From the Hollow

While much of the world moves on from New Year’s celebrations by mid-January, some traditions pause once more. The Old New Year, observed on January 14, marks the New Year according to the Julian calendar, which is still used by several Eastern Orthodox churches and communities. Unlike the January 1 st  tradition, it is a quieter celebration with less spectacle and more reflection. Why There Is an “Old” New Year Quite simply, the Old New Year exists because of a calendar shif

A portrait is never just a likeness. At its best, portraiture is a conversation—between artist and subject, subject and viewer, past and present. Long before photography promised accuracy, painters understood something deeper: a portrait could reveal inner life, social power, vulnerability, devotion, grief, or defiance. To read a portrait well is to learn its quiet language. That language speaks most clearly through three elements: gaze, light, and compassion. The Gaze: Where

Observed on January 11th and January 15th, Carmentalia was an ancient Roman festival dedicated to Carmenta, a goddess of prophecy, childbirth, transformation, and fate. Unlike many Roman holidays centered on public spectacle, Carmentalia focused on women, voices, and futures not yet written. It was a festival concerned not with what has  happened—but with what may . Who Is Carmenta? Nicostrata-Carmenta inventing the Latin alphabet (Antoine Dufour, 1504) Carmenta (also known

Unlike grand Roman festivals filled with feasting and public spectacle, Agonalia was a quieter, more enigmatic observance. Celebrated multiple times throughout the year, including January 9 th , Agonalia honored moments of transition, divine favor, and the uncertainty that accompanied new beginnings. It was a festival not of answers, but of asking. Agonalia was observed on several dates in the Roman calendar—traditionally January 9, March 17, May 21, and December 11—though it

January always asks us to slow down. The noise of the holidays fades, the days stay short, and what the body really wants is warmth—real warmth. Not just heat, but nourishment. This soup is exactly that: grounding, comforting, and deeply winter-appropriate. Root vegetables have long been associated with stability and endurance during the cold months, and this recipe leans into that tradition. It’s hearty without being heavy, simple without being boring, and perfect for a quie

Twelfth Night, observed on January 5th, marks the final evening of the Christmas season. It is the threshold between celebration and return, between revelry and routine; a night traditionally filled with misrule, ritual, and the quiet understanding that the old magic must be put to rest. If Christmas is about light returning, Twelfth Night is about closure. Twelfth Night falls twelve days after Christmas Day and historically signified the official end of Christmastide. In man