SAMON

The Summer

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May24

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May31

Jun1

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Jun7

First Quarter
May 24, 2007
At zenith at sunset

Full Moon
May 31, 2007
Eastern horizon

Last Quarter
June 8, 2007
At nadir at sunset

New Moon
June 15, 2007
Western horizon

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IIII

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XIIII

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CIAL

SAMHRADH - SAMON - SUMMER

GEIMHREADH - GIAMMON - WINTER

SAM

DUM

RIUR

ANAG

OGR

CUT

GIAM

SEMI

EQU

ELEM

AED

CANT

The name of the first month literally means 'Summer'. Common to all the Celtic languages, the linguistic stem *samo- for 'summer' words is shared in the 1st century BC Gaullish 'Samon', the old Irish name 'cét-Samhin' (Céitein) for May and the Irish name for summer, 'Samhradh'. The meaning of this month name is very clear, as is its seasonal occurrence. The rising of the Pleiades cluster marked the beginning of the celestial year, and soon later the bright red star Aldebaran in mid-May anciently signalled the three night feast of 'Summer', the TRINOX SAMONI, now the feast of Beltaine conveniently held on Gregorian May eve. That Samon equates with Maytime, the start of summer and Irish cét-Samhin is made clear in Irish literature where we find the Fennian tale 'Tóraigheacht an Ghiolla Dheacair: The pursuit of the Giolla Dacker and his Horse' recorded in the sixteenth century: 'One day in the beginning of summer, Finn mac Cumhail feasted the chief people of Erin and when the feast was over, the Fena reminded him that it was time to begin the chase through the plains and the glens and the wilderness of Erin. For this was the manner in which the Fena used to spend their time. They divided the year into two parts. During the first half, namely, from Bealtaine to Samhain, they hunted each day with their dogs; and during the second half, namely from Samhain to Bealtaine, they lived in the mansions and hostels of Erin such that there was not a lord or innkeeper in the whole country that had not nine of the Fena quartered on him during the winter half of the year' (Joyce, 1907, p.173; published on-line). Samon is the first regular month of the Celtic calendar and opens the year; likewise the feast at the beginning of summer opened the first half of the year in Ireland. That the Pleiades marked the celestial start of the year we know from the Hyperboreans whose spring festival and visit by the sun god culminated with the star cluster's heliacal rise.

Etymology

Gaulish Samon - summer
I. Céitein: cét-Samhin:
the first Weather-Movement
of summer - the month of May
I. Samhradh - Summer season
EI. Samrad, sam - summer
W. Haf - cognate of I. Sam-
Indo-E: *samo- summer
Sanskrit sámâ 'year'

MacBain's

"The Fena divided the year in two. During the first half, from Bealtine to Samhain, they hunted each day with their dogs"
- 16th Century Irish tale The Pursuit of Giolla Dacker and his Horse

This month in the Southern Hemisphere

In Australia and the Southern Lands the seasons are offset by half a year and so the month of Samon begins the winter half of the year. As in the Gregorian Calendar, in the Southern Hemisphere all month names retain their Northern attributes. The lunation of Southern Samon may be named 'the Giammon moon' to express the seasonality of the Celtic calendar.
The Southern Celtic Year 2007 explores the southern hemisphere perspective.

503BC: CELTIC DAWN

In 503BC, the planet Saturn appeared in Taurus marking the start of a Celtic 30 year cycle as described by Plutarch.
Caer Australis presents the hypothesis that this was the first 'Celtic Calendar Year', at the dawn of the La Tène Period.
Shown (using Cybersky) is the European dawn of May 503BC, Samon, with Saturn (and the other planets) rising with Aldebaran.

The Celtic Calendar - Introductory Sections

Celtic Year 2007
Ciallos | Samon | Duman | Riuros | Anagantios | Ogronnos | Cutios || Giammon | Semiuisonna | Equos | Elembiuos | Aedrini | Cantlos