The Calends of February

January 2014 has been pretty special because we've begun with a super new moon, then we had a micro full moon, and as the month draws to a close we have another super new moon. "Super" means the moon is especially close to the Earth, and "micro" means it is especially far away from the Earth. If you imagine the moon travelling around the Earth, it doesn't travel in a perfect circle, and it doesn't travel at a consistent speed either. So, sometimes it goes round closer and faster, other times it goes round slower and further away. That's why the current lunar month is 29 days, 10 hours, and 24 minutes, but the next lunar month will be 29 days, 10 hours, and 21 minutes long, and the duration of the lunar months continue to vary throughout the year.

In preshistoric times, looking at the moon was one of the easiest way to track the passing of time. Some cultures measured the start of a lunar month to be the new moon, others thought of the first crescent as the start, and others measured the month from one full moon to the next. The word "calendar" comes from Latin kalendae, which meant the start of a new lunar month. So, if we celebrate the Calends of February according to the lunar phases, instead of modern months which are out of sync with the moon, then we can choose the date of the new moon as our time to celebrate the seasonal changes.

This seasonal celebration is called "Imbolc" in the early medieval Irish tale, Tochmarc Emire. This festival marked the end of winter and the opening of spring. The weather is still cold, and we might have our coldest nights to come, but greenery is returning. There are even daffodils coming up in the garden, a little bit too early, due to the unusually mild weather we've had so far. The festival of Imbolc, meaning "purification", became associated with the mysterious figure of Brigid. It could be that the goddess Brigid was associated with Imbolc from ancient times, or it could be that the Saint who bears her name became associated with the festival at a later point. Although Brigid was popular in Ireland, her cult was uncommon in Britain.

According to Bede, the pagan Anglo-Saxons called the lunar month of February Sol-monath, possibly meaning "soil month". He wrote that this was the month that special cakes were offered to the gods. This record seems to be convincing evidence for an early English festival at the opening of spring. Bede gives no indication of when in the month these offerings were made. Perhaps it was according to the appearance of certain flowers or the first buds on certain trees. We can only guess as to how exactly the opening of spring was celebrated in ancient times, and therefore we must create our own rituals.

In the modern era, we have Valentines Day as our early spring festival. This year, it just so happens to coincide with the full moon. By this time of year, the mating flights of ravens, crows, and rooks are usually visible. You will see them repairing their nests, and birdsong may fill the air again. Spring flowers and budding trees are slowly awakening from their winter slumber. Humans too, find their metabolism boosted by the increasing daylight hours. Make like the birds, and prepare your nest with a little spring cleaning. Prepare the way for new buds of inspiration to develop into plans for success. Nurture your creative ideas. Write yourself a love letter, reminding you to treat yourself with respect and care. Write love letters to the people who inspire you to follow your dreams. Start putting your plans into motion, and take little steps every day to make your dreams come true. These are my rituals of spring.