Calendar of Observances March 2005

Collated by Axiom

1st to 31st Mar: Germanic Observances - Month of Hrethmonath

• Hretha is, according to Bede, an Anglo-Saxoon goddess. There is little other evidence for her, but if Bede is correct, then she is likely to be another fertility deity.

1st to 31st Mar: Roman Observances - month of dedication to Martius

• Initially, Martius was the start of the year, not Janus. It was seen as the time to resume warfare and "get a move on". This time is ideal for attacking troubles in your life and making changes to aspects of your life and self that bring discordance to your existence.

01st:
Egyptian Observances - Feast of Isis

• The Egyptian goddess of fertility, motherhood and healing, Isis has always held a place of great power amongst humanity. Her worship spread across the globe, and she is viewed as the archetype of the Great Goddess.

Roman Observances - The Kalends, Vesta's Fires are Relit, Day of Martius

• At every Kalends an offering to the three Roman goddesses of fate is made: food, drink and three blades. These goddesses, the Parcae, perform a similar role to that of the Norns (Nordic), the Moirai (Greek) and the Wyrd sisters (Germanic). Parca was the original Fate, and was a goddess of abundance and motherhood. However, over time she became the three sisters, Nona, Morta and Decima.
• The Roman goddess, Vesta, protector of the sacred flame is served by 30 Vestal Virgins. Her sacred fire is tended all year, everburning, and on this day it is relit in a sacred ceremony.
• In honour of the Roman god, Mars, laurel branches (sacred to him) are fastened upon the public buildings and the homes of his priests, the Flamen.

01st - 2nd: Roman Observances - Matronalia

• The Festiva Matronalia is held in honour of Juno Lucina (Juno, she who brings children into the light), the Roman goddess of marriage, homes, and childbirth. Women unbind their hair and wear nothing that is knotted, symbolising safe childbirth without hinderance. Fine cakes decorated with 12 marzipan balls are made for this feast day.

01st - 24th: Roman Observances - Feriae Marti

• The Roman Festival of Mars lasted from the Kalends through to the 24th. The Salii (Leaping Priests) danced in his honour, and the last nine days were ones of fasting.

02nd:
Celtic Observances - Feast of Rhiannon, Ceadda's Day

• The Welsh Mother Goddess, Rhiannon, is honoured on this day.
• The Celtic god of healing springs and holy wells, Ceadda, is honoured today. He is symbolized by the Crann Bethadh, the tree of life.

Egyptian Observances - Feast of Re

• Re/Ra is the Egyptian god of the sun, and the preeminent deity of the Egyptian pantheon.

03rd:
Last Quarter Moon at 05:36pm EST

• With the progression towards the New Moon, we prepare to transition into our sleeping state. It is important that we take this time to begin assessing our emotional and mental state, in a process of "cleaning house". Magically, this time is all about assessment or self and relationships.

Germanic Observances - Aegir's Day

• Aegir is the Germanic god of the sea.

Greek Observances - Festival of Diasia

• The Greek festival of Diasia is that of the chtonic Zeus. Bloodless offerings (representing the earth and its bounty, should be made to him, especially grains, friuts and cakes shaped as animals. The entire offering should be burnt for him, and gifts should be given children - dearest to the chtonic gods.

Egyptian Observances - Festival of Clothing Anpu (Anubis)

• Anpu (Anubis) is the Egyptian god of the dead and the 'conductor of souls'. The ritual of washing, anointing and clothing the god's cult statue carries great religious significance as it is seen to be clothing the god himself. This is a daily event performed by the highest priests. The festival is a combination of the private observances and a public rite honouring the god. There is a parade, feasting, and prayers.

05th:
Egyptian Observances - Isidis Navigatum

• The Egyptian festival, Isidis Navigatum, honors Isis as Ruler of the Sea. A boat, decorated and piled high with offerings, is launched out to sea.

Greek & Roman Observances - Festival of Ploiaphesia

• The Greco-Roman Festival of Ploiaphesia (also known as Isidis Navigatum) celebrates Isis, goddess of navigation.

6th:
Roman Observances - Feast of Mars

• The Roman god of war and agriculture, Mars, was honoured on this day.

Egyptian Observances - Feast of Re

• Re/Ra is the Egyptian god of the sun, and the preeminent deity of the Egyptian pantheon.

07th:

Roman Observances - the Nones of March

• The Roman Nones were the day the Roman Rex Sacrorum announced to the people what days in the coming month would be holidays. Might be an idea to use this day to sort out your own observances for the next month.

Egyptian Observances - Cutting Out the Tongue of Sobek

• Sobek's name is "he who brings fertility", implying an origin as a fertility god. He is also known as the strength of the pharoah and bodyguard to various gods, especially protecting against evil magic.

8th to 10th: Greek Observances - Worship of all Chthonian deities

• The Greeks chthonic deities are 'of the earth' - whether Underworld or fertility/nature orientated (as some were traditionally - such as Plouton, Kore and Dememter) or in the chthonic form - Zeus Meilikhios (the Kindly) takes the form of a giant serpent. These three days are set aside to devote to all chthonic deities.

10th:
New Moon at 09:10am EST

• With the sun, moon and earth forming a straight line, the strength of their influence upon the world, and us, is magnified, influencing cyclic states beyond normal. Rather than rushing out to do everything, take time to sit and listen to the silence. This allows our subconscious to surface and talk to us, and our hidden face is drawn out. Magically, the New Moon is a time of judgment (both of the self and others) and retribution.

Egyptian Observances - Day of Het-Heru (Hathor)

• Goddess of the Underworld, Ruler of the Sky and Patron of Bodily Pleasure are some of the titles by which the Egyptian goddess Het-Heru (Hathor) is known. This is the festival Day of Het-Heru (Hathor) as the sky goddess whose cow horns embrace the Sun. Her festivals are traditionally days of intoxication.

Greek Observances - Hecate's Day

• The Greeks celebrated the Day of Hekate, goddess of the crossroads. A deity of the between, Hekate rules the journies we make from one place to another. She is also a deity of the underworld, of the moon, and a guardian from evil. Leave offerings of meal, milk, and honey on pottery sherds at crossroads if you wish to gain her protection and assistance.

10th Mar to 7th Apr: Modern Druidic Observances - Month of Ogronios

• The "Cold Time" - based upon the Coligny calendar.

11th:
Greek Observances - Noumenia Kata Selene

• Selene is the Greek goddess of the moon, and also an alternate personification of Hekate. This day celebrates her return as the new moon - it is the time to burn frankincense.

Egyptian Observances - Festival of the Ennead

• The Egyptian Ennead are the nine elder gods and the boat of Re. They maintain order in heaven and earth.

11th Mar - 8th Apr: Greek Observances - Month of Elaphebolion

• The Greek month of Elaphebolion is in celebration of Artemis the Huntress (Artemis Elaphebolos - Artemis Deer-shooter). Artemis symbolises the wilderness within and spiritual purity. Take stock of yourself - do you allow exterior concerns to constrain your soul beyond what is necessary? Do you practise what you believe? This is the time to revise and start anew.

12th:
Mesopotamian Observances - Day of Marduk

• Patron deity of Babylon, Marduk is a war god. He is famous for defeating Tiamat, which gave him the role of supreme deity of the pantheon, and overseeing the creation of humanity.

Egyptian Observances - Festival of the union of Thoth and Maae't (Ma'at)

• Thoth is the Egyptian Lunar deity of wisdom, time, and speech. Maae't (Ma'at) is the Egyptian goddess of the Truth, Balance, Justice and Order. After death, the heart of a person is weighed against the feather of Maae't (Ma'at) to determine the soul's next step - eternal death, or the afterlife.

Greek Observances - Agathos Daimon

• Agathos Daimon, the Greek god of fortune, originated as a fertility snake being. Considered a beneficial guardian of every home, offerings are made to him at each meal.

13th:
Roman Observances - the Ides of March, Anna Perenna

• Jupiter is the Roman god of the skies, master of rain, thunder and lightning, as well as the Protector of Rome. The Ides are dedicated to Jupiter and were originally set on the day of the full moon, but when the calendar month lengths became fixed, the ides were assigned a set day in the month.
• The Roman Anna Perena is held on the Ides of March. A sacred day, it is the personification of the succession of the years, shown as an old woman. Everyone celebrates and drinks as many cups of wine as the years they want to live. At one time it was a fertility festival, but over the years it has become a drink-fest.

Egyptian Observances - Maae't (Ma'at) Judges Souls

• Maae't (Ma'at) is the Egyptian goddess of the Truth, Balance, Justice and Order. After death, the heart of a person is weighed against the feather of Maae't (Ma'at) to determine the soul's next setp - eternal death, or the afterlife.

Mesopotamian Observances - Unaam

• Unaam is the day the New Moon becomes visible. One of the three days of the monthly Essesu festival, it is described in the Atrahasis myth: "On the first, seventh, and fifteenth of the month, I shall make a purification by washing." Later accounts reiterate the importance of observing these three days. t this time a ritual cleansing in water is the minimal requirement - immersion within the sacred waters of life. The full observance should include tending the cult statues, sacrifice and offerings of incense and food, ritual, prayer, and song. The meal served to the deity is thus blessed by the god and may later be consumed by the worshipper. To obtain sacred water for blessings, wash the cult statue's fingers in water after the ritual meal.

13th Mar - 11th Apr: Mesopotamian Observances - Month of Adarru, sacred to the God Ea

14th:
Greek Observances - Day of Aphrodite, Eros, Hermes and Herakles

• This day is dedicated to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. She is in all likelihood one of the oldest of the Greek gods. It is also holy to Eros, the Greek god of love and passion, and to Hermes, Greek god of light and truth - otherwise known as the messenger. Herakles, the demi-god famous for his miraculous achievements, is also honoured on this day.

Roman Observances - Equirria

• The second of two festivals of horse racing dedicated to Mars, god of war and agriculture. An older aspect of Mars, Mamurius, is honoured. Along with the purification of the army, a scapegoat (man dressed in goatskin) was ceremonially whipped out of the city.

Mar 14 - Apr 13: Northern Trad Observances - Month of Einmanuthr

• The Nordic month of Einmanuthr is the "one month".

15th to 17th: Roman Observances - The Bacchanalia

• A three day ritual, the Roman Bacchanalia are one of the mystery festivals of Dionysus (under his Roman guise of Bacchus). Initially, only women attended the secret rites, but later men were allowed to join in.

16th:
Greek Observances - Elaphebolia, Feast of Artemis

• The Greek festival of Elaphebolia celebrates Artemis the Huntress (Artemis Elaphebolos - Artemis Deer-shooter). Cakes of dough, honey and sesame seeds are shaped as stags and offered to her.
• The Greek Goddess Artemis is known as the virgin moon-goddess. She is the midwife to all mothers (human and otherwise) and the guardian of the young. She is also a huntress - both of animals and men.

17th:
First Quarter Moon at 07:19pm EST

• During this time, the physical effects of the sun, moon and earth's gravity upon us is such that our blood begins to surge and we become "twitchy", filled with the burgeoning urge to create and engage in activities. We are also more inclined to make errors based upon our impatience with waiting, taking time to follow all the steps. From a magical viewpoint, this is a time to work with the scales - not of justice, but of something much more basic.

Roman Observances - Liberalia

• Liber Pater is the Roman god of fertility, wine and nature. He is honoured on this day with honey cakes and ivy. The day boys aged 17 set aside their purple-bordered childhood togas and were initiated into manhood by donning their adult togas - the unbleached woolen toga virilis or toga libera.

Greek Observances - Feast Day of Apollo

• Apollo is the Greek god of animal husbandry and crops, archery, music and healing, among other things. This festival celebrates the returning sunlight.

Mesopotamian Observances - First Quarter Moon Rites

• The second of the three days of the monthly Essesu festival, it is described in the Atrahasis myth: "On the first, seventh, and fifteenth of the month, I shall make a purification by washing." Later accounts reiterate the importance of observing these three days. t this time a ritual cleansing in water is the minimal requirement - immersion within the sacred waters of life. The full observance should include tending the cult statues, sacrifice and offerings of incense and food, ritual, prayer, and song. The meal served to the deity is thus blessed by the god and may later be consumed by the worshipper. To obtain sacred water for blessings, wash the cult statue's fingers in water after the ritual meal.

18th:
Greek Observances - Day of Poseideon, the Asklepieian Games

• This day is set aside to honour Poseidon, Greek god of the oceans and husband of Mother Earth.
• This is a Greek festival honoring Asklepios, the god of healing. It is a Pan-Hellenic festival, held at Epidavros 9 days after the completion of the Isthmian Games. Athletics, drama, poetry and musical performances fill the days.

Celtic Observances - Festival of the Sheela-Na-Gig

• A day to honour the Sheela-na-Gigs, the Irish fertility and sex fetish.

Mar 18 - Apr 14: Pagan Observances - Month of the Alder Tree (Fearn)

• "I am a shining tear of the sun" ~ The Song of Amergin
• The Robert Graves' NeoPagan Calendar month of Fearn is symbolised by the hawk, red fox, stallion, and butterflies. Fearn is the month of "that which is and is not" - when we strive to distinguish what is from what is illusion. The alder is a tree of foundations and protection against the esoteric and mystical, making this a month especially suited to spiritual and mental work. This is a time to buckle down and rely upon intuition. Alder is a wood helpful in establishing foundations, and providing defense.

19th to 23rd:
Roman Observances - Quinquatrus of Minerva, Quinquatria of Mars/Feriae Marti

• Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, education, the arts and sciences, medicine, dyeing, trade, and also war. She is also the Matron of commerce, industry and education. The Quinquatria is her major festival, held about the time of the spring equinox.
• The Roman god of war, Mars, also has a 5 day festival, the Feriae Marti, at this time in preparation for the military campaigns. The Salii (his priests) dance for him.

Greek Observances - Greater Festival of Dionysius

• Dionysus is the Greek god of wine, rebirth after death, a lawgiver and the bringer of civilisation and peace. He is a god of mysteries and his main worshippers are the maenids (wild women). This festival, an urban one as opposed to the rural, focuses upon the theatre with contests for both comedies and tragedies being held. Dionysus is welcomed into the city with ritual song and dance and procession.

19th to 28th: Mesopotamian Observances - The Akitu

• Honouring the marriage of Heaven and Earth, Inanna and Dummuzi, the Babylonian Akita festival lasts 10 days.

20th:
Vernal Equinox at 07:34am EST

• The Vernal Equinox is when the earth is balanced between winter and summer. Many cultures celebrate this as a great springtide event - the time to celebrate the returning fertility of the earth.

NeoPagan Observances: Ostara

• Based in part upon the Germanic Ostara festival, and in part upon a variety of other Pagan spring festivals, this quarter festival marks the second spring festival of the year. It celebrates the mating of the Great Goddess with the Great God.

Modern Druidic Observances - Alban Eiler

• The Druidic observance of the Vernal Equinox. See the full moon on the 25th for alternate dating based upon the Coligny Calendar.

Romuva Observances - Lieldienas

• The Vernal Equinox celebration of the Latvian Romuva. Lieldienas lasted 3-4 days, which much feasting, dancing, and celebrating. Eggs are decorated and given.

Northern Trad Observances - Ostara/Eostre/Summer Finding

• The Northern Trad faiths observe Ostara/Eostre/Ostara, a festival dedicated to the Fertility goddess of the same name, and the victory of light over the dark.

Mesopotamian Observances - Return of Dumuzi/Tammuz

• The vegetation god of renewal, Dumuzi/Tammuz returns from death, departs the Underworld and is reunited with Inanna as spring comes to the land in celebration.

Streghe Observances - Equinozio della Primavera

• For the Streghe the vernal equinox marks the start of the Great Goddess's return from the shadowrealm. With her emergence, the earth awakes. Lupercus dies this day, but rises anew tomorrow as Janus, the new sun-god. The Horned God, Cern, takes Lupercus's place as King on earth.

21st Mar - 20th Apr: Aries Takes the Throne

• Aries is the cardinal fire sign and represents the rawest aspect of passion - the desire to initiate. This is the role of Aries within life.

21st Mar - 20th Apr: Modern Druidic Observances - Putios the Ram
This is the zodiac time of the Ram. Cuti Prinnios, the zodiacal cusp, is 'fiery'. The tree sign is Deruos, the Oak. (Based upon Joseph Monard's study of the Coligny Calendar).

23rd:
Greek Observances - The Pandia

• The Pandia is a Greek festival held immediately after the Greater Festival of Dionysus. It is held in honour of Zeus.

Roman Observances - the Tubilustrium

• The Tubilustrium is a day of ritual cleansing of the trumpets in preparation for the military campaigns.

Mar 24 - Apr 22: Egyptian Observances - The month of Paony, second month of Shomu

• Shomu is the Harvest season, or the Season of Re, the Egyptian god of the sun, and the preeminent deity of the Egyptian pantheon.

24th:
Roman Observances - Dies Sanguinis, Hilaria

• The Dies Sanguinis is the Day of Blood, a festival held in honour of Bellona, an Etruscan god of war and battles adopted by the Romans.
• The Feriae Marti ended on the 23rd, and on the 24th, the Roman citizens celebrated with the Hilaria, or the Festival of Joy.

Romuva Observances - Kazimiras Diena

• The celebration of Kazimiras Diena by the Latvian Romuva commemorates the return of the larks and the approaching summer.

25th:
Full Moon at 08:28pm EST

• We are confronted by the full face of the moon, revealed in all her glory as we stand between the moon and the sun. This creates opposing pulls upon our natures as the masculine and feminine within us are both stimulated and drawn in opposite directions. Magically, the Full Moon is a time of great energy - it is the counterpart to the New Moon. Decisions made are powerful, and should be made with the understanding that they probably cannot be deflected or reversed once set in motion.

Wiccan Observances - Sap Moon/Chaste Moon/Worm Moon

• Sap Moon is when the sap begins to stir. A time to plant "seeds" you have blessed.

Greek Observances - Feast of Kronus

• Today is a day of personal observance to Kronus, the Greek god of time.

Mesopotamian Observances - Full Moon Rites

• The last of the three days of the monthly Essesu festival, it is described in the Atrahasis myth: "On the first, seventh, and fifteenth of the month, I shall make a purification by washing." Later accounts reiterate the importance of observing these three days. t this time a ritual cleansing in water is the minimal requirement - immersion within the sacred waters of life. The full observance should include tending the cult statues, sacrifice and offerings of incense and food, ritual, prayer, and song. The meal served to the deity is thus blessed by the god and may later be consumed by the worshipper. To obtain sacred water for blessings, wash the cult statue's fingers in water after the ritual meal.

Coligny Celt Observances - Vernal Equinox

• This quarter festival celebrates the mating of the Great Goddess with the Great God. Evidence from the Coligny Calendar indicates that the Celts who used that system probably celebrated their festivals on the full moon of the month.

30th:
Roman Observances - Festival Day of Salus

• The Romans adopted the Greek goddess Hygieia, the goddess of health and prosperity, under the name of Salus.

31st:
Roman Observances - Day of Luna

• This is the Roman festival of Luna, goddess of the full moon.

Egyptian Observances - Feast of Wadjet

• Wadjet is the cobra god shown in the uraeus serpent atop the Pharoah's crown. Wadjet symbolises protection of the Pharoah and his people.