professor of Literature at Oxford University, and writer, born this day 1892.

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

'Wassail Eve' : UK, the end of the Christmas season (For more information on Wassailing see Mystical WWW Trees, Apple).

'Twelfth Night' : the end of the Christmas season.

'Old Christmas Eve'.

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

Christmas, Eastern Orthodox church celebrations (It has been suggested that this was a time of Celtic celebration).

Haxley, Lincolnshire, England : Traditional 'Haxey Hood Game'.

Celtic festival : dedicated to 'Maid', 'Mother', 'Crone', collectively known as the 'Three-Fold Goddesses'.

Celtic feast day of 'Mullien': Saint protective over the area of the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, England. Directly connected with guardianship of Mullion, on the west coast. Believed to originate from Brittany.

Richard II born this day in 1400.

'St. Distaff's Day' : rurally and traditionally known as a day dedicating to spinning wool after the holiday in England.

Celtic feast day of 'Brannoc' : Believed to be from Brittany, and according to legend came to Cornwall across the seas in a stone coffin (or a ship laden with such ballast). Alleged to have seen a vision, of white piglets feeding on a white sow, which later led him to work to build a church (where he is also believed to be buried) at Braunton, Devon, England.

Norse : dedicated to the 'Goddess Freya'.

Ancient Rome : 'Justicia's Day', annual festival.

Ancient Greece : 'Babo's Day', also known as 'Midwife's Day'.

Elvis Presley, the 'King of Rock and Roll', and 'Elvis the Pelvis' born on this day in 1935.

Celtic feast day of 'Fillan': Eighth century Scottish priest of Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland, and later, near Tyndrum by River Dochart, Scotland. A monastery was built where a pool beside the ruins was according to tradition believed to be able to cure madness. Light is said to have come from Fillan's arm, a light so bright that he could read or write after sunset. Robert the Bruce of Scotland is said to have carried the arm into battle at Bannockburn. Nephew of Comgan (13 October).

Richard Nixon, American President, born this day in 1913.

'Plough Monday' (first Monday after Epiphany) : Traditional rural UK celebrations, particularly for farmers, when originally the plough would have been taken into church on this day for blessing. At one time this was also a holiday.

Native American : Iroquois, 'Festival of Dreams' (New Year).

Norse : dedicated to 'Freya, Mother Goddess'.