Cross Quarter Days
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Cross Quarter Days are a set of four holidays that fall about halfway between the solstices and equinoxes. These days have been celebrated for centuries in various cultures around the world and have a rich history and significance. In the Wheel of the year, the Cross Quarter Days correspond with the celebrations of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.
The origins of Cross Quarter Days goes back much further than the modern Wheel of the Year. These days were celebrated by many ancient cultures, including the Celts, the Norse, and the Romans. These cultures saw these holidays as a way to mark the passing of the seasons and to give thanks for the blessings of nature.
Imbolc
The first Cross Quarter Day of the calendar year is Imbolc, which is celebrated on February 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and August 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. This holiday marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Often associated with the Celtic Goddess Brigid, Imbolc was known as Candlemas in medieval times, as it was traditional to light candles on this day to welcome the return of the sun.
Beltane
The second Cross Quarter Day of the calendar year is Beltane, which is celebrated on May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and November 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. This holiday marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Beltane is a time of fertility and growth, and it is traditional to decorate with flowers and perform fertility rituals. Beltane is also known as May Day and is associated with the goddess Flora.
Grab Your Free Cross Quarte Day Printable. Be sure to check out the Free Member’s Library for more Mabon House Printables.
Lughnasadh
The third Cross Quarter Day of the calendar year is Lughnasadh, which is celebrated on August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. This holiday marks the beginning of the harvest season and is a time of thanksgiving. It is traditional to hold feasts and give thanks for the bounty of the earth. Lughnasadh is also known as Lammas and is associated with the Welsh god Lugh.
Samhain
The fourth and final Cross Quarter Day of the calendar year is Samhain, which is celebrated on October 31st in the Northern Hemisphere. This celebration marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Samhain is a time of remembering the dead and is often associated with Halloween. It is traditional to leave food and drink out for the spirits of the deceased. This custom can be seen today in the Latin American celebration of the Day of the Dead.
Despite their ancient roots, Cross Quarter Days are still very much a part of modern culture. Many people continue to celebrate these holidays as a way to connect with the natural world and to honor the cyclical nature of life. Cross Quarter Days are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and practice living intentionally with the seasons.
References and SUGGESTED READING
There are lots of great books that discuss the history of the Wheel of the Year and offer ideas for modern celebrations of the Cross Quarter Days.
Wicca Demystified by Bryan Lankford gives a good overview of modern Wiccan observances of the Wheel of the Year
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The Quiet Moon & A Winter's Rest
Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you well and safe. It’s a Tuesday afternoon here in Maine and the sky is a beautiful mess of clouds and sun and the air is a pleasant cold. After a rather harrowing weekend storm that brought five inches of RAIN to the foothills, followed by an arctic blast, I am much appreciative of this quieter weather. Outside my window the river valley is shades of brown and green set against bright white hills. Life is returning to its normal cadence after a several days spent with family celebrating the holiday. It’s always a little bittersweet. I appreciate the quiet return of my regular schedule, but miss my kids.
The Quiet Moon
Next week is the first full moon of 2023. Ancient Celts called it the Quiet Moon. For me January has become a time of rest. There is no outside work to be done (other than shoveling) and I don’t travel much in the winter. The holiday rush is over and now is the time to relax and recharge.
I know that for many folks, the idea of resting when they work full time can seem impossible. Throw in some kids and the idea of slowing down becomes even more elusive. But, I’ve always kind of bucked the trend of busy and prioritized my time to include rest and recharge on a regular basis. When my kids were younger I limited the amount of organized activities they participated in and made our time at home as fun as possible (i.e. pizza and movie nights while camping out in the living room). It also helped that during the second half of raising my kids, they were with their dad a couple of weekends a month. That gave me a much needed break.
It’s funny. When I was in the thick of raising my kids, no one talked (openly) about needing a break from their family. It’s like the last taboo of Motherhood. I honestly never understood how married mom’s survived. From what I saw, they never got a break from their caregiving duties.
So, if you are feeling overwhelmed by family or work or life in general, I get it. And I’d encourage you to ask for help from your partner or family or circle of friends. Because you deserve a break and it is not defect to want time to yourself. Okay. I’m putting my soapbox away now. ;)
2023 Moon Chart
To celebrate the first Full Moon of the new calendar year, this week’s free printable is a new Moon Chart for 2023. I hope you like it!
Well Friends, that’s a wrap for 2022. I can’t express the joy that sending out a letter to you each week has brought me over this year. And connecting with so many of you on Instagram has been an added bonus. I’m looking forward to sharing some new adventures in 2023 with you all.
Happy New Year!
Yours,
Lorri
6 Ways to Celebrate Yule as an Introvert
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As we approach the Winter Solstice, Yule and Christmas, I thought I’d share some easy celebration ideas for introverts. Because even though I love this time of year, as I get older I am also kind of over it. It’s no secret that the holidays can feel really lonely for many people, while others (like me) just feel general overwhelm by everything we are supposed to be doing. So here are six ways I celebrate the season that bring me joy, without the added helping of stress and burnout.
Refresh My Space
I feel like this is my go-to advice for any time of the year. But I stand by it. Cleaning your space and giving it a mini-makeover can help signal positive changes and a shift in energy. If you are like me and the thought of doing a deep clean right now is totally overwhelming, focus on tidying up the space you will be in the most during the holiday season. For me this is my kitchen and my living room. I gave each room a decent clean i.e: I vacuumed, did a quick declutter and cleaned out the refrigerator. That’s it. No baseboards were cleaned, no floors were mopped, no windows were washed. Then I set out some holiday decorations on a few shelves, strung some lights and put up our Christmas tree. I didn’t worry about any other parts of the house. Some years I do go all out and decorate the whole house, but if I am not feeling it, I don’t force myself. Keeping it super simple allows me to enjoy the process without it feeling like a chore.
2. Journal on Reflections and Hopes
Journaling is another go-to advice that works any time of the year. Yule and the Winter Solstice signal the turn of the Wheel of the Year toward springtime and is a good time to both reflect and look forward. I like to make myself a cup of hot black tea and get cozy in my favorite chair and just write whatever comes to mind. Sometimes I will start with a theme, like what I want to do or be in the coming year. But I always keep it loose. To make this feel extra special, I use these pretty journals all year long.
3. Create Gifts for Loved Ones
I am not really an arts and crafts kind of person, but I do enjoy making small batches of gifts during the holidays. I always try to keep my gift ideas simple to make. In the past I’ve made homemade soaps, candles, candies, air-dry clay ornaments and jarred baking mixes. I will set aside an afternoon and work on gifts while re-watching a favorite holiday movie (this year it is The Family Stone). If making gifts feels like too much, consider mailing out a handwritten letter in a holiday card to your closest friends and family. I love getting notes from my friends and family and enjoy displaying the cards during the holiday season.
4. Get Outside
Another simple way I celebrate Yule is to take a walk in nature. The winter woods next to my house are quiet and beautiful this time of year. If you don’t have access to groomed winter trails, just walking through a downtown area or city park decorated for the holiday season can be a nice break in the day. Cold fresh air always makes me feel better.
5. Enjoy Some Seasonal Treats
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the food, especially the treats you really only have during this time of year. I keep a small container of eggnog and chocolate candies on hand, for a festive treat after dinner during the work week. I also keep a stash of ribbon candy in my kitchen. Literally no one else eats this but me. It reminds of my grandparents house, which is one of my favorite memories.
6. Give Yourself Something You Would Have Loved as a Child
This is something I’ve only recently started doing, in part because I finally have the budget to treat myself. As someone who grew up with a lot of trauma, I tend to ignore my own needs and put others first. So this year I am going to give myself specific gifts that are just for fun and enjoyment and allow me to explore a new side to my creativity. What would your inner child enjoy this year?
The holiday season can be a bit of mixed bag for many people. The pressure to do.all.the.things can really dampen the holiday spirit. So, whether you are celebrating solo or with others, I hope that you have a wonderful Yule and are able to take some time for yourself.
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