Leaf and Branch (New Druids Series Vol 1 & 2)

by Donald D. Allan

3 weeks and 6 days per month (totalling 30 days per month)

  Solstices (longest/shortest day of year)/Equinoxes:

  Vernal Equinox is the day after March 19th (or Marta 19) and is celebrated for 1 day as Ostara Day (non-calendar day).

  Estival Solstice (Summer) is the day after June 20th (or Meitheamh 20) and is celebrated for 1 day as Litha Day (non-calendar day)

  Autumnal Equinox is the day after September 21st (or Mean Fomhair 21) and is celebrated for 2 days as First Mabon Day (harvest) and Last Mabon Day (feast) (non-calendar days).

  Hibernal Solstice (Winter) is the day after December 20 (or Nollaig 20) and is celebrated for 1 day as Yule (non-calendar day).

  Holidays:

  Samhain. Nov 7 (Samhain 7). Midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Celebrates the last harvest, the cycle of life and gifts for passing spirits. Preparation to survive winter, confront the possibility of death. Colours: black, brown, reds, oranges. Opposite to Bealtaine.

  Yule is the day after December 20 (Nollaig 20) and is a non-calendar day. Shortest day and longest night of the year. Celebrates the end of darkness, the return of light to the earth. Herbs are at their least potent. Colours: green, red, white, silver, gold.

  Imbolc. Feb 1 (Feabhra 1). Midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Celebrates the quickening of spring, the end of winter, time of planning and hopes. Colours: red, orange, white.

  Ostara Day is the day after March 19 (Marta 19) and is a non-calendar day. First day of Spring, the night and day stand equal. Celebrates the birth of spring, rebirth. Time of planting. Colours: red and yellow.

  Bealtaine. May 6 (Bealtaine 6). Midpoint between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. Time of rebirth. Colours: blue, pink, yellow, green. Opposite to Samhain.

  Litha Day is the day after June 20 (Meitheamh 20) and is a non-calendar day. Summer solstice, first day of summer, longest day of the year. Celebrates the light and the sun without there would be no life. Time of strengths and accomplishments. Gather herbs as "herb night" is when they are at their most potent. Colours: blue, yellow, green.

  Lammas. Aug 1 (Lunasa 1). Midpoint between Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. First harvest festival. Celebrates the beginning of harvest season, the decline of summer to winter. Time to dismiss regrets, farewells, preparation for winter. Ceremonies involve breads, grains and corn dolls. Colours: oranges, greens, browns.

  Mabon Days are the two days after September 21st (Mean Fomhair 21) and they are non-calendar days. Referred to as First Mabon and Last Mabon. Autumn Equinox, first day of Autumn. Celebrates harvest. First Mabon is harvesting time and Last Mabon is the feast. Time for thanks and learning, repairing all things. Colours: dark reds, yellows, browns.

  Important Calendar Dates Summary:

  February 1 (Feabhra 1) — Imbolc

  March (Marta) — Ostara Day (Vernal Equinox) is the day after March 19th

  May 6 (Bealtaine 6) — Bealtaine

  June (Meitheamh) — Litha Day (Estival Solstice (Summer)) is the day after June 20th

  August 1 (Lunasa 1) — Lammas

  September (Mean Fomhair) — First/Last Mabon Days (Autumnal Equinox) is the two days after September 21st

  November 7 (Samhain 7) — Samhain

  December (Nollaig) — Yule (Hibernal Solstice (Winter)) is the day after December 20th

  Currency

  1 crown (large round gold coin) = 36 groats = 144 pence

  1 half-crown (large round gold coin with centre hole) = 18 groats = 72 pence

  1 mark (small gold coin) = 9 groats = 36 pence

  1 groat (silver rectangular coin) = 4 pence

  1 tuppence (small silver coin or large copper coin) = 2 pence

  1 pence (copper coin) = 1 pence

  1 half-pence (copper coin with centre hole) = 1/2 pence

  1 farthing (small rectangular copper coin) = 1/4 pence

  Coins are measured by known weights that are in accordance with the Turgany Weights and Measures Act. For example, a full crown must weigh exactly one royal ounce (28 grams). A half-crown weighs a half ounce (14 grams). And a mark weighs a quarter ounce (7 grams) which means it is a bit heavier than a quarter but sized about the same. A groat weighs the same as a mark (but is larger), and a tuppence weighs half that of a groat (hence if it is made of copper it will be larger). Typically wealthy merchants will carry coin scales to verify that they are not being cheated with counterfeit coins. The habit of biting a gold coin was to prove that it was indeed gold — which is soft — and not some impostor.

  About the Author

  DONALD D. ALLAN is a Canadian author of fantasy and science fiction and an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.

  He is the GOLD winner of the Dan Poynter's Global eBook Awards 2016 for the category Fantasy/Other Worlds for his debut novel Duilleog, the first novel in his New Druids series.

  Donald lives with his wife Marilyn, son James, daughter Katherine, and dog Woody, in Ottawa, Canada.

  Connect with Donald D. Allan:

  BLOG: http://donalddallan.com

  FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/donalddallan

  TWITTER: https://twitter.com/donalddallan/

  EMAIL: donalddallan@gmail.com