1: Birthday of folklorist Sir James Frazier, 1854. Frazier’s work, The Golden Bough, is a must-read for anyone interested in modern Paganism, and the mythologies of the past.
13: Last of Austria’s witchcraft laws repealed in 1787
19: Birthday of Dorothy Clutterbuck, who allegedly initiated Gerald Gardner into the New Forest coven.
20: Celtic Tree Month of Birch ends
January 21: Full moon–Cold Moon at 12:17 a.m. This is a good month to work on developing the inner self, connecting with the deities of our paths, and focusing on self-discovery and awareness.
21: Celtic Tree Month of Rowan begins
24: Sementivae, a grain-oriented festival celebrating the sowing of the fields in preparation for springtime’s planting.
25: Birthday of poet Robert Burns, 1759
30: Birthday of Z Budapest, founder of Dianic Wicca
30 – Feb. 2: Roman celebration of Februalia
31: Up Helly Aa celebration, Shetland Islands, Scotland
February
2: Imbolc, the celebration of the goddess Brighid.
2: Lammas or Lughnasadh (Southern Hemisphere), marking the grain harvest at the end of summer.
12: Death of Gerald Gardner, founder of modern Wicca, in 1964.
13–21: Roman Festival of Parentalia, a time of quiet, personal reflection, in which the ancestors were honored.
14: Valentine’s Day
15: Lupercalia, celebrating fertility and the coming of spring.
17: Celtic Tree Month of Rowan ends
18: Celtic Tree Month of Ash begins
19: Full Moon—Quickening Moon at 10:53 a.m. Magical rituals in this cycle often focus on new beginnings and plans for the future.
21: Birthday of author Patricia Telesco
22: Birthday of author Sybil Leek
March
1: Matronalia, the Festival of Women, held in honor of Juno Luciana.
6: Birthday of “official witch of Salem” Laurie Cabot in 1933
17: St. Patrick’s Day
17: Celtic Tree Month of Ash ends
18: Celtic Tree Month of Alder begins
20: Full moon–Storm Moon at 9:43 am. Use this month’s moon phase to celebrate balance, rebirth, and renewal.
20: Ostara, the spring equinox.
20: Mabon (Southern Hemisphere), the autumn equinox.
26: Birthday of author and folklorist Joseph Campbell
28: Death of author Scott Cunningham in 1993
April
6: National Tartan Day
14: Celtic Tree Month of Alder ends
15: Celtic Tree Month of Willow begins
16: Birthday of author Margot Adler
19: Full moon–Wind Moon at 7:09 a.m. April is a month of pending rebirth, as the earth and soil prepare for new life to sprout. Watch as the natural world around you begins to change.
22: Earth Day
23: Wiccan pentacle is officially added to the list of VA-approved emblems for gravestones, 2007
28–May 3: Floralia, honoring the goddess of spring flowers and vegetation.
30: Walpurgisnacht celebrated by German witches
May
1: Beltane, a feast of fire and fertility
1: Samhain (Southern Hemisphere), the witches’ new year.
1: Roman festival of the fertility goddess Bona Dea
5: Cinco de Mayo
12: Celtic Tree Month of Willow ends
12: Mother’s Day
13: Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn begins
18: Full moon–Flower Moon at 5:11 pm. In May, focus on magic related to careers and jobs. If you’ve thought about changing jobs, or even entering a new career field, this is a good time to do it. Expand your horizons this month.
June
7–15: Roman Festival of Vestalia, honoring the vestal virgins
9: Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn ends
10: Celtic Tree Month of Oak begins
10: Hanging of Bridget Bishop, first of twenty victims to be executed in the Salem Witch Trials.
13: Birthday of Gerald Gardner, founder of modern Wiccan, in 1884
16: Father’s Day
17: Full moon–Strong Sun Moon at 4:31 am. June is full of long, light-filled days, and the nights are short and warm. This month’s magical workings are perfect for maintaining and enhancing things you already have.
17: Birthday of Wiccan author Starhawk
21: Litha, the summer solstice
21: Yule (Southern Hemisphere), the winter solstice
22: England’s last Witchcraft Law is repealed in 1951
27: Birthday of author Scott Cunningham in 1956
July
4: Independence Day
7: Celtic Tree Month of Oak ends
8: Celtic Tree Month of Holly begins
13: Birthday of Dr. John Dee in 1527
16: Full moon–Blessing Moon at 5:39 pm. This is a time to work on divination, dreamwork and meditation. Count your blessings this month, and think about what you can do to bring more of them into your life.
19: Rebecca Nurse is hanged in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692
31: Birthday of author JK Rowling
August
1: Lammas or Lughnasadh, the celebration of the grain harvest
1: Imbolc (Southern Hemisphere), honoring the goddess Brighid
1: Birthday of medium Edward Kelley, 1555
4: Celtic Tree Month of Holly ends
5: Celtic Tree Month of Hazel begins
13: Roman Festival of Pomona, goddess of apples and orchards
15: Birthday of Charles Leland, folklorist and author, 1824
15: Full Moon–Corn Moon at 8:31 am. Now is a time to focus on harvesting that which you have already planted… but don’t forget, it’s important to set some of your harvest aside for the coming winter months.
20: Birthday of author Ann Moura in 1947
23: Roman Festival of Vulcanalia
31: Birthday of author Raymond Buckland
September
1: Celtic Tree Month of Hazel ends
2: Celtic Tree Month of Vine begins
10: Birthday of Carl Llewellyn Weschcke
14: Birthday of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, author of Three Books on Occult Philopsopy, in 1486
14: Birthday of author Ellen Dugan
14: Full Moon–Harvest Moon at 12:35 am. This a season to celebrate hearth and home. Brew up some comfort food, begin storing your harvest for the winter, and settle in for a month of thanksgiving.
17: Television welcomes Bewitched in 1964
21: International Day of Peace
23: Mabon, the autumn equinox
23: Ostara (Southern Hemisphere), the spring equinox
29: Celtic Tree Month of Vine ends
30: Celtic Tree Month of Ivy begins
October
1: Birthday of Isaac Bonewits, founder of Ár nDraíocht Féin
3: Roman Festival of Bacchus, god of vines, vegetation, and wine
12: Birthday of occultist Aleister Crowley, 1875
13: Full moon–Blood Moon at 5:45 10. It’s the dark half of the year, and the veil between our world and the spirit world is thin. Focus on divination, communication with departed ancestors, and psychic messages this month.
18: Birthday of Nicholas Culpeper, noted herbalist, in 1616
20: Birthday of Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary
27: Celtic Tree Month of Ivy ends
28: Celtic Tree Month of Reed begins
31: Samhain, the witches’ new year
31: Beltane (Southern Hemisphere), a feast of fire and fertility
31: Covenant of the Goddess formed in 1975
November
1: Mexico’s Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos
2: Birthday of Wiccan author Sirona Knight
11: Veteran’s Day
12: Full moon–Mourning Moon at 8:37 am. Why not use this month to shed your bad habits and toxic relationships, and get a fresh start? Work on developing and strengthening your connection with the Divine as well.
24: Celtic Tree Month of Reed ends
25: Celtic Tree Month of Elder begins
28: Thanksgiving day (United States)
30: Birthday of Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, founder of Church of All Worlds
30: Festival of Hecate Trivia, honoring Hecate, a goddess of magic and sorcery
December
5: Krampusnacht, celebrating Krampus, a Bavarian figure who is the opposite of Santa Claus
12: Full moon–Long Nights Moon at 12:14 am. Now is a good season for spiritual alchemy. It’s time to evaluate your life, and know that you’ll survive the dark times. If you’ve already put the darkness behind you, take your good fortune and share it with others.
17: Beginning of Saturnalia, a Roman celebration honoring the god Saturn.
21: Yule, the winter solstice
21: Litha (Southern Hemisphere), the summer solstice
