Happy New Year! Everything you do on this day has magical implications for the coming year.
Today is sacred to Strenia, a Sabine Goddess, and January is named for the god Janus, the god of Beginnings.
The birth of the Queen of Heaven and Earth, the Goddess Inanna, has been celebrated annually on this day since the most ancient recorded history.
This day was set aside to honor the Roman Goddess of Peace, Pax, whose temple stood open in Rome only during times of with no wars. It remained continuously open for over 200 years during the "Pax Romana," an achievement unimaginable in modern times. It was locked closed by the Christians who ultimately tore it down. The world has not known a year without war since, and in the past century, it has become much, much worse: Every 22 seconds there is a war-related death on our planet.
In Korea, the annual Sacrifice to the Seven Stars (Chilseong-je) is performed on this date at midnight. To receive good fortune and divine blessings, water and white rice are offered to the god who rules the constellation Ursa Major.
In Italy, La Befana rides her broom and brings gifts on this final night of Yule. Her origins can be traced to the Goddesses associated with death and abundance, like Hecate, whose roles were so important at this time of year.
This is Twelfth Night and Old Christmas day according to the Julian Calendar. It marks the end of the Yule festivities, which date back to old Teutonic Pagan traditions honoring the Mother Goddess. In the Western Christian Church, this marks Epiphany, traditionally celebrated as the time the three Wise Men or Magi arrived to present their gifts to the young Jesus.
This is one of the great Egyptian feasts, honoring both Sekhmet and Isis, and is ancient Egypt's New Year's Day. For two days, this is a great festival in honor of Isis as the Mother Goddess.
Today is also the feast of the Morrigan, honoring the Irish raven Goddess of death, war, and rebirth. It is She who chooses which warriors will die in battle.
In ancient Greece, this was celebrated as Midwife's Day (dedicated to the raunchy, wonderful Goddess Baubo).
Today is also the Roman festival honoring Justitia, the Roman goddess of justice.
Today is the ancient Roman festival day of Janus, the god whose two faces gaze backward into the past and forward into the future.
Like Elegba in the Voodun tradition, He was invoked before any other deity.
In the Islamic calendar, this day is Eid al-Adha. The solemn ceremonies culminate four days later at the Full Moon in the most important of all Islamic holy days: Kurbani Bayrami, the Night of Power, honoring the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac without reservation or question.
This is the Roman day Carmentalia honoring the Goddess Carmenta. She was otherwise known as Metis, the Titaness of Wisdom. A great oracle and prophet, She is also called Car, Carya, or Car the Wise. She is also considered the Goddess of childbirth.
Today is the feast of Frigg, foremost of the Norse Goddesses. She is the embodiment of womanhood and She is fiercely equal in authority to Her famous husband Odin. Frigg is the patron goddess of the home and of the mysteries of the married woman.
In pre-Christian Ireland, the thirteenth day of January was celebrated as the Feast of Brewing by the Druids.
On this day in 1787, Austria repealed the last of its witchcraft laws.
Today is the first of the Runic Half Month of Perthro,
Blessings of the Wolf Moon!
On this day in 1696, an official admission of error was issued by the jurors of the Salem Witch Trial.
Today is the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil rights leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, holy man, and modern day hero. "In the end, we will remember not the words of our
enemies, but the silence of our friends."
-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Each year on this date in Indonesia, the fire-god Betoro Bromo is honored by Buddhist monks and pilgrims.
This is also a sacred day of Concordia, Roman Goddess of all harmonious relations. Known by the Greeks as Harmonia, daughter of Aphrodite, may She hear our prayers for Peace.
Today is a holy day of Felicitas in the Roman traditions. She is a goddess of good luck and synchronicity
On this day in 1777, Baltimore newspaper publisher and postmaster Mary Katherine Goddard produced the first printed copy of the Declaration of Independence.
Baha'i festival honoring the Deity as Sultan, supreme lord and sovereign of the universe.
Happy Birthday, Aquarius!
Each year on this date, the Thorrablottar is celebrated in Iceland. In pre-Christian times, it was celebrated in honor of the mighty God Thor.
On this day the Celtic tree month of Rowan begins. The rowan is considered especially efficacious for protection, healing and divination.
In the ancient Greek and Roman calendars, this is the feast day of Apollo, god of the Sun, and also of light, intellect, classical beauty, prophecy and the lyre.
today is the festival known as the Day of Hathor. It honors the ancient cow-headed goddess of heaven, beauty and love. A libation of cow's milk is poured into the River Nile as prayers to the goddess are recited.
Happy Birthday to a certain witch who follows the ways of the Otter.
In the ancient Egyptian solar calendar, this is a major four-day festival honoring Thoth, the lunar Neter of wisdom and learning.
It's Robert Burns Day in Scotland, so let us then be playinı the pipes, and celebrate. And if haggis doesnıt float yer boat, ye might try a good single malt whisky or shortbread.
The Fair of Alasitas, a Bolivian holiday, is held in honor of the Aymara God, Ekeko. Learn more here.
The Sementivae Feria, feast of sowing, is a Roman holy day. Janus is called upon first, then sacrifices are made to Tellus, the Earth, and Ceres, Goddess of agriculture.
This is the first day of the runic fortnight of Elhaz. The rune is also called Algiz, and it invokes the principle of appropriate strength.
New Moon!
Happy Chinese New Year - welcome the Year of the Dog!
Happy Birthday today to Zsuzsanna Budapest, born this date in the year 1940. Z. Budapest is the founder and beloved elder leader of the main branch of feminist Dianic Wicca.
This is a sacred day of the Norns, in the Norse traditions. The Norns are the Norse fate Goddesses.
Also in the Norse traditions, today is sacred to the Valkyries. They are Odin's maidens of Valhalla, who choose the winners and losers in human battles.
The last day of each month is sacred to Hecate.