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We experience seasonal variations in temperature on most places on Earth due to transitions between maximum and minimum periods of daily sunlight. The shortest interval between sunrise and sunset occurs on the Winter Solstice. Likewise, the longest period of daylight occurs on the Summer Solstice. Atmospheric retention of heat and cold causes the warmest and coldest temperatures of the year to typically lag weeks beyond Solstice Day.
Daylight intervals vary during the year because of the Earth's polar tilt of almost 23 and a half degrees from perpendicular to the orbital plane, known as the ecliptic. Thus, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres alternately tilt toward or away from the Sun. Only on Equinox Day does the Sun appear immediately above the Earth's equator. On all other days of the year, the amount of sunlight falling on one hemisphere is greater than what is shining on the other.
Labels on the diagram below are referencing events in the Northern Hemisphere. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, the labels should be rotated 180 degrees.
Simply put, a Solstice Day is either the shortest or longest day of the year, with the day defined as the length of time the Sun is above the horizon. At the moment of a Solstice the Sun appears immediately overhead at its most extreme northern or southern terrestrial latitude of any time during the year. At the moment of a Solstice, the semi-annual, apparent journey of the Sun to the point immediately above a tropic's boundary latitude reverses course, though in reality the Earth is the body in motion. As organized religion integrated pagan Solstice worship into Church tradition, new terms were adopted. Summer Solstice became known as Litha; the Winter Solstice was known as Yule.
Equinoxes mark the moment when the Sun appears directly above the Equator and when, at least theoretically, sunlight falls simultaneously upon both North and South Poles. At an Equinox moment the Sun is said to cross the Equator; and during Equinox day, days and nights are more or less equal in length. Actually, the singular point on Earth where the Sun is at its zenith at any given time, moves from one hemisphere to the other at the moment of Equinox. Within 12 hours either side of an Equinox moment sunrises are the most precisely eastern and sunsets are the most precisely western of the year, assuming flat horizons. Due to Earth's slightly ellipical orbit, Equinoxes are not exact midpoints in time between the Solstices. The Church approved the continuation of these pagan observances with new names of Eostar for the Vernal Equinox and Mabon for the Autumnal Equinox.
Old Celtic calendars also observed Cross-Quarters, roughly midway between each Equinox and Solstice pairing. Unlike modern calendars that define the start of a season on a Solstice or Equinox, the Celts perceived Solstices and Equinoxes as celestial events occuring mid-season.
Thus, Imbolc was the beginning of Spring. Imbolc corresponds more or less to Groundhog Day in the USA, February 2, when tradition has it that if a sleepy groundhog creeping out of its burrow at dawn sees its shadow, there are 6 more weeks of winter. (If not, we surmise, only 42 days remain.) Solmonath and Candlemas were Church-approved substitute names for Imbolc, which is spelled Imbolg by some pagans. Druids prefer Oimeaig, pronounced IM-mol'g. The Celtic pronounciation is IM-bulk or EM-Bowlk.
Beltane was the start of Summer, just a few days beyond Easter and May Day on the modern calendar. Fertility should be at its peak with bees pollinating flowers. Seedlings are poking through the cool soil, seeking the warmth and energy of the Sun. Early Christians preferred the name Whitsuntide instead of Beltane.
Lughnasadh was the beginning of Autumn, when crops thrive in the hot Sun. Lughnasadh was observed as a pre-harvest festival day and time for strength and endurance competitions among young men. Variations on this CQ name include Lughnasad, Lughnasadha and Lugnasadh. It is pronounced LOO-na-sah regardless of the spelling. The religious equivalent is Lammas or Lammos.
The Celtic Winter began with Samhain. It ends one planting cycle and begins another. Seeds for the next year were often planted at this time. Samhain comes about a week after Hallowe'en, the eve of All Saints Day when, some folks believe, all departed souls of the preceding year are finally freed from Earthly ties. Indeed, the Christian name Hallowmas was swapped for the pagan term, sometimes spelled as Savain. Regardless of the spelling, this CQ day is pronounced SOW-an or SOW-in.
We boldly suggest the Celtic perception of the seasonal calendar harmonizes best with reality. After all should Summer be a time of year when days just keep getting progressively shorter? Is it logical that days persistently lengthen during a season modern people call Winter? No, the Celts believed, the transitional events of Solstices and Equinoxes should be embraced within the seasons they represent, not act as mere bookends! For that role they celebrated the Cross-Quarters.
Long Live Apple
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