Egg Moon
Di Ardaoin, 20 Am Màrt 2008
164.9.5.14 Uarain
1 Ostermonth 1564
Today is the first of Ostermonth, and the day after tomorrow is the nominal full moon, and thus the Egg Moon. The festival of Easter is related to this ancient egg festival that celebrates the first full moon of spring, hence why we eat Easter eggs, which signify the rebirth of the agricultural year. And because the full moon is so soon after the equinox (which occurred today), we will have the earliest Easter (March 23rd) in any of our lifetimes. It last happened in 1913 and will not happen again until 2160.
Uarain (Cold’s End Moon)
Di hAoine, 7 Am Màrt 2008
164.9.5.1 Uarain
18 Rethemonth 1564
Today marks the beginning of a new lunar month, Uarain or Cold’s End Moon, the fifth month of the Celtic lunar year. An alternative name for this month is Am Márt. In the Anglo-Saxon lunar calendar it is the Egg Moon, probably the most important lunar month in the old lunar calendar. The full moon of this month, being the first one following the nominal vernal equinox, marked great celebrations. The egg symbolism alludes to the beginning of a new agricultural year, of new beginnings. In my notional Anglo-Saxon calendars, it is the full moon that occurs …
Matronalia
Di Sathairne, 1 Am Màrt 2008
164.9.4.24 Naghaid
Today is the ancient Roman festival of Matronalia. Possibly a forerunner of Mother’s Day (which is tomorrow this year), Matronalia celebrated Juno, the goddess of childbirth, and motherhood and women in general. Before Julius Caesar’s reform of the calendar in 45 BC it was the first day of the year.
Nowadays, Mother’s Day is a movable feast, occurring three weeks prior to Easter Sunday.