As its nearly upon us

[Blackbird]

With the equinox just passed, thoughts now turn to Calan Gaeaf, a very important time of year for many of us.

For me, it marks the end of gathering in - of both people and winter food, though some cultivated fruit and veg comes in a little later. (I wouldn't take wild fruit after Calan Gaeaf)

While I don't see this time as a 'Celtic New Year', it certainly marks the end of the summer work. In times past, the herds would have been driven down from the hills, the shepherds meeting up with the rest of their community for perhaps the first time since the beginning of summer. Calan Gaeaf would see the return of many such folk, so that this was a time for news and other tales.

How do you see your practice differing from those celebrating Samhain? Or is it the same? Are there any customs which specifically relate to Calan Gaeaf that you know of? How will you be celebrating, if at all?

[tenar]

I've never really celebrated a festival before, so Calan Gaeaf this year will mark the first attempt ;D (although what I'm actually going to do I've got no idea; now certainly sounds like a good time to start thinking about it)

Was there ever any evidence for the 'Celtic new year' thing? personally I always saw spring as a better 'beginning' time.

[Blackbird]

Welllll... I think that 'new year' is not a relevant concept. In Ireland, there are tales of the renewal of the fires - all fires extinguished and then relit from a single sacred flame - and of course, tales of it being a very liminal time of year. Because of the tendency of the British and Irish to begin everything from the 'dark' period - ie., nights are counted rather than days, a day begins the night 'before', people extrapolated this to infer that the November festival rather than the May would have started the year.

To me, both Calan Mai and Calan Gaeaf are beginning points - or rather, cross over points, but between summer and winter, rather than the year.

For me, Calan Gaeaf is a family thing - both living family and ancestors. So I do things like cooking a special meal at which a place will be laid for the ancestors, offering toasts to them, sharing news and stories with the whole family, playing silly games...

[tenar]

I suppose calan mai and calan gaeaf are more the beginnings of the light half and dark halfs of the year, rather than one being the start of the whole.

A feast sounds like a good idea. Of course, I'd have to learn to cook first ;D

[Blackbird]

Cooking is easy - you just put it in the oven until it is ready

[tenar]

Or even easier-call the takeway and have them do it for you ;D