Tuesday, January 23, 2024

"The Old Calendar"

During the equinox, the position of the sun creates an optical illusion on the side of the pyramid.  Can you see a snake crawling down the pyramid?  Its head is at the bottom and its body goes up the side of the pyramid.

The ancient peoples called the winter solstice, Midwinter
not the first day of winter.  

And, they called the summer solstice, Midsummer
not the 1st day of summer. .

The solstices and equinoxes are all mid-season days.
Let me explain why.


Let's compare how the sun moves during the day to 
how the sun moves during the year.

Every day, the sun rises and waxes, getting higher and higher, until noonand then it wanes, descending toward the horizon.
Most early cultures called noon Mid-day for that reason,
and not the Beginning of the day.
The sun travels higher and higher in the sky until Mid-day,
then travels lower and lower after Mid-day.


Now let's see how the sun moves across the sky 
during the year, not during the day?

With every day until the Summer Solstice the sun's path waxes across the sky (its path gets higher and higher with each day).

And then after the solstice the sun's path wanes (its path across 
the sky gets lower and lower with each day).  

The sun's path waxes, until it reaches a mid-point, then 
its path wanes.  This mid-point is the summer solstice!

That's why the Summer Solstice was called Midsummer and 
not the first day of Summer, because the sun's path begins 
to wane the day after the solstice.  We get less sunlight each day
after the Summer Solstice...after the mid-point!

Ancient people across the globe noticed 8 Landmark days;
the solstices, the equinoxes, and the days in between.
They called the Summer Solstice Midsummer
for the reasons we mentioned, above.

The Eight Landmarks of the Year
Summer Solstice - Midsummer - ~June 21st
Cross-Quarter Day -   ? - August 1st
Fall Equinox - ? -  ~Sep. 22nd/23rd
Cross-Quarter Day - ? - Nov. 1st
  Winter Solstice - ? -  ~Dec. 21st
 Cross-Quarter Day - ? - Feb. 1st
Spring Equinox -? -  ~March 21st
Cross-Quarter Day - ? - May 1st

What about the other 7 landmarks?
Let's name those now.

After "Midsummer", the sun's path will wane each day (getting
 lower and lower) until it reaches the Winter Solstice, another 
mid-point.  After the winter solstice its path waxes each day,
 again, giving us more sunlight with each day.
  That's why the winter solstice was called Midwinter, and
not the first day of winter.

Makes sense, doesn't it?  Many people across the world, 
including me, think so.


The Eight Landmarks of the Year
Summer Solstice - Midsummer -  ~June 21st
Cross-Quarter Day -   ? - August 1st
Fall Equinox - ? -  ~Sep. 22nd/23rd
Cross-Quarter Day - ? - Nov. 1st
  Winter Solstice - Midwinter -  ~Dec. 21st
 Cross-Quarter Day - ? - Feb. 1st
Spring Equinox -? -  ~March 21st
Cross-Quarter Day - ? - May 1st



Following this logic, then the Equinoxes are mid-season days, too.

The Eight Landmarks of the Year
Summer Solstice - Midsummer - June 21st
Cross-Quarter Day -   ? - August 1st
Fall Equinox - Midautumn - Sep. 22nd/23rd
Cross-Quarter Day - ? - Nov. 1st
  Winter Solstice - Midwinter - Dec. 21st
 Cross-Quarter Day - ? - Feb. 1st
Spring Equinox -Midspring - March 21st
Cross-Quarter Day - ? - May 1st



What remains are the Cross-Quarter Days
which are the first days of each season.
(A Cross-Quarter Day occurs midway between 
an equinox and a solstice.)


The Eight Landmarks of the Year
Summer Solstice - Midsummer -   ~June 21st
Cross-Quarter Day - First day of Autumn - August 1st
Fall Equinox - Midautumn -   ~Sep. 22nd/23rd
Cross-Quarter Day - First day of Winter - Nov. 1st
  Winter Solstice -   Midwinter - ~Dec. 21st
 Cross-Quarter Day - First day of Spring - Feb. 1st
Spring Equinox -   Midspring - ~March 21st
Cross-Quarter Day - First day of Summer - May 1st


Notice that the first days of each season fall on cross-quarter days,
and the solstices and equinoxes are all mid-seasonal days. 

The eight landmark dates are NOT arbitrary.  
The Summer Solstice is always on June 21st (+  or  -  a day).  
But, what you CALL the day is arbitrary.  
The ancient people called the summer solstice Midsummer;  many people today call it the First day of Summer.  
That is up to you, but it makes more sense to call it Midsummer.


Ancient cultures (Asian, European, Native American) developed traditions
 celebrating the eight landmarks of the year, which lead to the
 adoption of a natural calendar that could be depicted as 
an eight-fold wheel 


An example of a solar calendar, or natural calendar.  
Each spoke represents either a solstice, an equinox, or
a cross-quarter day.


This calendar has nothing to do with religion.
It's simply a calendar set to the position of the earth relative to
 the sun.  You don't have to be a Wiccan or a Pagan to believe this!!
I'm not religious, and I go by this calendar.  
It makes sense, because it's based on natural processes.

The old cultures believed that time was a perpetual cycle of growth, death, and rebirth, all tied to the sun's movement across the sky.  

This calendar was useful with respect to planting and harvesting crops and preparing for harsh living conditions during the cold, dark part of the year.  


The basic thing they noticed was that the sun's path across the
 sky changed with each day.  From December to June the sun's
 path gets higher and higher with each day.
 
To prove this, go outside around noon each day and notice that
 the sun will be higher in the sky with each day, from Dec. to June.

They also noticed the amount of daylight increased with each day. 

In June (~ the 21st), the sun's path seems to stop moving northward;
  then the sun's path moves lower and lower across the sky with
 each day, until it's path stops again in December (the 21st being its lowest point)

The two days when the sun's path stops moving are called
solstices, the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice.  
The two days between the solstices are called the equinoxes, and
 the 4 days in between the solstices and the equinoxes 
are called cross-quarter days. 

 These were the eight landmarks that were marked on the early
 calendar.  Days that fall on the eight landmarks of the yearly
 cycle mark the beginnings and middles of the four seasons.  

The Eight Landmarks of the Year
Summer Solstice - Midsummer - ~June 21st
Cross-Quarter Day - First day of Autumn - August 1st
Fall Equinox - Midautumn - ~Sep. 22nd/23rd
Cross-Quarter Day - First day of Winter - Nov. 1st
  Winter Solstice - Midwinter - ~Dec. 21st
 Cross-Quarter Day - First day of Spring - Feb. 1st
Spring Equinox - Midspring - ~March 21st
Cross-Quarter Day - First day of Summer - May 1st


Now, let's discuss each season separately.






Summer Solstice
This landmark occurs when the sun's arch across the sky is at
 its highest.  This day is called the Summer Solstice.  On this day
(usually around June 21st) we get the most sunlight of any day.  
Where I live, in Kentucky, we get about 16 hours of daylight and 8
 hours of darkness on this day.  It's the longest day of the year.
 More direct sunlight means more heat,
 and that's why this part of the year is very hot. 

During our Summer (June) we* are tilted toward the sun and 
get more direct sunlight and therefore more warmth. 
*we = northern hemisphere

After the solstice, the sun's path across the sky gets lower and
 lower with each day , because of the earth's tilt as we circle the
 sun.  This means that after the solstice the days get shorter.
  Less sunlight per day means less heat.  Each day after the
 solstice gets darker with less heating*.  This is why the solstice
 should be called the middle of summer, Midsummer, and 
not the first day of summer.  
(Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream,
takes place around the summer solstice!)
   
*The earth absorbs the heat and radiates the heat for many weeks after the solstice;  that's why it remains hot for some time after the solstice, eventhough we receive less sunlight.  


Click here to see a great video about Why We Have Seasons.

Earth Revolving around the Sun
(notice how the axis always points in one direction)

The word solstice* literally means "sun-stop," and refers to how
 the arch/path of the sun gets higher with each day, then stops,
 and then gets lower with each day.  The day that it stops is 
the solstice.
* the name of our sun is Sol.    Sol stops moving north!



Each season is about 12-13 weeks (3 months) long.  So, since the solstice
 is Midsummer, then the first day of summer would be 6 weeks
 before the solstice, May 1st, and the last day of summer would be 6
 weeks after the solstice, July 31st.  May 1st is a cross-quarter day.  
It falls exactly between a solstice and an equinox.  

If you're interested in rituals, read this:

Click here to read about May Day celebrations (1st day of Summer),

and here to read about Midsummer rituals,

and here for info about August 1st harvest rituals (end of Summer).



Autumnal (Fall) Equinox
As the earth moves around the sun we tilt further away from the
 sun with each day, receiving less and less direct sunlight, and the
 days get darker and cooler.  There is a point ~12 weeks from the
 solstice where the tilt of the earth is 90 degrees from the sun's
 axis.  The sun's arch is directly over the equator.  
This day is called the Autumnal Equinox (mid-autumn).  



The Fall equinox occurs around September 22nd or 23rd, and on
 this day the amount of daylight equals the amount of night, 
12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night.  The ancient people
 realized this was the halfway point between the summer solstice
 and the winter solstice.  

Since all seasons last about 12 weeks, then 6 weeks before 
Midautumn (the equinox) would be the first day of Autumn (Aug. 1st)
and 6 weeks after the equinox would be the last day of Autumn (Oct. 31st).  

Many cultures celebrated the equinox (~ Sept 21st) with rituals of
 thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth. It was one of the 
main harvest festivals.
The last day of Autumn (Oct. 31st) was the time to celebrate the
 lives of those who have passed on.  Today, we call it Halloween.


Winter Solstice

With each day after the autumn equinox we receive less and less direct
 sunlight and therefore less daylight and less heat.  The days are
 getting very cold and very dark, until the darkest day arrives, the
longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice.  
(In Kentucky we get about 8 hours of daylight; the rest of the day is in darkness)


The Winter Solstice.  
We (northern hemisphere) are tilted away from the sun.


The sun's arch in the sky is at its lowest point and after this day
the arch will get higher with each day.  So, because of that reason
 this day was considered by the ancients to be the middle of
 Winter, or Midwinter, and not the first day of Winter.  After this
 day the sun returns, bringing more light and more warmth...
a great day to celebrate!!  Here comes the sun!!

Because the sun's light and heat have been diminishing, and now begin to return, I call the winter solstice New Year's Day!  A new year begins with the return of the sun's light and heat!!!
The Natural Calendar begins here on the winter solstice.

Remember, each season is about 12 weeks long, so 6 weeks before
Midwinter would be the first day of Winter (Nov. 1st), and 6 weeks
 after solstice would be the last day of Winter (Jan. 31st).

The ancients celebrated the Winter Solstice (Dec. 21st), because 
it symbolizes the rebirth of the sun and reminded them of 
the fertile seasons ahead.  Here comes the sun!!!!
Most cultures called this the most important time of celebration.
  
Sacrifices, feasting, and gift giving were common elements of 
Midwinter (solstice) activities.  They used to make wreaths of
 evergreen branches and decorate their homes with evergreen
 plants, such as holly, ivy, mistletoe, and spruce, and even
 bringing in cut trees and decorating them.  
To me (and the ancients) this is the beginning of the New Year.




Vernal Equinox
With each day after the Winter Solstice the days get longer (more
 sunlight) and warmer, until the number of daylight hours equals
 the number of night hours.  This is the Vernal Equinox (verne = green).  
The plants are turning green and making flowers.  The animals are
 producing young (chickens, rabbits, sheep, cattle).  This is the
 time of rebirth, of great fertility.  Again, time to celebrate!

Easter evolved from this ancient equinox tradition.  By the way,
do you know how the date for Easter is determined!
Remember, it's a different date each year!

Six weeks before the equinox would be the first day of 
Spring (Feb. 1st/2nd), and 6 weeks after the equinox would be the 
last day of Spring (April 30th), Summer's eve.

On the first day of Spring (Feb 1st) the ancients celebrated the first
 stirrings of Spring.  They were pleased because of the anticipation of new life!  


With each day after the equinox we receive more and more direct
 sunlight and therefore more daylight and more heat.  
We're moving toward Summer;  the cycle begins again. 


The Japanese and other Asian cultures lived by a
 similar calendar, which used the word yang to describe light and
 heat and the word yin to describe darkness and cold.  They also
 called the solstices and equinoxes the middle of the seasons, 
not the first day of the seasons.  Many still prefer this calendar,
 which helps them with agricultural practices.  



The Summer Solstice (Jun. 21st, Mid-Summer) is the heart of Summer and
 would have the most yang (light).  The Winter Solstice is the
 deepest part of Winter (Midwinter) and has the most yin(darkness).  
Notice that the solstices and equinoxes are mid-season days and not the first day of the season.  
As the days move away from Midwinter, yin (darkness) diminishes
 and yang (light) increases.  This calendar is explained nicely, here, in David Coomler's website.  

  So, join me and the ancients by calling 
the Winter Solstice Midwinter, and
the Summer Solstice Midsummer,
because it is!