ALL SORTS

*When you discover your shoelace is loose, walk nine paces before tying it, otherwise you will tie ill luck to you for that day. It is very unlucky to give a new bootlace to a friend unless he gives you a broken one in return, also breaking a shoelace can bode ill for a journey
*When the moon is waxing, it is said cutting tree branches at this time they will grow straighter, rats eat more poison set out for them, and moles make more molehills.
*If you accidentally bite your tounge, this means someone is talking badly about you, so bite your sleeve to make them stop.
* It may be so many years of bad luck if you break a mirror but it is good l uck when you accidently break clear or uncoloured glass.
*Leaving your shoes crossed on the floor or lying upside-down is bad luck and putting a pair on the table is a sign of quarrels to come, but remember burning your boot before a journey is good luck, as is burning an old shoe, this also protects your home from infection.
*It is said to be bad luck if the "green room" at a theater, studio, or other public venue to be actually painted or decorated green.
*If you stumbles down the stairs, it is unlucky, but if you stumbles up the stairs, it is a sign of good fortune or a wedding. If two people cross on the stairs it is considered bad luck, if the two people can not avoid meeting on the stairs, they should cross their fingers to avoid the bad luck.
*A way of influencing your luck with money is .. on a rainy day, go to a place where there is a holly bush, clasp it round the main stem and chant three times: "Holly tree, 0 holly tree, Let much wealth come to me"
*If you have a webbed toe or an extra toe, you will have a lucky life. Having a second toe longer than the first toe, means you have a bad temper and a woman having a second toe longer than her big toe, she will dominate her marriage
*Think of seven names of you might marry, twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.
* Gamblers take note, the luckiest seat is the one which faces the door; the most unlucky is that which has its back to a fire-place; to change a run of bad cards, lay your handkerchief flat upon your chair and sit on it and walking round your chair three times will also alter the run of the cards
* If you mistakably walk into a spiders web, you will soon meet a friend; if you spy a spider spinning a web you will get new clothes ~ but seeing a spider's web in a kitchen this says there is little love in that house
* It is considered lucky to meet 3 sheep or to find 9 peas in a pod, also lucky to sneeze 3 times before breakfast and of course we all know the luck of a 4-leaf clover
*If your right ear burns, someone is speaking ill about you. Give your ear a good nip or pinch, to make them bite their tongue!
*If you do not present a new pair of shoes to a poor person at least once during your life, you will go barefoot in the next world.
*Passing an empty bucket when leaving your house gives you good luck all day, but don't sit on an upturned bucket, that'll only bring you bad luck all day.
*When playing cards and asked to deal from a choice of 2 packs, always choose the one farthest away from you, and a dog in the room while a game is on, is said to cause disputes.
*Don't get angry if you smudge your lipstick, thespians regard accidentally smearing some lipstick on to a tooth a sign of receiving a good contract.
*It is good luck to find a hair pin; hang that found hair pin on a hook will bring you a new friend.
* Finding a stray hair on your shoulder, expect an important letter very soon.
*Turning your apron inside out when seeing a full moon, wishes made, will be granted..
*A child sleeping with a key under his/her pillow is protected from evil spirits, dropping a key is bad luck, and jingling your bunch of keys on a Wednesday promotes madness!
* Never choose a redhead as your bridesmaid as she will steal your Groom, and never let the bridemaids wash any dishes after the feast or they will fall out with the married couple
*A silver coin placed in the foundations of a house, ensures luck for the property.
*When you have a death in the home, cover all the household mirrors, this prevents their soul being caught and detained in the mirror
* When you see a coin on the floor, have a closer look before picking it up. It's bad luck to pick up a coin if it's tails side up. Good luck comes if it's heads up
*If by chance you meet the same person twice when you are out on business this is Good Luck. It is even luckier if you encounter the person once when you are setting out and again when you are returning
*When a boy is born under the waning moon, the next birth will be a girl, and vice versa. When a child is born under a waxing moon, the next birth will be of the same sex
*Waste bin full?? ... well ... Burning an old shoe prevents infection in the house and burning an old boot before a journey will bring you good luck
*Take a pea-pod containing 9 peas and suspend it over the doorway using a white thread. If the next person who enters by the same door is not a member of the family and is a bachelor or spinster, then your wedding will take place within the year.
*Stirring a pot of tea, stirs up trouble; finding a floating tea leave in you cup, expect a visitor and bubbles in your tea is a sign of kisses or finacial gain.
*If you are going to Turkey or Greece for your holiday, remember to carry or wear a charm, bead or talisman made with torquoise to protect you from their evil spirits, also if the colour pales it warns the wearer they are in danger.
*If the first initial of each of your names spells a word this will give you a lucky life.
*Next time you see a chimney sweep, go and shake his hand, some of his good luck will rub off onto you.
*Dont be too nervous at that special do, because accidently spilling wine while proposing a toast is a sign of Good Luck!
* Breaking a mirror means 7 years of bad luck, NOT SO, if you take the pieces outside & bury them in moonlight. But if a mirror in a house, out of the blue, suddenly falls & smashes then it means that there will soon be a death!
* Better start to get ready early, like on a Thursday for the weekend outing, 'cos cutting or filing your finger-nails on a Friday is so unlucky and done on a Sunday even more unlucky.
*It's bad luck for a professional football player to take a new number when he is traded to another team, but double numbers on a player's uniform brings good luck.
*Yawning is caused by the devil, so evil spirits can enter your body when your mouth is wide open, and ou thought it was good manners covering your mouth while yawning, no, it stops the evil spirits.
*When out fishing, to bring you luck spit on your bait before casting your rod, but if a barefoot woman passes you by that could ruin it all, as it means the fish may not bite for the rest of the day.
*If golfers start their round with odd numbered clubs, the golfers can have a successful 18 holes, but don't use balls with numbers higher than 4.
*If you bite your tongue, someone is talking saying nasty thinks about you; so bite your sleeve to make them stop, but some say if you bite your tongue you'll soon kiss a fool.
*Be careful with this, if you give anyone an empty purse or wallet as a pressie they will never be blessed with riches, unless you put a coin inside it for luck
*The good thing about having a cold is, if you sneeze 3 times before your breakfast, you can expect good luck that day!
* If after leaving your house, you have to go back to fetch something, when you get inside please sit down and count down from seven to one, in order to avoid ill luck.
* Does your shoelace keep coming untied, don't curse 'cos it is an omen of good news, or you are about to receive a fortunate letter.
* Your soul could escape from your body when you sneeze, so to stop this from happening ask God to "bless me". Also say it to protect any other person who sneezes ~ "bless you".

ANIMALS
*Seeing swans on a Friday morning is good luck, however if you see swans on a Friday evening it is bad luck. Swans taking to the air, expect strong winds, but if you see just three flying together it could mean a national disaster.
*A strong smelling billy goat lessens the chances of your cattle and horses falling sick, and if you meet a black goat on a bridle path this indicates treasure is near
*When the moon is waxing, it is said cutting tree branches at this time they will grow straighter, rats eat more poison set out for them, and moles make more molehills
*If a bee lands on your hand, expect wealth; if a bee lands on your head, you will rise to greatness; if a bee is flying round a sleeping child, the child will have a happy life; but if the bees are lethargic, this is an omen of misfortune or war and if they suddenly vacate their hive, this could be an omen of death.
*If you mistakably walk into a spiders web, you will soon meet a friend; if you spy a spider spinning a web you will get new clothes ~ but seeing a spider's web in a kitchen this says there is little love in that house
*A wish made on the first robin you see in spring will come true, as long as you finish your wish before the robin flies away
*When swans take to the air, you can expect strong winds; a swan stretching it's neck back over it's body signals a storm is on the way but seeing 3 swans in flight together is an omen of a national disaster
*Meeting a goat on the start of a journey is a good omen, meeting a black goat on a bridleway means there is treasure nearby and keeping a strong smelling billy goat ensures the health of your cows, sheep and horses.
*Black Rabbits are thought to host the souls of human beings. White Rabbits are said to be really witches and the saying 'White Rabbit' on the first day of each month brings luck. A common lucky charm is a Rabbit's foot
*A peacock calling is an omen of rain, "When the peacock loudly bawls ~ soon we'll have both rain & squalls".
* If a bat flies into your house there are ghosts about. Even worse if a bat flies around a house 3 times this is an omen of death.
*If bats come out early and fly around playfully good weather is ahead.
*Horse brasses are used to protect horses from witches.
*Meeting a Dalmatian dog is especially lucky & a greyhound with a white spot on its forehead is good fortune coming your way
* Never bet on a horse who's name has been changed, bad luck to change the name of any horse and it's bad luck to wish a jockey good luck before their race.
*Be kind to a bee entering your home, it's a sign that you will soon have a visitor. If you kill the bee the visitor will be unpleasant and bring bad luck. Beware a swarm of bees settling on a roof is an omen that the house will burn down.
*When playing cards and asked to deal from a choice of 2 packs, always choose the one farthest away from you, and a dog in the room while a game is on, is said to cause disputes.

WEATHER
*A peacock calling is an omen of rain, "When the peacock loudly bawls ~ soon we'll have both rain & squalls".
*If bats come out early and fly around playfully good weather is ahead.
*When swans take to the air, you can expect strong winds; a swan stretching it's neck back over it's body signals a storm is on the way but seeing 3 swans in flight together is an omen of a national disaster
*Rings around the moon are a sign of rain or snow; seeing a new moon straight ahead of you is very good luck, but never point at the moon in any of it's stages, that's very bad luck.
*Worms coming out of the earth in the day, expect it to rain; and seeing earthworms out after rain in Autumn, expect a mild winter.
*When it's stormy weather get those scissors out, it is said to be good luck to cut your hair during a storm
CURES
*To cure a fever eat a spider with jam, syrup or an apple, to ward off the plague wear a spider in a walnut shell around your neck
* Need to ease your toothache or cure a fever, then wear a pouche about you containing splinters from a gibbet.
*If you inhale a horses breath it will cure your whooping cough, and eating a hair from a horse's forelock will cure you from your worms.
*Rub your warts & sties with gold, especially a wedding ring, to cure them.
CHRISTMAS
*Odd numbers at the Christmas dinner table is bad luck; so have an extra plate in readiness for an unexpected person. The legs of the dining table are to be tied with string to protect the house from thieves and burglars in the coming year; and don't forget to place a bowl of garlic under the dining table and fish scales under the dinner plates for luck.
*If you take a candle to church this Christmas, don't bring it home; blow it out and leave it for the vicar to bring him good luck, oh and don't wear new shoes Christmas Day, bad luck for you
*The nearer the New Moon is to Christmas Day, the harder the winter.
*A man may kiss a girl standing under the sprig of mistletoe, but only if he plucks a berry from the plant and presents it to her with each kiss. Once the berries are gone, so the kissing stops.
*Those born on Christmas Day day will never encounter a ghost, nor will they have anything to fear from spirits. They're also protected against from death by drowning or hanging
*Evergreens to bring into your home at Christmas are Holly, the symbol of eternal life, ivy, rosemary, bay leaves and, of course, mistletoe to keep evil spirits away
*Mince pies must not be cut, you'll cut your luck. None must be eaten before Christmas Eve nor after Twelfth Night. As many mince pies as you eat at different houses during the festive season, so you will have happy months in the year to come
WINTER
*If the first calf born in the winter is white, expect a real bad winter, but if the first butterfly you see this year is white, you'll have good luck the rest of the year.
*In late winter, do not sit at your front door step to do your knitting, as that could lengthen the winter well into spring.
.NEW YEAR DAY
*Just as the clock strikes twelve the head of the house should open the door in order to allow the Old Year to pass out and the New Year to come in.
*Make as much noise as possible on New Years Eve to keep th evil spirits away
*Do not forget the kissing at mid-night to ensure that those affections and ties will continue throughout the next twelve months.
*To dance in the open air, especially round a tree, on New Year's Day is declared to ensure luck in love and prosperity and freedom from ill health during the coming twelve months. (Here we go round the mulberry bush, on a cold and frosty morning)
*Wear something new on January 1 to increase the likelihood of your receiving more new garments during the year to follow.
*Make sure you do something related to your work on the first day of the year, even if you don't go near your place of work that day, you must be be successful at it.. but don't engage in a serious work project on that day is very unlucky.
*Do not pay back loans or lend money or other precious items on New Year's Day. To do so is to guarantee you'll be paying out all year.
*Nothing is to leave the house on the first day of the year. If you have a present to deliver on New Year's Day, leave them in the car overnight. Don't even put rubbish or empties to the dustbin.
*Stock up your food cupboards and fill your wallet, empty pockets or empty cupboards on New Years Eve fortell a year of poverty
* Don't use those sissors on New Years Day, you'll 'cut off' your good fortune.

VALENTINES DAY
* If you see a goldfinch on Valentine's Day, you will marry a millionaire. If you see a robin flying overhead , it means you will marry a sailor. If you see a sparrow, you will marry a poor person, but very happy. Alas to see a single crow its a wedding of woe

SPRING
*A wish made on the first robin you see in spring will come true, as long as you finish your wish before the robin flies away.
*Spring is coming ~ Be careful when doing your household chores, bad luck to turn your mattress on a Friday, and remember that if you turn it from foot to head, you'll never wed. Even changing your sheets on a Friday will bring nightmares to your sleep.
*Cuckoos ~ hope you are in good health when you hear your first cuckoo of the year 'cos your condition that day will remain all year through. Hearing your first cuckoo on the 6th of April or after midsummer is bad luck, but hearing the first cuckoo on the 28th of April is excellent luck. First sound of a cuckoo in spring coming from the left is bad luck, but if from the right it will bring great luck to you.
*Remember to gather flowers and put them by your doors and windows on May Day to keep out the troublesome fairies.
SUMMER
*June is here, and weddings .. it is said that a woman who's second toe is longer than her big toe, will domernate her marriage. While talking feet.. on your wedding day, enter the church, RIGHT foot first, it is unlucky to enter left foot first.
*While gardening this summer never carry a hoe into the house. If, by mistake, you do so .. carry it out again, walking backward to avoid bad luck

AUTUMN & HALLOWE'EN / SAMHAIN (Oct 31st to Nov 5th)
The Gaelic word "Samhain" is pronounced 'Sow-een' or 'Sow-en' NOT 'Sam-hane'
It means literally "summer's end."
*Do not sit under a Hawthorn tree on Hallowe'en if you do not want to be enchanted or carried away by faeries, but to release a person from ghost or faerie possession, throw dust from your footprint at them. (More Hallowe'en further down the page)
*To prevent ghosts coming into the house at Hallowe'en, bury animal bones or a picture of an animal near the doorway.
*It is told that owls ate the souls of the dying by swooping to earth on Hallowe'en.
*A clear moon on Hallowe'en means fine weather ahead. Clouds racing across the face of the moon mean storms are on the way and the wind at midnight indicates the prevailing wind for the coming season.
*Seeing a spider on Hallowe'en means that the spider could be the spirit of a deceased loved one who is watching you.
*Hallowe'en don'ts : Go hunting ~ Turn around to see who is behind you ~ Watch your shadow in the moonlight. All are unlucky activities at Hallowe'en
*Go to a crossroads at Hallowe'en and listen to the wind, you will learn all the most important things that will befall you during the next twelve months
*Hallowe'en babies have the gift of second sight.
*At Hallowe'en all family members should put an ivy leaf without spot or stain into a glass of water overnight. If the leaf is still spotless in the morning, the person is assured of life for another year but if the leaf has spots on it, the person who put it in the water will die within one year.
*You should walk around your home three times backwards and counterclockwise before sunset on Hallowe'en to ward off evil spirits
*Like at anytime bells ward off evil spirits and if a candle flame turns blue there is a ghost about
*When bobbing for apples, or when apple snapping, it is believed that the first person to bite an apple would be the first to marry.
* On the morning of November 1st a silver coin was thrown through the front door of the house. The coin had to remain where it had fallen in order to bring financial luck.
*Unless you were born in October, the wearing of an Opal will be very ill-fated
*It is lucky to catch the falling leaves from trees in autumn; for every leaf that you catch before it hits the ground, you will have a lucky month the following year.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

RHYMES & SAYINGS
(updated frequently)

Bees
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spoon
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth a fly
~ ~ ~
Money
See a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck!
See a penny, let it lie, all day long you'll have to cry.
~ ~ ~
Spiders
If you wish to live and thrive
Let the spider run alive
~ ~ ~
Spiders ~ seeing
A spider in the morning is a sign of sorrow
A spider at noon brings worry for tomorrow
A spider in the afternoon is a sign of a gift
But a spider in the evening will all hopes uplft
~ ~ ~
Weather ~ Expect Rain
If Ducks or Drakes their Wings do flutter high
Or tender Colts upon their Backs do lie,
If Sheep do bleat, or play, or skip about,
Or Swine hide Straw by bearing on their Snout,
If Oxen lick themselves against the Hair,
Or grazing Kine to feed apace appear,
If Cattle bellow, grazine from below,
Or if Dogs Entrails rumble to and fro,
If Doves or Pigeons in the Evening come
Later than usual to their Dove-House Home,
If Crows and Daws do oft themselves be-wet,
Or Ants and Pismires Home a-pace do get,
If in the dust Hens do their Pinions shake,
Or by their flocking a great Number make,
If Swallows fly upon the Water low,
Or Wood-Lice seem in Armies for to go,
If Flies or Gnats, or Fleas infest and bite,
Or sting more than they're wont by Day or Night,
If Toads hie Home, or Frogs do croak amain,
Or Peacocks cry
Soon after look for Rain!
~ ~ ~
Weather ~ Months
If January has never a drop, the barn will need an open prop
If in February there be no rain, it is neither good for hay nor grain.
March damp and warm, will do the farmer much harm.
April cold and wet, fills the barns best yet.
Cold May and windy, barn filleth up finely.
~ ~ ~
Weather ~ Fishing
When the wind is blowing from the north,
No fisherman should set forth.
When the wind is blowing from the east,
'Tis not fit for man nor beast.
When the wind is blowing from the south,
It brings food to fish's mouth.
When the wind is blowing in the west,
That is when the fishing is best!
~ ~ ~
Weather ~ Farmer's Chant
Go plant the bean when the moon is light,
and you will find that this is right.
Plant the potatoes when the moon is dark,
and to this you always hark.
But if you vary from this rule,
You will find that you're the fool.
If you always follow this rule to the end,
You will always have money to spend.
~ ~ ~
Weather ~ General
Red at night: Shepperd's delight.
Red in the Morning: Shepperds warning.
~ ~ ~
New Year
If New Year's Eve night-wind blows south
It betokeneth warmth and growth;
If west, much milk and fishin the sea;
If north, cold and storms there will be;
If east, the trees will bear much fruit;
If north-east, flee it, man and brute!
~ ~ ~
Christmas
If Christmas Day be bright and clear
Two winters we will have this year
~ ~ ~
Christmas
A green Christmas; white Easter
~ ~ ~
Imbolc ~ Candlemas
(fertility/fire feast ~ mid-way between the winter solstice & spring equinox)
"Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and misletoe ;
Down with the holly, ivy, all,
Wherewith ye dress'd the Christmas Hall."
~ ~ ~
Imbolc ~ Candlemas
If Candlemass day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter to come and mair
If Candlemass day be wet and foul.
The half o' winter gane at Yule.
This means that if it is nice on Candlemas Day you can expect six more weeks of
winter weather, if it isn't nice on Candlemas Day, the weather should get nicer.
~ ~ ~
Imbolc ~ Candlemas
Kindle the Yule brand, and then
Till sunset let it burn;
Which quench'd then lay it up again
Till Yule next return.

Part must be kept wherewith to tend
The Yule log next year;
And where 'tis safely kept, the fiend
Can do no mischief there.
~ ~ ~
First Flower of Spring:
The day you find the first flower of the season
can be used as an omen:
Monday means good fortune,
Tuesday means greatest attempts will be successful,
Wednesday means marriage,
Thursday means warning of small profits,
Friday means wealth,
Saturday means misfortune,
Sunday means excellent luck for weeks.
~ ~ ~
Wedding Days
Monday for wealth
Tueasday for health
Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
and Saturday no luck at all
~ ~ ~
Wedding ~ Months
Married in January's hoar and rime, widowed you'll be before your prime
Married In February's sleepy weather, life you'll tread in time together,
Married when March winds shrill & roar, your home will be on a distant shore.
Married beneath April's changing skies, a chequered path before you lies,
Married when bees over May blossoms flit, strangers around your board will sit
Married in the month of roses ~ June, life will be one long honeymoon,
Married in July with flowers ablaze, bittersweet memories in after days,
Married in August's heat & drowse, lover and friend in your chosen spouse.
Married in Septmber's golden glow, smooth and serene your life will go,
Married when leaves in October thin, toil & hardship for you are kin.
Married in veils of November mist, fortune your wedding ring has kissed.
Married in days of December cheer, love's star shines brighter from year to year.
~ ~ ~
Wedding ~ Colours.
Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Brown, you will live in town,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.
~ ~ ~
Birth Days
Monday's child is fair of face;
Tuesday's child is full of grace;
Wednesday's child is full of woe;
Thursday's child has far to go;
Friday's child is loving and giving;
Saturday's child works hard for a living.
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
is fair and wise, good and gay
~ ~ ~
Sneezing Days
Sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger
Sneeze on Tuesday, you kiss a stranger
Sneeze on Wednesday, you sneeze for a letter
Sneeze on Thursday for something better
Sneeze on Friday, you sneeze for sorrow
Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow
Sneeze on Sunday, your safety seek
For the devil will have you the whole of the week
~ ~ ~
Hair & Nail Cutting Days.
Cut them on Monday, you cut them for health;
cut them on Tuesday, you cut them for wealth;
cut them on Wednesday, you cut them for news;
cut them on Thursday, a new pair of shoes;
cut them on Friday, you cut them for sorrow;
cut them on Saturday, see your true love tomorrow;
cut them on Sunday, the devil will be with you all the week.
~ ~ ~
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ORIGINS & EXPLANATIONS
(updated frequently)

Wheel Of The Year
The Wheel of the Year is a Wiccan metaphor and calendar for the cycle of the seasons. It consists of eight festivals, spaced at approximately even intervals throughout the year. (The progression of birth, life, decline and death ~ as experienced in human lives too) These festivals are called Sabbats.
The holidays of the Wheel of the Year take their names from Pre-Christian Celtic and Pre-Christian Germanic religious festivals, however there is no place in Europe where all eight festivals have been observed as a whole set of eight, and the complete eightfold Wheel of the Year was unknown prior to modern Wicca.
In the pagan wheel of the year, January ends at or near to Imbolc in the northern hemisphere and Lughnasadh in the southern hemisphere.

Festival name ~ Traditional date ~ Alternative date ~ Sun's Position
Samhain, Last Harvest, Blood Harvest: 1-5 Nov .. Alt: 5-10 Nov .. 15° into Scorpio
Yule, Alban Arthan, Midwinter: 20-23 Dec .. No Alt .. Winter Solstice 0° Capricorn
Imbolc, Brigid's Day, Candlemas: 2 Feb .. 2-7 Feb .. 15° into Aquarius
Ostara, Alban Eilir, Lady Day: 19-22 Mar .. No Alt: Spring Equinox 0° Aries
Beltane, May Day: 1 May .. Alt: 4-10 May .. 15° into Taurus
Midsummer, Alban Hefin, Litha: 19-23 June .. No Alt .. Summer Solstice 0° Cancer
Lughnasadh, Lammas, 1st Harvest, Bread Harvest:1 Aug .. 3-10 Aug .. 15° into Leo
Mabon, Alban Elfed, 2nd Harvest, Fruit Harvest: 21-24 Sept.. No Alt.. Autumn Equinox 0° Libra
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Month Names and a Few Facts
January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar, since the Romans originally considered winter a monthless period. (February being the last month of the year). March was originally the first month of the Roman calendar before the winter months of January and February

January ~ it's original Roman name, Ianuarius (Janus, the god of the doorway)
The Saxon term was Wulf-monath (meaning wolf month)
Charlemagne's named it Wintarmanoth (winter / cold month).
The Finnish called it Tammikuu (month of the oak)
In Czech it is Leden, meaning ice month.
In old Japanese calendar, the month is called Mu tsuki
January's birthstone is garnet.
January's birth flower is the carnation or snowdrop.
The Chinese floral emblem of January is the plum blossom.
The Japanese floral emblem of January is the camellia.
January's trees are Fir, Elm and Cyprss

February ~ (Feb-roo-air-ee) Roman calendar name Februay after the Latin term februum (purifacation)
The Anglo-Saxon terms Solmoneth (mud month) and
also Anglo-Saxon term Kale-monath (named for cabbage)
Charlemagne's named it Hornung.
In Finnish, the month is called helmikuu (month of the pearl)
In old Japanese calendar, the month is called kisaragi or kinusaragi (wearing kimonos over)
February's birthstone is amethyst.
February's birth flower is the violet or primrose.
The Chinese floral emblem of February is the peach blossom.
February's trees are Popular, Cedar and Pine

March ~ Originally the first month of the year.
In ancient Rome, it was called Martius (Mars, the Roman god of war)
Saxon named it Lenctmonat (the equinox and eventual lengthening of days ~ eventual namesake of Lent)
The Saxons also called March, Rhed-monat (their goddess of love & fertility Rhedam )
Finnish called it Maaliskuu (maallinen kuu meaning earthy month, earth started to show from under the snow.
Ancient Hellenic civilization, March was called Anthesterion, from the spring festival Anthesteria.
Old Japanese calendar, the month is called Yayoi
Ancient Britons called it hyld-monath (meaning loud or stormy).
March's birthstone is Aquamarine
March's birth flower is the Daffodil or Jonquil
March's trees are Weeping Willow, Hazlenut, Lime and Oak.

April ~ Originally the second month of the year from the Latin aperire, "to open," being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open,"
In Roman it was sacred to Venus, the Festum Veneris et Fortunae Virilis being held on the first day, originally named Aprilis, from her Greek name Aphrodite (Aphros), or from the Etruscan name Apru.
The Anglo-Saxons called April Oster-monath or Eostur-monath, the period sacred to Eostre or Ostara, the pagan Saxon goddess of spring, from whose name is derived the modern Easter.
In China the symbolical ploughing of the earth by the emperor and princes of the blood
In Japan the feast of Dolls is celebrated
April 24th ~ St Mark's Eve, is when the ghosts of those who are doomed to die within the year will be seen to pass into the church.
April's birthstone is the diamond.
April's birth flower are the daisy and sweet pea.
April's tree's are Walnut, Rowan and Maple

May ~ In the neopagan Wheel of the Year, May begins on Beltane in the northern hemisphere and Samhain in the southern hemisphere.
Named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, hence the maypole dances and
In Finnish, the month is called toukokuu, meaning "month of sowing".
In Slovene, it is called veliki traven, which means the month of high grass.
In Czech, it is called kveten, which means the month of blooms
In the Irish calendar May 1 is Beltane (Bealtaine), the first day of Summer.
May's birthstone is the emerald
May's birth flowers are the lily of the valley and hawthorn.
The bird of May is the nightingale
May's tree's are Ash, Popular and Chestnut

June ~ the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere and the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere occurs on dates varying from 20 June to 22 June (in UTC). In the pagan wheel of the year the summer solstice is the time of Litha and the winter solstice is that of Yule.
Named after the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter and equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera.
In the Irish Calendar the month is called Meitheamh and is the middle month of the summer season.
In Sweden midsummer is celebrated on the third Friday in June.
June's birthstone is the pearl, Alexandrite, or moonstone.
June's flowers are the rose and honeysuckle.
June's tree's are Hornbeam, Fig, Birch and Apple

July ~ Originally called Quintilis in Latin, since it was the fifth month in the ancient Roman calendar,
Renamed for Julius Caesar, who was born in that month.
In the Irish Calendar the month is called Iúil and is the third and last month of the Summer season.
The Welsh name is Gorffennhaf which means end of the summer.
In Finnish, it is called Heinäkuu, meaning "month of grass".
July's birthstone is the ruby.
July's flower is the water lily or larkspur.
July's trees are Elm and Cypress

August ~ This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the ancient Roman calendar, which started in March about 750 BC under Romulus.
Renamed in honor of Augustus in 8 BC because several of the most significant events in his rise to power, culminating in the fall of Alexandria, fell in this month. August originally had 29 days in the Roman Republican calendar, but two days were added to it by Julius Caesar beginning 45 BC
In Irish, it is known as Lúnasa, a modern rendition of Lughnasadh, from the god Lugh.
August 1, Lá Lúnasa in the Irish Calendar, is still regarded as the first day of Autumn.
In Finnish, the month is called elokuu, meaning "month of reaping".
August birthstone's are the peridot, sardonyx, and sapphire.
August's flower are the gladiolus and poppy
August's tree are Popular, Cedar and Pine

September ~ In Latin, septem means "seven" and septimus means "seventh"; September was in fact the seventh month of the Roman calendar until 153 BC.
In Croatian, September is called Rujan, meaning red month (leaves turn red before falling).
In Czech, September is called zárí, meaning glow or shine.
In Finnish, September is called syyskuu, meaning autumn month.
In Polish, September is called wrzesien, month when calluna flowers emerge.
In Tigrinya and Amharic, it is called meskerem which is also the month when the yellow flowers of the same name blossom marking the beginning of the New year according to the ancient Christian orthodox calendars of Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as the start of the greatest harvest season in most parts of both countries.
In Turkish, September is called Eylül, (Arabian - eylûl), syriac-Arabian 'aylûl' means 'Grape'. Thus the meaning might be "Grape Month". Another, more likely, possibility might be from the Hebrew month Elul.
September's birthstone is the sapphire.
September's flower is the aster or morning glory.
September's Weeping Willow, Lime and Olive-Sept 23rd only

October ~ In Latin, October is called Octubre, or VIIIber (where VIII is the Roman number 8, in Latin "octo"). The name is due to the fact that it was the 8th month in the early Julian calendar beginning in March.
In Czech, October is called ríjen. The origin of this name is in the deer's belling in this month.
In Finnish, October is called lokakuu, meaning "month of dirt".
In Scottish Gaelic, it is called an Damhar, meaning "rutting time" (of stags).
In Irish, October is called Deireadh Fómhair, meaning "end of harvest-time".
In Turkish, October is called Ekim, meaning "sowing" because of the sowing of wheat.
In Welsh, it is called "Hydref", meaning "autumn".
October's birthstone is the opal or tourmaline.
October's flower is the calendula or cosmos.
October's tree's are Rowan, Maple and Walnut

November ~ In the pagan wheel of the year, November begins at or near Samhain in the northern hemisphere and Beltaine in the southern hemisphere.
In Latin, novem means "nine". November was also the ninth month in the Roman calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February.
In Finnish, November is called marraskuu, meaning "month of the dead".
In Polish, November is called "Listopad", meaning "month of falling leaves".
In Xhosa, November is called ngeyeNkanga, meaning "month of the small yellow daisies".
In the American South, November is known as the "month of the dog".
In Croatian, November is called "Studeni" meaning "cold one"
November's birthstone is the citrine or topaz (yellow).
November's flower is the chrysanthemum.
November's tree are Chestnut and Ash

December ~ In Latin, decem means "ten". December was also the tenth month in the Roman calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February.
In the Anishinaabe language, December is known as Manidoo-giizisoons, meaning "little spirit-moon".
In Finnish, December is called joulukuu, meaning "month of Christmas", since about the 18th century. Earlier it was called talvikuu, meaning "month of winter".
In Irish, December is called Mí na Nollaig, meaning "month of Christmas".
In the old Japanese calendar, the month is called Shiwasu meaning "priests run"; it is named so because priests are busy making end of the year prayers and blessings.
In Xhosa, December is known as ngeyomNga, meaning "month of the mimosa thorn tree".
December's birthstones are turquoise, lapis lazuli, zircon, topaz (blue), or tanzanite.
December's flower is the narcissus or holly.
December's trees are Hornbeam, Fig, Beech and Apple
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WHICH MONTHS HAVE 31 DAYS
Quick and easy way ~ use the knuckles of the four fingers of both your hand and the spaces between them to remember the lengths of the months. First make a fist, then begin listing each month as you proceed across your hand. All months landing on a knuckle are 31 days long and those landing between them are not.
(Little finger or pinky knuckle of the left hand being January, first dip is February)
(Index finger knuckle of your right hand is August and so on)
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THE FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR
In and around what we know as Europe
the 1st day of the year, New Years Day, used to be April 1st
The following dates show the years in which various countries
adopted January 1st as the start of the year.
Republic of Venice 1522
Holy Roman Empire 1544
Spain, Portugal, and Roman Catholic Netherlands 1556
Prussia, Denmark Sweden and Norway 1559
France 1564
Lorraine 1579
Protestant Netherlands 1583
Scotland 1600
Russia 1700
Tuscany 1721
England not until 1752
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New Year ~ First Footing
First Footing: The first person to enter your home after the stroke of midnight will influence the year you're about to have. Ideally, the person should be male, dark-haired, tall, and good-looking, and it would be even better if he came bearing certain small gifts such as a lump of coal, a silver coin, a bit of bread, a sprig of evergreen, and some salt. Blonde and redhead first footers bring bad luck, and female first footers should be shooed away before they bring disaster down on the household. The first footer should knock and be let in rather than just using a key. After greeting those in the house and dropping off whatever small tokens of luck he has brought with him, he should make his way through the house and leave by a different door than the one through which he entered. No one should leave the premises before the first footer arrives. First footers must not be red-haired, cross-eyed, have flat feet or eyebrows that meet in the middle these bring bad luck; but a man with a high instep, or one who comes on a horse, is considered particularly lucky.
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Christmas ~ Turkeys
Turkeys are believed to have been brought to Britain in 1526 by Yorkshireman William Strickland. He acquired six turkeys from American Indian traders and sold them for tuppence in Bristol. Henry VIII was the first English King to enjoy turkey on Christmas Day, instead of his usual goose, and Edward VII made turkey eating fashionable at Christmas. 200 years ago, in both England and US, turkeys were walked to market in herds. In the UK the turkeys wore little boots to protect their feet. Commercially bred tukeys cannot fly, but turkey breeding today, has sadly caused turkey breasts to grow so large that the turkeys fall over.
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June Weddings
This costum started in ancient Rome, where the goddess of youth, Juno, the faithful wife of Jupiter and guardian of women from birth to death ruled for 30 days, the month of June. Despite ancient beliefs, today, the most popular day to wed is a Saturday (I expect our modern working habits has made this so). But in anceint times Saturday, ruled by Saturn, was the most unluckiest day of the week to wed. Maybe a lesson to be learn with modern day stats!
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Confetti
Another costum started in ancient Rome, when the bride, after a wedding,would be showered with nuts, sweets or wheat on her homeward journey to ensure her fertility. Greek, Roman and Anglo-Saxon brides would wear headbands made of corn or wheat for fertility. Also wheat, corn and other fertility emblems would be scattered over the path of the Anglo-Saxon bride on her way to the wedding. But by the middle ages it was thought evil male and female demons were lurking to replace the husband or wife to wreck the couple's happiness, so rice thrown at the wedding would feed and pacify the evil spirits. The 19th century sees confetti, an Italian confectionery was used, tiny sweets and cakes in the shapes of good luck charms and fertility emblems.. then came the paper confetti.
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Honeymoon
The honeymoon custom started with ancient Teutons, who lived in Jutland, northern Europe until they migrated south in the second century BC taking their traditions with them. At Teuton wedding feasts, couples celebrated by drinking mead, a potion of honey (thought to be a aphrodisiac) and wine/ale. The happy couple were allowed a month to celebrate their union. They would drink mead on each day of the first 30 days of their marraige, as it takes 30 days for the moon to go through all its phases (a lunar month) and then disappear, as did the feasting, the honeymoon was over.
When in modern days a bride and groom slip away unnoticed to a secret destination, they are semi-repeating a very old practice. In some ancient civilisations, a young man, helped by his best friend (best man) would seize a woman by force, hide her way in a secret place and fight off any attempts of rescue. While in the secret place, he would convince his lady that he would be the perfect husband. Once convinced, the couple would come out of hiding and the young man would pacify the brides family with gifts.
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Beltane / May Day
May 1: Beltane, also called May Day, is a Sabbat celebrating fertility and the union of the young Horned God and the Goddess. This is the time when life is beginning to renew itself. Animals are mating, plants are sprouting, and people celebrate! Huge fires are traditionally lit to honor the fertility God Belenos. Some people even leap the fires to show their excitement. Maypoles are erected, and bright ribbons are entwined around it. The Maypole is, in essence, a phallic symbol which represents the masculine penis. The soft, colorful ribbons represent the feminine. The union of the two symbolizes the union of the God and Goddess and the promise of rebirth. The God is conceived within the Goddess, and He will be reborn again at Yule. There is a legend that children conceived at Beltane were gifted by the gods. These children are known as Merry-Be-Gots.
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Spring Equinox / New Year / Aprils Fools / Easter
The Vernal Equinox is when the equator is in the direct path of the sun (travelling north), when day and night are of equal length, North and South Poles receive equal light, hence the name equinox. It is a time of rebirth, an awakening of the earth, a time to plant, new beginnings. Easter and the vernal equinox has deep roots in the mythic past. Long before it was imported into the Christian and other modern tradition, people of all creeds have celebrated the vernal (spring) equinox. The Goddess is giving birth to a new year, and life has survived another winter. This is a time to rejoice, dance, and celebrate. So important is this date, it has always been considered to be the start of the New Year. From the March equinox (19-23 varies each year) to April 1st has always filled mankind's calendars from the pre history man to the Romans to the Hindus to the Christians with different feasts, jolliment and sometimes sinister rituals. Even in the Western (or Christian) world until 254 years ago (UK) April 1st was New Years day. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar ruled for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan 1st. (Yule Tide!) Many countries resisted the change, some European countries held out for centuries, Scotland until 1660; Germany, Denmark, and Norway until 1700 and England until 1752! This change or shift of New Year brought about April Fools Day or All Fools Day. Starting in France, the people who refused to accept the new dates and still celebrated April 1st were called foolish, they were all fools, pranks were played on them, and most likely visa versa I would imagine. Briton and the American colonies started celebrating April Fools Day in 1752. Where as the Equinox and Old New Year are Sun Festivals of beginnings, planting and renewal, Easter is a Moon Festival of renewal, fertility and beginnings. Easter is observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. The common rule is that Easter Day is the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs after the vernal equinox, The actual conditions to determine the date for Easter are: Easter must be on a Sunday; this Sunday must follow the 14th day of the paschal moon; the paschal moon is that of which the 14th day (full moon) falls on or next follows the day of the vernal equinox; and the equinox is fixed in the calendar at March 21 as the modern church rule. This Spring festival honors the goddess Eostre /Ostara /Eastre these words comes from the word 'east', which means 'dawn' . . a beginning = beginning of the year. In days of old it was tradition to clean your house throughout and ridding ourselves of all worn out and useless things, before the new year April 1st. hence our today's spring cleaning. Also a person had to wear at least one peace of new clothing at the new year parties thus our Easter parades and Easter bonnets! The hare is also a symbol of spring, leaping madly around the country side!! and the egg is a symbol of fertility, so there you have the Easter Bunny and your Easter Eggs. The word spring stems from 0ld English springan, German springen, the act of springing or leaping forth, is applied to the season of the year in which plant life begins to bud and shoot.
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BLACK CATS
In parts of the world 4000 years ago, harm a cat, you would have been put to death. In ancient Egypt, the Goddess 'Bastet' or Bast, the perfumed protector, was a black, female cat. Christians, wanting to rid society of all traces of other religions, convinced the ignorant that black cats were demons in disguise and should thus be destroyed. In the process, they also destroyed the kindly ladies who cared for the cats, believing them to be witches. Being now depicted as demons, a black cat crossing your path would create a barrier of evil, cutting you off from God and blocking the entrance to heaven. But many do say if a black cat walks towards you, then it brings very good luck to you - but if it walks or runs away from you, then it takes all it's good luck with it!!

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