November 1, 2008
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November
November takes its name as the ninth month of the Roman calendar. As the first month of the winter quarter, November was the first month of the new year according to Celtic traditions, Samhain (La Samhna – Irish) being the first day of the new year. The goddess Cailleach had guardianship of this month.
November was called Blotmonath, the month of sacrifice, by the Anglo-Saxons, while the Franks called it Herbistmanoth, ” harvest month.” Fogmoon is the Asatru name. It was called Samhain or an t-Samhainn, summer’s end by the Irish, the month of the festival of Samhain.
The full moon of November is called Beaver Moon. It has been called the Mourning or Frosty Moon, and it may also be referred to as the Moon When Deer Shed Antlers, the Fog Moon, or the Moon of Storms, a name it shares with February and March. Some call it the Dark Moon or Mad Moon.
Scorpio gives way to Sagittarius around November 22nd. Scorpios and other folk born to this month have the Chrysanthemum for their birth flower. November children have topaz for their stone, though pearl is mentioned on some lists. Other stones associated with Scorpio are albite, aquamarine, emerald,
garnet, green tourmaline, malachite, moonstone, obsidian, and ruby. The birthstone of Sagittarius is turquoise or lapis lazuli. Amethyst, azurite, labradorite, pink tourmaline, ruby, sodalite, and topaz are also linked to Sagittarius.
November 1st
This is the fifth day of the Isia -the Zetesis and Heuresis. On the two
days following October 31st, the portions of Osiris were found,
reconstituted, and resurrected.
The Day of the Banshees is a modern Celtic holiday. Apples,
representing the otherworld, rebirth, eternal life, and the crone, may
be placed on graves.
Hela and the dragon Fafnir are honored by the Asatru.
The Aquarian Tabernacle Church was established the USA in 1979 and in Canada in 1993.
To the Celts, this is La Samhna, Samhain Day; Second of the Three Days
of Samhain; Feile na Marbh, Samhain, All-Hallowtide, and the Feast of
the Dead. Also called Mile na Marbh and Fide Moingfhinne (snow
goddess). Unharvested fruit now belong to the puca and faerie who roam
abroad. From the first to the third, the door is open to our world and the
other realms. In ancient Ireland, a new fire was kindled every year on
Hallowe’en on the Eve of Samhain, and from this sacred flame all the
fires in Ireland were kindled. The
Assemblies at Tara took place on Samain. Tea and Tephi were Milesian
princesses who founded Tara, the ancient religious and political center
of Ireland.
November 2nd
This is the sixth day of the Isia -the Zetesis and Heuresis. The 17th day of Koiak is a Festival of Hathor.
This is the last day of Samhain. Before being taken over by the
Christian Church, All Souls’ Day was a festival dedicated to Odin as
god of the dead. The parade of the Hodening wild horse, mummers plays
enacting the mysteries of life, death, and rebirth, and the consumption
of ceremonial soulcakes were all part of the celebrations. In parts of
England, children would go “souling” from house to house, asking for
soul cakes which are traditionally left out for the dead. In Sicily,
children would leave their shoes outside the windows in the hope that
the souls of their ancestors would fill them with candy and toys.
November 3rd
This is the last day of the Isia -the Zetesis and Heuresis. Called the
Hilaria, it is the commemoration of the Heuresis (Finding of Osiris). A
sacred performance reenacted the events of Osiris’s resurrection.
Worshipers went down to the sea at night. The keepers of the robes and
the priests brought out a hallowed chest containing a small golden
casket. Into this, they poured some clean water, and a great yell came
from the group that Osiris had been found. Then some fertile soil was
mixed with water along with spices and expensive incenses to form a
crescent-moon shaped figure.
St. Malachy, the “Irish Nostradomus,” was a medieval prophet honored today.
According to Gaelic tradition, this was the start of the New Year and the best day to start new projects.
The Inuit celebrate this day with a tug-of-war competition. One team,
the ducks, are those born in the summer, and the other team, the
ptarmigans, are those born in the winter. The outcome of the game
foretells the weather. Winter will be mild if the ducks win and harsh
if the ptarmigans do. The struggle is also said to represent the
struggle between light and dark.
The Taurids meteor shower occurs on or around this date. It is associated with the comet Encke.
November 5th
Guy Fawkes Night was celebrated by burning an effigy of a human being,
representing evil spirits, grudges, and grievances of the past year.
Guy Fawkes plotted to blow up the House of Lords in 1605. The
celebration of his death merged with Halloween celebrations in England.
November 6th
In Babylon, this was the birthday of Tiamat.
The Raising the Djed Pillar is remembered on the 21st day of Koiak. The
Tet or Djed Pillar was one of the most significant symbols of the
Egyptian religion, symbolizing the idea of stability and duration. It
was regarded as the backbone of Osiris, and later as a representation
of Osiris himself. The Djed pillar was also used as an amulet and
hieroglyphic representing resurrection.
November 8th
This is the third Day of the Opening of the Mundus Cereris. The Roman
festival of Mania honored the Manes, spirits of the underworld.
Gwynn ap Nudd, lord of the faerie kingdom and the underworld, allowed
access to his kingdom today through his holy mountain, Glastonbury Tor.
The Japanese Fuigo Matsuri (the Feast of Bellows) is held in honor of
the Goddess of the Kitchen stove, Hettsui no Kami. Fires are lit also
in honor of Inari and other deities in the courts of Shinto temples.
Comments (5)
I’m a Nov. baby. I say Scorpian, but many still call me Sag. I’m a cusp baby – could explain my weirdness! So I should leave my unharvested food to the others? Cool!
I really wish I lived in England so I could be at Glastonbury Tor on November 8th. Well, actually scratch that–I wish I had the money to visit England periodically so I could be at Glastonbury Tor on November 8th.
Beaver Moon… that explains a lot… my hubben is a Scorpio.
Although his birthday is late October… Beaver Moon still makes sense to me. 
Have a good one!!!
What day in November is the “beaver moon”? I’ve heard of that one on xanga before.
@jesusthepsychic - The above were are all names for the full moon in November. So this year, the Beaver Moon will be on the 12/13th. Each phase of the moon typically lasts three days. That is, on the second day of the phase, it is actually at the height of the phase, but some calendars will count it from the first, second, or third day and it matters somewhat where you live. According to one website I found however, the moon will be most full at 1:17am on the morning of the 13th, and that is the Beaver Moon.