SEMIUISONNA

The Source

III

IIII

VII

VIII

VIIII

XII

XIII

XIIII

Dec17

Dec18

Dec19

Dec20

Dec21

Dec22

Dec23

Dec24

Dec25

Dec26

Dec27

Dec28

Dec29

Dec30

Dec31

First Quarter
December 17, 2007
At zenith at sunset

Full Moon
December 24, 2007
Eastern horizon

Last Quarter
December 31, 2007
At nadir at sunset

New Moon
January 8, 2008
Western horizon

III

IIII

VII

VIII

VIIII

XII

XIII

XIIII

Jan1

Jan2

Jan3

Jan4

Jan5

Jan6

Jan7

Jan8

Jan9

Jan10

Jan11

Jan12

Jan13

Jan14

Jan15

CIAL

SAMHRADH - SAMON - SUMMER

GEIMHREADH - GIAMMON - WINTER

SAM

DUM

RIUR

ANAG

OGR

CUT

GIAM

SEMI

EQU

ELEM

AED

CANT

The eighth month of the Celtic year is the second month of the Celtic winter. Etymology suggests it is derived from the proto-Indo-European *sem-, 'to flow' and -uis- 'water', thus 'water flowing' as a reference to the mid-point of the solar cycle, the winter solstice. The second component of the word -uis- may share an origin with the 'navel of Ireland', Uisnech. A concept of origin in flowing out in the name Semiuisonna stands as complementary to the summer solstice month, Duman, whose name has a meaning of 'all-encompassing'. Across Europe since the Bronze age the observance of the two solstices was recorded, most famously in the megalithic monuments with solar alignments. These significant points in the annual progression of the year remain celebrated in the Celtic calendar, despite its Beltaine/Samhain alignment which was of paramount importance in the arable and pastoral communities of the Iron Age. The adoption of the cult of Mithras by Rome in AD274 by Aurelian saw formal celebration of the Unconquered Sun's nativity on December 25 the date then associated with the solstice. This was transferred to the nativity of Christ in AD354 and remained associated with the solsticial beginning of the year. The solstices are marked on many neo-pagan calendars as part of an eight-fold progression of the year. As seen with the equinoxes, so too are the solstices commemorated in their respective lunations in the Celtic calendar, but the only cardinal points are the start of Summer and Winter. The Source, that which flows, is the River, whether she be the River of Danu, the Danube in the Celtic homeland, or the River of Sequana, the Seine, the River of Sabrann, the Severn, or the Rivers of Boann or Siann, the Boyne an the Shannon. Like the Well of Wisdom with its hazels at the source of the Boyne, the font of Celtic origins lays at the source of the rivers of Danu.

Etymology

Semi- to flow
I. root sem, let go, from sê
Lat. simpulum, ladle
'pour out' (= to-ess-sem-im)
I. uisge OI. uisce - water
*ud-s-kio water
W. wysg, stream
Old Welsh uisc
Uisnech - Navel of Ireland

MacBain's

"Beside the fountain is a marble slab and a silver bowl fastened
by a silver chain. Take up the bowl and pour the water"
- Lady of the Fountain, White Book of Rhydderch, Fourteenth Century Wales

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 Semiuisonna contains the summer solstice. As in the Gregorian Calendar, in the Southern Hemisphere all month names retain their Northern attributes. The lunation of Southern Semiuisonna may be named 'the Duman 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 above (using Cybersky) is the European dawn of December 503BC, Semiuisonna, around the winter solstice.

The Celtic Calendar - Introductory Sections

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