With as much noise some Christians make about Pagan elements within our traditions, I'm a bit surprised we haven't heard much (if anything at all) about the common everyday names used in the names used to denote time. You mentioned Janis and January, February is derived from a Februa a Roman festival of purification with ritual washing for forgiveness of mistakes and included offerings to the God's. The origin calendar began with the month of March named for the Roman God Mars and had 10 months explaining the names of the last 4 months September through December. What I read was that February was originally added at the end of the year and the months' order was changed when January was added before February and made the first month of a 12 month year.

Other Pagan names in our calendar are April believed to have come from Aphrodite, May after the Roman Goddess Maia, and June for the Roman Goddess Juno. July and August are named after Ceasars Julius and Augustus. The names of the days of the week also come from Pagan sources. Sunday may be the exception honoring the sun, and Monday the moon (although Sunday may be related to 'sunnen' which is an old English festival for the sun). Tuesday through Friday all come from the names of Norse Gods - Try or Tiu in Anglo-Saxon mythology, Woden also know as Odin, Thor, and Frigge or possibly Freya. Saturday comes from the Roman God Saturn.

"On the third day he shall rise" The sun reaches it's lowest point as viewed from the northern hemisphere on 21 Dec and and then appears to rise until around 21 June but it does not immediately appear to rise on 22 Dec but on the the 23d or 24th (the third day). I wonder where the gospel writers got their ideas from ?

Sept. =seven, Oct= eight, Nov, = nine, Dec = ten, before those come the two extra months added by Julius Augustus, July and August, I always wondered where he got the names from ?

Swing/ballroom dancing is what I miss most during this pandemic.

So my question is: Where does all the meaning go? Where does all the beauty go? Where do all the lessons? when all is said and done?

Thing is it's not winter in the southern hemisphere. We have some snow which is a somewhat rare occurrence here. Still. I prefer the new year coming at a time when the days are getting longer and the fall rains are starting to abate.

Thanks for the post. You cover everything very accurately.

I pay little attention to the changing of years. They, like gods, time and other holidays are just human inventions to make us feel more in control over what we have little control over. It doesn’t stop me from wishing those I have feelings for a Happy New Year (or Merry Christmas, happy Thanksgiving, or happy birthday. Just a sign of respect. For me it is just same shit, different year.
Happy New Year to you! I will look forward for more of your insightful posts!

Happy New Year everyone!

Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.

Happy New Year!

I am in a good place. I like my job, I am doing well at it, even better than well. This seems to be a good company to work for. My finances have stabilized. My kids/grands are doing well, there is even a new baby due in late spring and we're hopeful that this one will stay put until then. After the past two years of upheaval, I'm hoping for a much smoother course for the upcoming year. In the dark of this midwinter I am looking forward to brighter days ahead.

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