Comment Spam
Di Sathairne, 24 An Dubhlachd 2005
Unfortunately, I have had to switch off open access to comments due to the usual, tedious comment spam exhorting me to play poker or enlarge my penis. Why they need to post this information hundreds of times is beyond me. If I was going to use their services I would only need one comment, not several dozen at a time.
So, for the time being, anyone who wants to post comments will need to register via the link in the sidebar on the right.
1562-01-03/164.7.2.22
New Solar Year - Afteryule 1562
Di Ardaoin, 22 An Dubhlachd 2005
The sun is on its upward journey again, and the new year and solar cycle has begun.
Datewatch
1562-01-01 (Afteryule)
21 Before Yule Moon
164.7.2.20 (Dúman 3105)
Winter Solstice
Di Ciadain, 21 An Dubhlachd 2005
It is the shortest day today and the sun will start to climb in the sky again after today. The solstice was important to the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic peoples of Britain and marks the beginning of a new year in Pagan calendars. The old English term for the Christmas period, “Yule”, comes from the word for “wheel” and signifies the turning of the Wheel of the Year and the rebirth of nature for another year. It is this rebirth that was adapted into the birth of Christ and the placing of the Christmas festival at this time of year, thus …
Winter Wonderland
Di Dòmhnaich, 18 An Dubhlachd 2005
It began snowing on Friday and it is still there. It looks very pretty and it is not too cold as it is cloudy. Had three games of ten pin bowling yesterday afternoon as well, which was fun.
1561-12-27/164.7.2.16
High Moon
Di Ciadain, 14 An Dubhlachd 2005
It is the night before the moon reaches opposition in its current lunation, when it will reach its highest point in the sky due to Major Standstill. Tonight it reached 59.5 degrees from the horizon and it is shining brightly and riding high above the house as I write. It will also be above the horizon for over 19 hours (approx 19 hours 40 minutes) overnight tonight.
1561-12-23/164.7.2.12
Beautiful Sunset
Di Dòmhnaich, 11 An Dubhlachd 2005
Another lovely picture, taken on the A90 south of Laurencekirk, yesterday afternoon.
1561-12-20/164.7.2.9
Beautiful Sunrise
Di hAoine, 9 An Dubhlachd 2005
This picture shows the sky just before sunrise this morning. The old adage “Red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning” has proven accurate today as it is now gloomy and wet.
1561-12-18/164.7.2.7
Today’s Moon
Di Màirt, 6 An Dubhlachd 2005
This is a picture of the 5-day old crescent moon taken this afternoon from my living-room window. There are some craters visible on the terminator. Venus is low in the south-western sky, but not seen in this image.
1561-12-15/164.7.2.4
Pictish Calendar Software
Here is a screenshot of the software that I have written to calculate dates in the notional Pictish Calendar. This program will calculate the date in the Pictish Calendar for dates in the Gregorian Calendar as far back as 9th November, 1904. It now includes a moonphase indicator, but this is based on the Pictish date and not the actual lunar phase, so it may differ slightly from the correct phase, albeit only by a day or so.
I am hoping to include an option to convert from Pictish back to Gregorian in the future.
1561-12-15/164.7.2.4
Dúman 3105
Di Dòmhnaich, 4 An Dubhlachd 2005
Yesterday marked the beginning of the new month in the notional Pictish calendar, based on Celtic lunar calendars. The month is Dúman, meaning darkness, and is equivalent to the Gaulish month of Dumannos. It is the 29-day, second month of the Pictish/Celtic year, and thus will run until 31st December, 2005.
Today is the 2nd Sunday of Advent, and there are now three weeks exactly until Christmas Day.
The weather has been pretty dull and wet, and I have not been able to get any decent photographs of the sky to post. I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities over the …
Before Yule Moon
Di hAoine, 2 An Dubhlachd 2005
The Old English lunar calendar is based upon the old names for the full moons, and each month is, therefore, named according to the position of its full moon according to the solar calendar. So, as the full moon for the currently beginning lunar month is the last one before Yule, or the winter solstice, it is called the Before Yule Moon. The month began today as the moon reached conjunction with the sun yesterday. In the Moonwise calendar, it is Birch Moon, which always includes the winter solstice.
Old English: Before Yule Moon
Moonwise: Birch Moon
Gaulish: Dumannos (World Darkness)
Hebrew: Chislev
Hijri: Dhul-Qi’dah
1561-12-11/164.7.1.30
December
Di Ardaoin, 1 An Dubhlachd 2005
It’s December and, for the next few months, the lunar calendar aligns pretty closely with the calendar months. Tomorrow, the new Moonwise month of Birch Moon, which is the winter solstice month, will begin. The Celtic month of Dúman (month of darkness) will begin on Saturday. In Anglo-Saxon parlance, it will be the Before Yule Moon, which will end on 31st December, so the lunar and solar new years will line up this year as well.
1561-12-10/164.7.1.29