2002 Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe

* 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn all manifestations of racism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: signed/adopted 3/7/1966; entered into force 1/4/1969.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see Anti Racism Information Service website; Human Rights Watch website.]

* 1/5 eve: Feast of Old Roman Goddess Befana, the old woman who flies on a broom, bringing gifts to all good children.

* 1/13 eve to 1/14 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Hekate, who guides all through transitions and crisis.

* 1/13 to 1/25 (Icelandic 1/25, Old Icelandic 1/11): Old Norse Mid-Winter Feast--Offerings were made to the Deities (particularly Jord, Thor, and Freyr) for growth of crops. [Toasts of mead and ale were made in honor of the Deities.] [a/k/a Mid-Winter Blot, Midvetr, Midvetrarblot, Jordblot, Thorrablot, Freyrblot]

* 1/14 eve to 1/15 eve: Gamelion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 1/16 eve to 1/17 eve: Feast of the Charites--Day to honor the Old Greek Goddesses of beneficence.

* 1/17 eve to 1/18 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.

* 1/20: World Religions Day--Day to contemplate all religions as different paths to the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.

* 1/23: Birthday of Marija Gimbutas (1921), archeologist who studied Old European Goddess-God spirituality. [Death day 2/2/1994]

* 1/24 to 2/1: Sementivae--Old Roman festival of sowing, honoring Earth Goddess Terra (Greek Gaia), Grain Goddess Ceres (Greek Demeter), and Seed Goddess Proserpina (Greek Persephone).

* 1/31 eve to 2/2 eve: Imbolc/St. Brigid's Day--Old Celtic feast of Goddess Brigid--fires were lit to welcome Her as She traveled about blessing the fields, animals, and people; merged with the Christian feast of St. Brigid.

* 1/31 eve to 2/3 eve: Mid-Winter/Groundhog's Day/Candlemas--Festival marking the transformation from death to life - the beginning of the agricultural year, awakening of hibernating animals, and return of migrating birds and fish. Observed with a candlelight procession to bless fields and seeds, recognition of newborns, and contemplation of life.

* 2/1 to 2/14: Old Greek festival of God Dionysos, in which vines were pruned and sprinkled with wine, accompanied by ritual singing and dancing. [a/k/a Trifon Zarezan, Viticulturists' Day] [Originated in ancient Thrace; still celebrated in Bulgaria.]

* 2/1 to 2/28: February dedicated to Old Roman Goddess-God Februa-Februus - purifier and protector of the home. Homes were cleaned and blessed, offerings of reparation were given, and peace was made.

* 2/1 to 2/28: Ethnic Equality Month--Time to honor all peoples and their positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the respect due to them, and on God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, and Native American. [Expands idea of African-American History Month a/k/a Black History Month.]

* 2/5 to 2/6: Feast of Old Romano-Egyptian Goddess Isis, the Healer--recalls Set (God of Challenges and Chaos) poisoning child God Horus, and Isis intervening, defeating Set, and healing Horus. [Roman calendar]

* 2/11 eve to 2/14 eve: Old European Lunar New Year--Celebration of the Triple Goddess (Goddess of the Moon and the Seasons) being transformed from the Crone into the Virgin; celebrated with ritual bathing of divine images.

* 2/13 eve to 2/14 eve: Anthesterion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 2/13 to 2/15: Lupercalia/St. Valentine's Day--Old Roman festival dedicated to God-Goddess Faunus-Fauna, celebrating love of all kinds; merged with the Christian feast of St. Valentine.

* 2/16 eve to 2/17 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Eros--Day to honor love and passion.

* 2/18 eve to 2/19 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa) - as creatrix, midwife of birthing creatures, protector of the young, and punisher of child abusers.

* 2/22: Caristia--Old Roman festival for renewing family ties and patching up quarrels.

* 2/23 eve to 2/26 eve: Anthesteria--Old Greek festival honoring Dionysos as Plouton, God of the Dead, and welcoming the visiting dead from Elysium. The new wine was presented to Dionysos, and libations were made.

* 2/28: Old Slavic Velja Noc/Great Night/New Year's Eve--Spirits of the dead visit their living relatives, overseen by Veles (Lord of the Dead). Morana and Jarilo are born of Solntse (Goddess of the Sun) and Perun (God of the Sky). Veles steals Jarilo and raises him in Virey, realm of the dead. [People wearing animal masks and wool cloaks wandered through the villages representing the dead, and a grain effigy of the Morana of the old year was burned.] [a/k/a Wielkanoc]

* 3/1: Day the production and use of landmines was outlawed world-wide(1999); day to mourn their victims. [Convention on Landmines a/k/a Mine Ban Treaty] [The U.S. has refused to ratify the Treaty.] [There are between 60 and 70 million landmines in the ground of 70+ countries. Landmines maim or kill approximately 26,000 civilians each year, including 8,000 to 10,000 children. In the name of the Lord and Lady, Pagans should renounce the production and use of landmines, and should demand removal and destruction of all existing landmines.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see International Campaign to Ban Landmines website; Adopt a Minefield website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]

* 3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month--Time to honor both genders; time to meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man. [Expands idea of Women's History Month.]

* 3/4 eve to 3/11 eve: Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries--Old Greek festival celebrating the marriage of Goddess Kore and God Dionysos, following their return from Elysium. [Devotees dedicated themselves to service of Goddess and God after being purified by water and fire.] [Dionysos was identified with Plouton at Eleusis. While Demeter believed Her daughter to have been abducted and raped by Dionysos-Plouton, from the perspective of Kore-Persephone and Dionysos-Plouton, it was an elopement.]

* 3/5: Navigium Isidis--Old Romano-Egyptian festival honoring Goddess Isis as Lady of the Moon and Ruler of the Sea; celebrated with the launching of a boat of offerings. [Also celebrated with a procession to the sea and a procession of ships.] [Roman calendar]

* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's empowerment. [For information on International Women's Day, see United Nations website; A history of International Women's Day.]

* 3/14 eve to 3/15 eve: Elaphebolion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 3/15 to 3/21: Old Anglo-Teutonic festival of Goddess Ostara, celebrating the annual rebirth. Her Hare gave gifts of eggs - signifying rebirth.

* 3/16 eve to 3/17 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.

* 3/17: St. Patrick's Day--Old European festival marking rebirth of Viridios/the Green Man/Green George (God as Deciduous Vegetation); merged with the Christian feast of St. Patrick.

* 3/17 eve to 3/18 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

* 3/19 eve to 3/20 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa) - as protector of wild animals and vegetation.

* 3/19 to 3/23: Quinquatrus of Minerva--Old Roman festival of Goddess Minerva (Greek Athena) - as font of artistic inspiration.

* 3/20 (2:16 p.m. EST): Spring Equinox--Marks the beginning of Spring and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates first, annual, and perpetual creation with egg hunts and exchanges.

* 3/20: Old Slavic Jare--God Jarilo/Lado returns from Virey (the realm of the dead across the sea) to reunite with Goddess Morana/Lada. They fall in love, and their happiness brings the world light, warmth, and fertility. [Celebrated with a youth on a horse leading a procession of boys and girls carrying boughs of greens and flowers to bless each house in the village.] [a/k/a Jurjevo]

* 3/21 eve to 3/22 eve: Asklepieia--Old Greek festival honoring Asklepios, God of healing, and Hygieia, Goddess of health.

* 3/22 eve to 3/27 eve: City Dionysia--Old Greek festival honoring God Dionysos as patron of drama, poetry, music, and inspiration.] [Actors performed sacred drama, poets recited hymns, musicians played instruments, singers sang songs, and dancers danced.

* 3/26: Birthday of Joseph Campbell (1904), who found Deity within all religions and myths. [Death day 10/31/1987]

* 3/26: Day production and use of biological weapons was outlawed world-wide (1975); day to mourn their victims. [Biological Weapons Convention] [20 countries are believed to have current or past biological weapons programs.] [In the name of the Lord and Lady, Pagans should renounce the production, acquisition, and use of biological weapons, and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention website; Sipri Chemical and Biological Weapons Project: Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Mainpage; Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project website; Monterey Institute of International Studies Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]

* 3/28: Death day of Scott Cunningham (1993), who taught a reverent, ethical, egalitarian, and ecological form of Wicca. [Birthday 6/27/1956]

* 4/1: Veneralia--Old Roman festival celebrating Venus (Goddess of Peace) vanquishing Mars (God of War) with love. She nurtures peace, friendship, and love; and punishes war-mongers, hate-mongers, and false friends and lovers.

* 4/7: World Health Day--Day to pray for healing of all those chronically and seriously ill; day to advocate for adequate health care for all. [Day the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) was founded in 1948.] [For information on World Health Day, see World Health Organization website; UN Dag Hammarskjold Library website.] [For information on the World Health Organization, see World Health Organization website.]

* 4/12 eve to 4/13 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Hekate, who guides all through transitions and crisis.

* 4/13 eve to 4/14 eve: Mounikhion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 4/14 to 4/25 (Icelandic 4/25, Old Icelandic 4/11): Old Norse Summer Days Feast--Offerings were made to the Deities (particularly Odin, Thor, and Freyr) for success, peace, and plenty. [Toasts of mead and ale were made in honor of the Deities.] [a/k/a Summer's Day, Sumardag, Sommerdag, Summer Blot, Sumarblot, Sigrblot, Odinblot, Freyjablot, Thorrablot, Sifblot, Freyrblot]

* 4/15 eve to 4/16 eve: Feast of the Charites--Day to honor the Old Greek Goddesses of beneficence.

* 4/16 eve to 4/17 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.

* 4/18 eve to 4/19 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa), who represents the feminine in Nature and protects women throughout their lives. Women recognized the transitions in their lives and honored female fertility.

* 4/20 eve to 4/21 eve: Feast of God Poseidon, Goddess Amphritrite, and all Old Greek Gods and Goddesses of the seas.

* 4/22: Earth Day--Day to honor the Earth and to meditate on Deity manifesting as Mother Earth. [For information about Earth Day activities, see Earthday Network website; Envirolink website; U.S. government website for Earth Day; U.S. E.P.A. website for Earth Day.]

* 4/28 eve to 4/29 eve: Mounikhia--Festival of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa), honoring Her as the Moon.

* 4/28 eve to 5/3 eve: Floralia--Old Roman festival devoted to Flora, Goddess of Flowers.

* 4/30 eve to 5/2 eve: Beltaine--Old Celtic feast of Blathnat/Blodeuwedd (Goddess of Flowers) and Lugh/Llew (the Oak King - God of the waxing Sun).

* 4/29: Day production and use of chemical weapons was outlawed world-wide (1997); day to mourn their victims. [Chemical Weapons Convention] [26 countries are believed to have current or past chemical weapons programs.] [In the name of the Lord and Lady, Pagans should renounce the production, acquisition, and use of chemical weapons, and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons webpage; Sipri Chemical and Biological Weapons Project: Chemical Weapons Convention Mainpage; Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project website; Monterey Institute of International Studies Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]

* 4/30 eve to 5/5 eve: Mid-Spring/May Day/Walpurgis--Celebrates sacred love and the flowering vegetation by gathering flowers and dancing around a Maypole.

* 5/1 to 5/31: May originally dedicated to Old Roman Goddess Maia; later dedicated to Christian Lady Maria - Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate.

* 5/2: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state throughout the world. [For an overview of U.S. Supreme Court cases on freedom of religion under the U.S. Constitution, see First Amendment Cyber-Tribune.] [For information on religious freedom in countries around the world, see U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report; Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief.] [For the text and more information on the Constitution's First Amendment, see Cornell University's Legal Information Institute website; First Amendment Online website and 1st Amendment.com website.] [For information on organizations that advocate for freedom of religion, see Americans United for Separation of Church and State website; American Civil Liberty Union website; Human Rights Watch website.]

* 5/13 eve to 5/14 eve: Thargelion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 5/16 eve to 5/17 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Eros--Day to honor love and passion.

* 5/17 eve to 5/19 eve: Thargelia--Festival honoring Old Greek Goddess Artemis and God Apollo in which the community was purified. [Greek ethics inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi: nothing too much; know thyself; aid friends; control anger; avoid unjust acts; acknowledge the sacred; pursue learning; praise virtue; avoid enemies; cultivate kinsmen; pity supplicants; accomplish your limit; when you err, repent; appreciate your time; accept old age.]

* 5/18: Feast of Old Greek God Pan, who represents the masculine in Nature and protects men throughout their lives. Men recognized the transitions in their lives and honored male fertility.

* 5/19: Old Celtic festival in which sacred healing wells and springs were adorned with flowers in honor of Goddess Brigid, daughter of Mother Goddess Danu and Father God Dagda.

* 6/1 to 6/30: June dedicated to Old Roman Goddess Juno - partner of Jove (God of Happiness), protector of marriage and family, and punisher of abusive and adulterous spouses.

* 6/7 to 6/15: Vestalia--Old Roman festival honoring Goddess Vesta (Greek Hestia). Women made food offerings at the sacred hearths of home and temple.

* 6/10 eve: Old European feast of the Triple Goddess (Goddess of the Moon and the Seasons), marking the transformation of the Virgin into the Mother.

* 6/11 eve to 6/12 eve: Skirophorion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 6/13 eve to 6/14 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.

* 6/14 eve to 6/15 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

* 6/17: Day to celebrate Starhawk's work in reclaiming the Goddess and raising Goddess-consciousness. She teaches an eco-egalitarian form of Wicca. [The Wiccan rede is: Do what you will, but harm none.]

* 6/21 (9:24 a.m. EDT): Summer Solstice--Marks the beginning of Summer and the longest day and shortest night of the year; celebration of the light with dancing around a bonfire.

* 6/21: Old Slavic Kupala--Goddess Morana/Lada and God Jarilo/Lado marry, bringing peace and ensuring a good harvest. [Celebrated with ritual bathing, feasting, dancing around bonfires, and coupling.] [a/k/a Noc Kupaly, Sobotka]

* 7/1: Day the world's nations committed to stop proliferation of nuclear weapons (1968); vigil to protest the production and use of all nuclear weapons world-wide. [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons] [8 countries are known to currently possess nuclear weapons and other countries are attempting to develop or acquire them. The U.S. used 2 atomic bombs on Japan in 8/1945: over 270,000 civilians died from the bombs and radiation.] [In the name of the Lord and Lady, Pagans should renounce the production, acquisition, and use of nuclear weapons, and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) website. For information on India's nukes, see Federation of American Scientists (FAS) nuke guide] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]

* 7/1: Day endangered species became internationally protected (1975); day to celebrate all the world's creatures. [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: signed/adopted 3/3/1973; entered into force 7/1/1975.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Environmental Programme CITES website; World Wildlife Fund website; EarthJustice website.]

* 7/10 eve to 7/11 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Hekate, who guides all through transitions and crisis.

* 7/11 eve to 7/12 eve: Hekatombaion Noumenia/Old Athenian New Year--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 7/13 eve to 7/14 eve: Feast of the Charites--Day to honor the Old Greek Goddesses of beneficence.

* 7/14 eve to 7/15 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion. [a/k/a Aphrodesia]

* 714 to 7/25 (Icelandic 7/25, Old Icelandic 7/11): Old Norse/Icelandic Mid-Summer Althingi--Community gathering for democratic decision making. Forseti and Tyr, Gods of Justice and Self-Sacrifice, were honored. [Toasts of mead and ale were made in honor of the Deities.] [The Norse Nine Noble Virtues are: Courage, Truthfulness, Honor, Fidelity, Self-Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Steadfastness.] [a/k/a Mid-Summer Blot, Midsumar, Midsumardag, Midsommerdag, Forsetiblot, Tyrblot, Almannathing, Althing]

* 7/20: Old Slavic festival of God Perun (the Thunderer). He fought God Veles (the Dragon) over the affections of Goddess Solntse (the Sun), by throwing lightning bolts from the top of the World Tree.

* 7/26: Birthday of Dr. Carl Gustav Jung (1875), founder of archetypal psychology, which explores universal concepts of Deity and their relation to the individual psyche. [Death day 6/6/1961]

* 7/26 eve to 7/27 eve: Synoikia--Old Greek festival celebrating the peaceful cooperation of states. Offerings were made to Aphrodite and Eirene, Goddesses of friendship and peace.

* 7/31 eve to 8/2 eve: Lughnasad--Old Celtic Feast of Goddess Tailtiu/Cerridwen and God Lugh/Llew (Deities of Life), celebrating the grain harvest.

* 7/31 eve to 8/6 eve: Mid-Summer/First Harvest/Lammas--Festival of thanksgiving for the first of the grain harvest; celebrated by offering the first fruits of the grain harvest and prayers for sustenance for all.

* 8/2 eve to 8/8 eve: Panathenaea--Old Greek festival of Goddess Athena - as daughter of Wisdom (Goddess Metis) and font of reason.

* 8/7: Gaia Consciousness Day--Day to meditate on Mother Earth as a living planet. [Anniversary of the first photograph of Earth from Space taken on 8/7/1959.] [For views of Earth from space, see the NSSDC Photo Gallery; Solar Views website.]

* 8/9 eve to 8/10 eve: Metageitnion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 8/12 eve to 8/13 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Eros--Day to honor love and passion.

* 8/14 eve to 8/15 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa) - as defender of rights and liberties, and punisher of rapists and oppressors.

* 8/19: Vinalia--Old Roman festival of thanksgiving for the first of the grape harvest; celebrated by offering the first fruits of the grape harvest and prayers for sustenance for all.

* 8/20 eve to 8/21 eve: Old Greek festival honoring Athena Polias and Zeus Polios as protectors of city and state.

* 8/23: Feast of the Furies--honoring Nemesis and the Erinyes, the Old Greek Goddesses who punish murderers, abusers, and exploiters of others.

* 8/25: Old Roman festival of Goddess Ops, Lady of the Cornucopia, Bounty of the Harvest, and Sustainer of Life.

* 8/28: Opening of the Second World Parliament of Religions (1993), attended by members of all the world's religions. A Global Ethic was adopted that condemns hatred, aggression, oppression, and environmental abuses committed in the name of religion. [Text of Global Ethic]

* 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn all manifestations of sexism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: adopted by U.N. General Assembly 12/18/1979; signed 3/1/1980; entered into force 9/3/1981.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see WomenWatch: United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women website; Feminist Majority Foundation website; Human Rights Watch website.]

* 9/7 eve to 9/8 eve: Boedromion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 9/9 eve to 9/10 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.

* 9/10 eve to 9/11 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

* 9/11 eve to 9/12 eve: Genesia--Old Greek festival in which offerings were made for the dead.

* 9/12 eve to 9/13 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa) - as the huntress, destroyer of life.

* 9/18 eve to 9/19 eve: Demokratia--Old Greek festival celebrating democracy, constitutional government, and justice under law. Zeus Agoraios, Athena Agoraias, and Themis were honored.

* 9/19 eve to 9/28 eve: Greater Eleusinian Mysteries--Old Greek festival recalling Goddess Demeter's search for Her missing daughter. Devotees fasted, ritually bathed in the sea, processed by torch-light to the temple, made ritual offerings, and danced. They honored Demeter (as Mother Nature), Goddess Kore (as the harvested grain), and God Dionysos (as the harvested grape) for bringing life, death, and rebirth.

* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice throughout the world. [a/k/a U.N. International Day of Peace] [For more information on the International Day of Peace, see International Day of Peace website and International Day of Peace Vigil website.]

* 9/23 (12:55 a.m. EDT): Autumn Equinox--Marks the beginning of Autumn and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates the bounty of Mother Earth with feasting and aiding those in need.

* 9/23: Old Slavic Dozhinki--At the end of the grain harvest, God Jarilo/Lado betrays Goddess Morana/Lada, and he returns to the realm of the dead. Morana's anger and sadness causes the world to become dark, cold, and dead. [As a God manifested in the grain, Jarilo's death is recognized with the last of the harvest.] [a/k/a Dozynki]

* 10/3 eve to 10/4 eve: Old Greek festival honoring Gaia and the Nymphs (the male and female Spirits of Nature).

* 10/6 eve: Old European feast of the Triple Goddess (Goddess of the Moon and the Seasons), marking the transformation of the Mother into the Crone.

* 10/6 eve to 10/7 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Hekate, who guides all through transitions and crisis.

* 10/7 eve to 10/8 eve: Pyanepsion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 10/9 eve to 10/10 eve: Feast of the Charites--Day to honor the Old Greek Goddesses of beneficence.

* 10/10 eve to 10/11 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.

* 10/12 eve to 10/13 eve: Proerosia--Old Greek festival in which fruits of all the harvest were offered to Goddess Demeter.

* 10/14 to 10/28 (Icelandic 10/26, Old Icelandic 10/12): Old Norse Winter Nights Feast--The ancestors were remembered and offerings were made to the Deities (particularly Freyja, the Disir, and the Norns) to survive the season. [Toasts of mead, ale, and cider were made in honor of the Deities.] [a/k/a Veturnaetur, Winter's Day, Winter Blot, Vetrarblot, Vinternalsblot, Freyjablot, Nornorblot, Disirblot, Disablot]

* 10/17 eve to 10/20 eve: Thesmophoria--Old Greek festival commemorating the transformation of Goddess Kore (Queen of the Living) into Persephone (Queen of the Dead). She abandoned Her Mother, Goddess Demeter, and eloped to Elysium with Her partner, God Dionysos/Plouton. She was accompanied by Goddess Hekate and spirits of the dead. [At Eleusis, Dionysos was considered the life aspect and Plouton the death aspect of the same Deity, just as Kore was considered the life aspect and Persephone the death aspect of the same Deity. Dionysos was wild and subject to excess drinking, dancing, and sex. While Kore, Gaia, Zeus, and Helios considered Him to be a marital prize, Demeter thought otherwise. Consequently, She mourned their union by striking the Earth with famine.]

* 10/18: Day the Clean Water Act was enacted (1972); day to give thanks for the water we drink. [Pub. L. 92-500, 86 Stat. 896, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]

* 10/25 eve to 10/28 eve: Apaturia--Old Greek festival in which newcomers and children were welcomed into the community.

* 10/28 to 11/3: Isia--Old Romano-Egyptian festival recalling Set (God of Destruction) killing God Osiris; Goddess Isis mourning Him, resurrecting Him, and conceiving God Horus with Him; and Osiris becoming Lord of Amenta, realm of the dead. [He weighs souls against the Feather of Truth on Goddess Maat's Scale of Justice, but defers to Isis for those who fail the test.] [Roman calendar]

* 10/31: Day to mourn the women tortured and killed as "witches" because of their independence, wealth, wisdom, or religion.

* 10/31 eve to 11/2 eve: Samhain--Old Celtic New Year and feast of Morrigan/Cerridwen (Goddess of Death) and Balor/Beli (the Holly King - God of the Waning Sun).

* 10/31 eve to 11/6 eve: Mid-Autumn/Day of the Dead/Hallowmas--Festival marking the transformation of life to death - the end of the agricultural year, departure of migrating and hibernating animals, and decay and death of vegetal and animal life. Observed by remembering departed ancestors and contemplating one's own mortality.

* 11/1: World Community Day--Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.

* 11/4 eve to 11/5 eve: Khalkeia--Old Greek festival honoring Goddess Athena and God Hephaistos for their gifts of crafts and technology. [a/k/a Hephaistia]

* 11/5 eve to 11/6 eve: Maimakterion Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 11/8 eve to 11/9 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Eros--Day to honor love and passion.

* 11/11 to 11/17: Old Anglo-Teutonic fast marking Hod (God of Darkness) unintentionally killing Balder (God of Light), and his true love Nanna (Goddess of Flowers) dying of a broken heart. The dead were honored.

* 11/21: Fast for an Abundant World Harvest--Day to fast and commit to action to help prevent deaths from malnourishment world-wide. [a/k/a Fast for a World Harvest] [For more information, see the Oxfam America website.]

* 11/28: Thanksgiving Day--Day to give thanks for the abundance of our land and for our food, clothes, shelter, and health.

* 12/1: World AIDS Day--Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with AIDS and HIV. [For information on World AIDS Day, see World AIDS Day website. For information about the global fight against AIDS, see UNAIDS website.] [For information on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, see Human Rights Watch website.]

* 12/5 eve to 12/6 eve: Poseideon Noumenia--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. [Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.]

* 12/7 eve to 12/8 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.

* 12/8 eve to 12/9 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

* 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). [The U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R.) in Resolution 217 A(III).] [a/k/a International Human Rights Day] [Text of Declaration] [For more information on the history of the U.D.H.R., see Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute website.] [The U.D.H.R. is generally recognized as binding customary international law. In 1966, the concepts of the U.D.H.R. were expanded and drafted into two binding international treaties with enforcement mechanisms. The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [text of Covenant] is enforced by the Human Rights Committee [see Human Rights Committee website; University of Minnesota Human Rights Library website] and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. [See Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website; Human Rights Watch website.] The Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights [text of Covenant] is enforced by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. [See Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights website.]

* 12/12 eve to 12/13 eve: Feast of God Poseidon, Goddess Amphritrite, and all Old Greek Gods and Goddesses of the seas. [a/k/a Poseidea]

* 12/13: Feast of the Light-bringer--honoring Goddess as Juno Lucina (Old Roman) & Lucia (Old Swedish); merged with the Christian feast of St. Lucia.

* 12/17: Day the Clean Air Act was enacted (1963); day to give thanks for the air we breathe. [Pub. L. 88-206, 77 Stat. 392, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]

* 12/17 to 12/23: Saturnalia/Opalia--Old Roman festival honoring God Saturn (the weak Sun) & Goddess Ops (the fallow Earth); celebrated with gift-giving, revelry, and abolishment of all class distinctions.

* 12/19 eve to 12/23 eve: Rustic Dionysia--Old Greek festival honoring God Dionysos as patron of drama, poetry, music, and inspiration. [Actors performed sacred drama, poets recited hymns, musicians played instruments, singers sang songs, and dancers danced.]

* 12/21 (8:14 p.m. EST): Winter Solstice/Solar New Year--Marks the beginning of Winter and the shortest day and longest night of the year; celebration of the darkness with dancing near the hearth fire.

* 12/21 to 12/22: Old European Festival of Evergreen Trees--celebrated by planting evergreen trees and hanging evergreen wreaths (symbols of eternal life); merged into International Arbor Day.

* 12/21 to 12/25: Old Romano-Egyptian festival of Goddess Isis giving birth to God Horus. [Roman calendar]

* 12/23 eve to 12/24 eve: Old Greek festival in which offerings were made to the Wind Gods of the eight directions.

* 12/25 to 1/5: Yule--Old Anglo-Teutonic festival honoring Freyr and Freyja (Deities of Fertility) and the new-born Balder (God of Light), son of Frigga and Odin. Celebrated with evergreens, fires, and feasting.

* 12/28: Day the Endangered Species Act was enacted (1973); day to mourn those creatures already extinct. [Pub. L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]

* 12/31: Feast of Father Time (Old Roman Saturn), who ultimately overcomes us all.

[Many religions were practiced in Europe and the Middle East prior to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All were grounded in Nature and its rhythms, and all espoused ethical conduct. The holidays of these religions are generically referred to as Pagan holidays, Old European holidays, and Old Religion holidays.]

[Most Old Greek holidays (ancient Greek holidays or Hellenic holidays) in this calendar are based on the ancient Macedonian Greek calendar, a lunar calendar (also referred to as the ancient Greek calendar or Hellenic calendar). The Old Greek months began at the first visibility of the New Moon. (This calendar uses U.S. Eastern Time as the point of reference for the lunar Greek dates in this calendar.) A few Old Greek holidays are based on the fixed ancient Roman calendar.]

[All Old Roman holidays (ancient Roman holidays) and Romano-Egyptian holidays in this calendar are based on the ancient Roman calendar. Roman calendar dates do not change.]

[The Old Celtic holidays (Druid holidays or Wiccan holidays) and Old Slavic holidays (ancient Slavic holidays, Old Russian holidays, or Old Polish holidays) are based on the traditional 8-part solar year. (This is also referred to as the Celtic calendar or Wiccan calendar.) Holidays were celebrated at the Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, Spring Equinox, Fall Equinox, and the 4 cross-quarter days that fell at the midpoint between them.]

[The Old Norse holidays (Asatru holidays or Heathen holidays) are based on the 2-part Norse/Icelandic year. (This is referred to as the Norse calendar or Heathen calendar.) The onset of the Norse Summer and Winter were celebrated as well as Mid-Summer and Mid-Winter. See Snorri Sturluson's Ynglinga Saga (chapter 8), Prose Edda (chapter 59), Saga of Olaf the Holy (chapter 77), Saga of Olaf Tryggvason (chapter 74), Gisli Sursson's Saga (chapter 15), Egils Saga & Viga-Glums Saga. (The Norse dates are fixed dates based on the Primstav--the Norse stick calendar/clog almanac. The Icelandic dates are shifting dates based on Icelandic law, and have been adjusted for the Gregorian calendar. The Old Icelandic dates reflect the Julian calendar.) The Old Anglo-Teutonic holidays (Anglo-Saxon holidays) are the primary feasts in the 6-part German year. (Each part is a 60-day tide.)]

[The Old European holidays of the Triple Goddess are based on the traditional 3-season lunisolar year. And the Old European holidays of the Vegetation God are based on the traditional 4-part solar year (divided at the solstices and equinoxes).]

[Greek ethics inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi: nothing too much; know thyself; aid friends; control anger; avoid unjust acts; acknowledge the sacred; pursue learning; praise virtue; avoid enemies; cultivate kinsmen; pity supplicants; accomplish your limit; when you err, repent; appreciate your time; accept old age.]

[The Norse Nine Noble Virtues are: (1) Courage (bravery in the face of difficulty); (2) Truthfulness (honesty in all situations); (3) Honor (noble actions reflecting respect for self and others); (4) Fidelity (duty and loyalty to family, community, nation, and planet); (5) Self-Discipline (self-controlled, lawful behavior); (6) Hospitality (courtesy, kindness, and compassion for all); (7) Industriousness (hard-working and striving to do the best one can do); (8) Self-Reliance (responsible, self-sufficient, and independent); and (9) Steadfastness (patient, resolute perseverance). This is a list of ideal moral traits identified by Asatruars from primary sources, primarily the Haavamaal.]

[The Old Religions of Europe are currently being practiced as: Old European religion, Old European Spirituality, Paganism, Pagan religion, Pagan Spirituality, Gaia religion, Pantheism, Panentheism, Nature Spirituality, Nature-based Spirituality, Earth-Centered Spirituality, Goddess religion, Goddess Spirituality, Women's Spirituality, Feminist Spirituality, Eco-Feminist Spirituality, Wicca, Wiccan religion, Wiccan Spirituality, Celtic religion, Celtic Spirituality, Celtic Paganism, Fairy faith, Druidism, Druid religion, Norse religion, Norse Spirituality, Norse Paganism, Anglo-Saxon religion, Anglo-Saxon Spirituality, Anglo-Saxon Paganism, Anglo-Teutonic religion, Anglo-Teutonic Spirituality, Anglo-Teutonic Paganism, Asatru, Norse Heathenism, Heathen religion, ancient Greek religion, Old Greek religion, Greek Spirituality, Greek Paganism, Hellenic religion, Hellenic Spirituality, Hellenic Paganism, Hellenic faith, Hellenism, Hellenismos, ancient Roman religion, Old Roman religion, Religio Romana, Roma Nova, Roman Spirituality, Roman Paganism, Old Slavic religion, Slavic Spirituality, Slavic Paganism, Old Russian religion, Russian Paganism, Old Polish religion, and Polish Paganism.]

[The Pagan calendar is also called the Nature Spirituality calendar, the Nature-based Spirituality calendar, the Earth-centered Spirituality calendar, and the Women's Spirituality calendar.]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial purposes, provided the following information is included:

Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2002
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2001 Page Two, Inc.
WheeloftheYear@BookArts.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com

All Gods and Goddesses
are aspects of
the One Deity

The One Deity
is reflected in
all Gods and Goddesses

The One Deity
is Deity of all

Deity is
male and female,
yet genderless

Deity is
all forms,
yet formless

Deity is
within all;
Deity is
beyond all

Deity is
all-embracing
love

With all that
is known by all
the world's sages,
with all that
is written in all
sacred books,
with all that
is experienced
in all
spiritual traditions,
we still cannot
know
the unknowable--

Deity is Mystery

The Mystic's Wheel of the Year... a Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality

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Year 2008 Calendar By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2007 Calendar By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

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Year 2008 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2008

Christian - Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition Holidays - 2008

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2008

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2008

Baha'i Holidays - 2008

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Hindu Holidays - 2008

Jain, Sikh, Taoist & Shinto Holidays - 2008

Buddhist Holidays - 2008

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African & Middle-Eastern Holidays: Santeria, Zoroastrian & Old Egyptian - 2008

Native American (Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo) & Meso American (Inca, Mayan & Aztec) Holidays - 2008

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2008

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Deep Ecology / Environmentalist Dates - 2008

Social Justice / Human Rights / Feminist Dates - 2008

Peace / Disarmament Dates - 2008

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Solar & Lunar Cycles, Eclipse & Helions - 2008

Meteor Showers - 2008

Visible Planets - 2008

Astrological Periods - 2008

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Year 2007 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2007

Christian - Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition Holidays - 2007

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2007

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2007

Baha'i Holidays - 2007

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Hindu Holidays - 2007

Jain, Sikh, Taoist & Shinto Holidays - 2007

Buddhist Holidays - 2007

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African & Middle-Eastern Holidays: Santeria, Zoroastrian & Old Egyptian - 2007

Native American (Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo) & Meso American (Inca, Mayan & Aztec) Holidays - 2007

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2007

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Deep Ecology / Environmentalist Dates - 2007

Social Justice / Human Rights / Feminist Dates - 2007

Peace / Disarmament Dates - 2007

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Solar & Lunar Cycles, Eclipses & Helions - 2007

Meteor Showers - 2007

Visible Planets - 2007

Astrological Periods - 2007

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Year 2006 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2006

Christian - Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition Holidays - 2006

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2006

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2006

Baha'i Holidays - 2006

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Hindu Holidays - 2006

Jain, Sikh, Taoist & Shinto Holidays - 2006

Buddhist Holidays - 2006

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African & Middle-Eastern Holidays: Santeria, Zoroastrian & Old Egyptian - 2006

Native American (Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo) & Meso American (Inca, Mayan & Aztec) Holidays - 2006

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2006

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Deep Ecology / Environmentalist Dates - 2006

Social Justice / Human Rights / Feminist Dates - 2006

Peace / Disarmament Dates - 2006

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Solar & Lunar Cycles, Eclipses & Helions - 2006

Meteor Showers - 2006

Visible Planets - 2006

Astrological Periods - 2006

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The Mystic's Wheel of the Year...
a Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality

Year 2008
Calendar
By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2007
Calendar
By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2008
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2008

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2008

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2008

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2008

African & Middle-Eastern Holidays: Santeria, Zoroastrian
& Old Egyptian - 2008

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2008

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2008

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2008

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2008

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2008

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipse & Helions - 2008

Year 2007
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2007

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2007

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2007

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2007

African & Middle-Eastern Holidays: Santeria, Zoroastrian
& Old Egyptian - 2007

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2007

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2007

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2007

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2007

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2007

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipses & Helions - 2007

Year 2006
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2006

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2006

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2006

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2006

African & Middle-Eastern Holidays: Santeria, Zoroastrian
& Old Egyptian - 2006

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2006

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2006

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2006

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2006

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2006

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipses & Helions - 2006

Year 2005
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2005

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2005

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2005

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2005

African & Middle-Eastern Holidays: Santeria, Zoroastrian
& Old Egyptian - 2005

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2005

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2005

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2005

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2005

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2005

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipses & Helions - 2005

Year 2004
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2004

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2004

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2004

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2004

African & Middle-Eastern Holidays: Santeria, Zoroastrian
& Old Egyptian - 2004

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2004

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2004

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2004

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2004

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2004

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipses & Helions - 2004