Your Spiritual New Year...

[Ron]

When does your spiritual/religious new year start?

[edit] The options got a little messed up... I hope a mod will fix them :)

[Ron]

I follow a system using the Gregorian logic to determine whether or not there is an extra day, which we insert as December 23rd - whereas there is no extra day, our new year starts on the 23rd. :)

[piglet]

I was just thinking about this a few hours ago! The conclusion I came to was that Samhain and that time of autumn symbolizes death and to me, it is a time of "say goodbye" to the events of the past year and things I would like to let go of. Yule is the "rebirth" phase of welcoming back the sun. I see it as a time of contemplation and conception, giving "birth" to ideas and plans for the new year and welcoming things I want to come into my life.

So, as I see it the period between these two events serve two parts of a "New Year" celebration.

-piglet

PS: ottawa is my hometown!

[Ron]

I was just thinking about this a few hours ago! The conclusion I came to was that Samhain and that time of autumn symbolizes death and to me, it is a time of "say goodbye" to the events of the past year and things I would like to let go of. Yule is the "rebirth" phase of welcoming back the sun. I see it as a time of contemplation and conception, giving "birth" to ideas and plans for the new year and welcoming things I want to come into my life.

So, as I see it the period between these two events serve two parts of a "New Year" celebration.

-piglet

PS: ottawa is my hometown! That's fascinating :) An interesting way :) I like it :fpeace:

p.s. - I wuv Montrèal.

[6th Angel]

I follow the gregorian calendar out of tradition, but I am looking for my spiritual new year.... I still don´t know yet.

[ravynbynorthwynd]

i don't really see the nesscesscity of a new year, other then the common one which has to do with writing dates. though, i did celebrate samhain as a holiday of letting go...

[Willow_starr]

So, as I see it the period between these two events serve two parts of a "New Year" celebration.

Same here except I celebrate Samhain as the end of the year and Yule as the beginning of the new one. The time in between is sort of a time of limbo - darkness, introspection, ridding myself of what i no longer want or need in my life and of sacrific. I was raised Catholic and have incoropated some of the elements of Lent (the 40 days before Easter)- fasting, giving something up, I don't wear jewelery other than a pouch of sacred items and sleeper earrings (so my holes don't go in). It is kind of similar to what I know of Rammadan celebrations.
I like to use the myth of Iannanna's descent to the Underworld for the framework for this time.

ps I'm only three hours south of Ottawa

[wakywitch]

On Samhain. :aburst:

[Luminessence]

I consider my new year to be the calendar New Year, but that may end up changing. I think I would probably feel more comfortable with a New Year that comes at or near the beginning of spring - therefore, a little after January 1st.

(I voted wrong in the poll, by the way, I voted Julian when I should have voted Gregorian. Sorry :))

[cheddarsox]

I use my birhtday as a time to review the past year and make a wish for the next one. My birthday is about 10 days before the holiday season kicks in, the traditional holiday season in the USA is too hectic for me to focus on this type of spiritual work, so it is good for me to get it done before hand. I do re-review it again at Solstice, I always set aside introspective time then, but my birthday is the biggie for me.

cheddar

[Karma Chameleon]

At Yule, really. I am so used to the Winter being the beinging I just sort of celebrate it around Yule.

[Madjek]

Samhain....This year was the first time I really celebrated it!!

[Dark Phoenix]

January first out of habit.

[Ron]

I'm suprised at the number of us that celebrate it around Midwinter. :) At least from the ratio... I did think i was the only one. :)

[-Sky-]

Same here except I celebrate Samhain as the end of the year and Yule as the beginning of the new one. The time in between is sort of a time of limbo - darkness, introspection, ridding myself of what i no longer want or need in my life and of sacrific.

I haven't really decided when the Year ends and when it beginds for me.All my life until my rebirth as wiccan I celebrated the New Year along with my family at January 1st.I grew up believing that New Year started then.
But when I became a wiccan(2y ago) I started celebrating the end of the Year on Samhain.But I agree with Willow_starr that Samhain may be the end but Yule is the beginning of the year and the in-between is a period of "darkness".

[Fang of Loki]

I don't have a "spiritual new year".

[Flar's Freyja]

I see Beltaine, Samhain and Yule all as beginnings for a "new" year - but I've also been known to choose any sabbat or moon cycle when there is a need to start over.

[Faery-Wings]

I was just thinking about this a few hours ago! The conclusion I came to was that Samhain and that time of autumn symbolizes death and to me, it is a time of "say goodbye" to the events of the past year and things I would like to let go of. Yule is the "rebirth" phase of welcoming back the sun. I see it as a time of contemplation and conception, giving "birth" to ideas and plans for the new year and welcoming things I want to come into my life.

So, as I see it the period between these two events serve two parts of a "New Year" celebration.

-piglet

PS: ottawa is my hometown!

hey, that is preety close to how I think of it. :uhhuhuh:
For me Samhain is the spiritual end, the letting go, as you said. And then at the Winter Solstice, the year is reborn with the Sun/God. And the time in between is a time for reflection, for stillness, for waiting. Kind of like the time of the dark moon.
Sadly, this is the time of year that it is most hard to physically be still, although I look at it is a time to try to be more mentally and spiritually reflective.

[Faery-Wings]

Same here except I celebrate Samhain as the end of the year and Yule as the beginning of the new one. The time in between is sort of a time of limbo - darkness, introspection, ridding myself of what i no longer want or need in my life and of sacrific.

Yup. Me too! I should have kept reading in this thread, heh!

[Luminessence]

I agree with Willow_starr that Samhain may be the end but Yule is the beginning of the year and the in-between is a period of "darkness".

This makes sense - it's kind of like how the day ends at sunset (or midnlight, depending on how you think of it) and starts at dawn. There's plenty of time in between, and it's sort of part of the day, but sort of not.

[Celtic Solstice]

I was just thinking about this a few hours ago! The conclusion I came to was that Samhain and that time of autumn symbolizes death and to me, it is a time of "say goodbye" to the events of the past year and things I would like to let go of. Yule is the "rebirth" phase of welcoming back the sun. I see it as a time of contemplation and conception, giving "birth" to ideas and plans for the new year and welcoming things I want to come into my life.

So, as I see it the period between these two events serve two parts of a "New Year" celebration.

-piglet

Wow! This is EXACTLY what I think! (It is especially fascinating because my husband and I were discussing this back in September. I had mentioned that Samhain was the Celtic New Year and he did not like that. He felf the new year should be Solstice. We discussed it a good bit, but we did not really come to a consensus. After the talk, I found myself thinking about it. For me, I did not really feel like Samhain was the new year either, but solstice did not work for me as a year end. I laughingly thought to myself that the way it should be is that the year ended on Samhain and began on Solstice. Between Samhain and Solstice - that was just null space *grin* not part of the year (like certain calendars that have twelve 30 day months plus a five day new year holiday that is not part of the year)... my new year holiday would just be a bit longer... by about 50 days. *grin* I was thinking of it as a time of introspection/meditation/contemplation...too...

Any way, that is really cool that you had that idea too!

Celtic Solstice

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

While I do celebrate the secular new year at the same time as the most of the world, for me spiritually I think that Imbolc makes the most sense. I am normally a very traditional sort of person and what little knowledge we have of left of the Celtic speaking tribes seems to indicated that their new year was at Samhuinn or possibly even Beltainne. However when I look at the issue I can't imagine it as being at any other time than Imbolc. It's when the plants start pushing forth again, you really begin to see a noticible lengthening of the daylight period, lambs are born and the ewes come into their milk, even the ravens begin to rebuild their nests at this time. And this is the time that in Scottish lore the Cailleach, the Old Woman of Winter, is reborn as Brighde, the Spring Maiden. What with all the signs of new life and birthings I can't conceive of a better time for the year to begin.

[donatello51]

I think of myself as a dragon. They live such long lives years mean nothing. Brief ticks on a clock you never listen to telling a time that is meaningless to you. So a new year? The seasons change one into the next. This life also a brief tick of another clock I pay not much attention to. I live and learn and love and wonder and travel and revel in it. So quicky it passes to stop and smell the roses. So quickly to rest a moment before moving on. To sit in the sunlight, to gaze at the sky, to feel the rain, to feel the cold of snow and wind, to hear laughter and sorrow. A new year? The next tick of the clock I never hear nor look to for time. Must curious these humans. _happydanc

[Ailinea]

By the time I'm aware of a "new year" (Samhain or January 1 are the most logical in my life) it's already passed. I'm one of those people who, on Saturday, thinks it's still Wednesday. I take every day at a time, but I don't let the dates bog me down. I mean, the day of my birthday, I don't feel "a year older," but only a day older...it's the same way with a "new year" to me.

[equinox2]

Hi everyone!

Willow Star wrote:


I celebrate Samhain as the end of the year and Yule as the beginning of the new one. The time in between is sort of a time of limbo

Wow - so many people have agreed with this! This is pretty much how I see it too. As Celtic Solstice mentioned, she and I discussed this recently. I definitely see the Winter Solstice as the start of the new year, but the commemoration of death and ending at Samhain makes that seem like the end. This also makes sense since the exact time of death is uncertain - you usually don’t know exactly when you will die. Thus, I think Samhain is like "nearing" death, and death comes around then or at least before the Winter Solstice. The new year starts then (at the Winter Solstice) for me.

Luminessence wrote:


This makes sense - it's kind of like how the day ends ….

For me, I like to link the cycle of the day, the cycle of the year, the cycle of our lives, and the compass wheel (NSEW) together. The daily cycle is made by noting the direction towards the sun at a given time (so midnight = North, 6 am = East, noon = South, etc).

That makes 9 pm (NorthWest) correspond to Samhain - the "death" or end of the day - but the next day starts at midnight - which corresponds to the Winter Solstice. Just as the exact date of our death is somewhat uncertain, the exact time we go to sleep varies from day to day, but is usually a little after 9 pm. I’ve put many of these overlapping analogies here: http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~leta/TREATISE/TJPSUM/woverv/wovervhome.htm

Fun discussion! Happy Solstice everyone!

P.S. Here is a really cool circular calendar that Ben told us about, which puts the Winter Solstice in the top, North, position the same way. Www.fluffykittens.com

[qiara]

Samhain always seems right to me, the end of the growing season, preparation for the winter ahead.

[gurlygurl2004]

I just follow American holidays, and I only celebrate the major ones really. Flag Day, Veteran's Day, etc have no bearing on me. I do celebrate 4'th of July, Easter, St. Patty's, Valentines, and of course the big two Halloween and Christmas,etc.

[IvyWitch]

Have two new years is a little too complicated for me, so I usually celebrate new years on Jan 1st, but on the spring equinox I normally have a renewal celebration but I don't really consider it the new year.

[Ron]

I'm suprised at the number of us that celebrate it around Midwinter. :) At least from the ratio... I did think i was the only one. :)
Again, I'm suprised again!! :)

[*Rain*]

For me it's the start of spring, marked by the first snowdrops pushing through the soil at the far end of my garden. I planted them myself when I was a child (aged about 7) and as soon as they come through I know the world is ready to wake up from the winter for a brand new start. That's the most logical time for me.

[SylverStar]

Sept 1st...I'm not sure why, maybe because of school...but this is the time of year where I feel the year starts again. I feel like this is when things must get done or started for the new year ahead. My logic's a little revearsed but when that time of year comes round I really feel the year is over and the new one starts.

[Teresa]

For me Samhain is the end of the year and Yule is the spiritual birth of my new year.

[RubyRose]

For me it would have to Jan 1. It's hard to see the new year as anything but January 1st.

[LoriSage]

When I was a kid it always seemed the year started in the fall, when school began. I still think of fall as a new beginning. Maybe I'm strange, but that's how I see it! :apumpkin:

-Lori

[mothwench]

interesting poll. :kooky: winter solstice feels right to me, personally. :cutesanta:

[Calen]

I celebrate New Years Day on January first. I think of the time between September and December as the final slowing down and ending of the natural year, because everything is cold and asleep. January is my New Years because everything is slowly starting up again. One could say that would make my New Years on Yule since it's the actual turning point, but I was brought up to celebrate on the Dec 31/Jan 1, so that's just how it works out for me.

[Hippywitch]

Really interesting thread here!

I celebrate the death of the old year on Samhain. I welcome the returning light on the winter solstice but I celebrate the 'new' year at Imbolc. To me that is the time when we see the life returning to the earth and so it makes sense to me to celebrate that newness.

[Raidenmaru]

I write my years in era form (Heisei 15 this year), it's commonly understood and as my birth year is Heisei 1 (after Showa 64) it's easy to remember important years for me.

I haven't celebrated a spiritual new year yet, but traditionally I've started years in the first academic semester (I'm a student, you see) and counted coincidentally in Nandesukans, the Years of the local Animation Conference (this is the year of the Ninth Annual Conference). It's an inside reference inside my group.

[HorseCrow]

Samhain...

[Nantonos]

Where it says

"I celebrate my spiritual new year on the exact logical date of Samhain."
could you explain what you meant by that? Or how its different to the eve of 31Oct/1November?

[Faerwolf]

I celebrate Samhain as the end, the time till Yule. is a magick time of letting go, remembering, and preparing for Yule, the new year is reborn. But i still acknowledge that Jan First is the new year date because its like on every calander etc. Meaning on New Years Day i say Happy New Year

[moria636]

I use my birthday for my personal new year...