Celtic New Year May 12th 2008
This first quarter moon above in the sky this sunset marks the start of Samon, marking the start of a new Celtic year! Gaullish Samon is the equivalent of Irish cet-Samhin, the first of Summer, maked by the feast of Beltaine; of course Beltaine has become entrenched at the convenient time of May eve on the Gregorian calendar, marking the start of the first Roman month at the beginning of summer, and to May eve the focus today is attendant. Even in the southern hemisphere, the start of the year has power, for althogh the seasons are out by six months, the stars reflect the time just as well down under as they do in the Celtic homelands (all of which have been altered since ancient times when the original calendar was in actual use); still at this time we can all appreciate the magnificence of the dawn rise of the Pleiades and the red star of Taurus, Aldebaran and feel the strength of our Celtic heritage!