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The Month of November
Although November is now
considered the eleventh month, it was originally the ninth month on the
Roman calendar.
For Wiccans and many Pagans, November is the first month in what is known as
the "natural year." This commences the Festival of Samhain.
The Celtic Tree-Calendar month of is Ngetal (Reed) occupies
most of this month; it runs from 28 October through 24 November. It is
followed by the month of Ruis (elder).
The quarter starting now is under the guardianship of the Cailleach (the
veiled woman, the crone-goddess) until Yuletide.
The Anglo-Saxon name for November was Blotmonath, or the "month
of sacrifice." To the Franks, November was known as Herbistmanoth,
or "month to harvest." In both cultures, this was the time for
killing livestock that could not be kept through the winter months.
Adherents of Asatru called
November Fogmoon after the most common weather of the month. The
November moon is also known as the Beaver Moon.
The precious stone associated with November is the topaz.
In Scandinavian mythology,
the first half of the month is ruled by the rune, Hagal, the icy hailstone
rune of transformation, connected with the underworld goddess, Hela, and the
Norn of past times, Urda. Then from 13 November, the rune Nyd rules. This is
the rune of necessity —
a time to tie up loose ends and accomplish tasks we have been putting off
before winter sets in. Then on 28 November, the runic half-month of Is
(pronounced as Ice) begins, and this is a time for restricted activity and
rest.
- 1 November, which follows Samhain, is also known as the Festival
of the Dead. As a continuation of Samhain, it is customary to light
bonfires known as tinley fires on this day. The theme of the week
is memory of the dead, communication with the underworld and purification
for the future. Christianity revised this holiday as 'All Saints Day.'
- 2 November was originally the Festival of Woden (Odin) as god of the dead:
parading horses, play acting, mummers and the eating of ceremonial
soulcakes took place on this day. Christianity stole this holiday as well,
and called it 'All Souls Day.'
- 5 November is known as Guy Fawkes Night, and is celebrated by the burning of
an effigy of a would-be regicide. This tradition is based on the earlier
pagan tradition of burning effigies of evil spirits on this night, along
with other grievances and hurts, to purify for the new year and to
exorcise oneself from unhelpful psychic tagalongs that may have been
conjured inadvertently throughout the year. Modern pagans may wish to
write woes or habits we wish to end on small pieces of paper to be placed
in the flames of a hearth fire, or burned in a ritual cauldron.
- 8 November is the day Gwynn ap Nudd
(Light, Son of Darkness), lord of the faerie kingdom, permits the door to
be opened for a day. His abode is Glastonbury Tor, (tor means rocky
hill or peak) —
an ancient, holy mountain in Britain,
which is thought to be the entrance to the lower worlds. [For more
information, and some breathtaking photographs of Glastonbury Tor, visit http://www.glastonburytor.org.uk/.]
In Roman tradition, 8 November is the
festival of Mania, which commemorates the Manes, spirits of the
Underworld. It is the Roman day when the lower worlds are thought to be
accessible.
- 10 November is the Scottish pagan
festival of Nicnevin (commonly known as Martinmas Eve as the Christians
took this holiday and made "St. Martinmas Eve"). This holiday
honours the aspect of the Goddess Diana, who ride with her entourage in
the night hours of 9-10 November.
- 11 November, in Ireland, is the day
of the Lunantishees —
spirits who guard the holy blackthorn trees. It is also known by
some as Martinmas, St. Martinmas or Old November Day. This day marks the
full onset of winter. In Britain, hiring fairs used to take place on this
day. In Asatru, it is known as the festival of the Einherjar, the 432,000
spiritual warriors who guard the gods.
Sources:
- The Pagan Book
of Days by Nigel Pennick, Destiny
Books, 2001.
- Personal
knowledge/traditions.
- Wheel of the Year:
Living the Magical Life by Pauline and Dan Campanelli, Llewellyn
Publications, 2000.
Page
last updated 11 Nov 2004
Harvest Bow
Background and Ireland's OWN Myths & Magic Logo Míchealín
Daugherty
Copyright © 2004 Ireland's
OWN. All Rights Reserved.
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