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

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 1st is often framed as a clean slate—a bright beginning washed of the past. But older, deeper traditions tell a different story. Hag’s Day is not about erasing what came before. It is about honoring the Crone—the wise, feral, transformative feminine energy that carries endings into renewal. Hag’s Day does not belong to a single goddess. Rather it belongs to many. The Crone: More Than an Ending In many pagan and folkloric traditions, the Crone is the final aspect of th

Long before January became a month of gym memberships, planners, and impossible resolutions, it belonged to Janus—the Roman god of doorways, thresholds, and time itself.The Kalends of January, celebrated on the first day of the month, marked more than the turning of a calendar. It was a ritual pause between what had been and what might be . To the Romans, beginnings were dangerous things. They required care, symbolism, and a bit of magic. The word Kalends  (or Kalendae ) refe

December is a month full of lights, feasts, and folklore — but few traditions are as delightfully unusual as  Mari Lwyd , the Grey Mare of South Wales. Equal parts pageant, ritual, and seasonal mischief, this centuries-old custom blends music, masked processions, and symbolic negotiation — all performed right around Christmas. While Mari Lwyd is its own unique tradition, it shares themes with other  ancient winter rituals , like  Saturnalia ’s revelry and  Yule ’s evergreen c

On the longest night of the year, the world pauses. The sun stands still. And across cultures and centuries, people gather to honor a moment that feels older than memory: the Winter Solstice. December 21st is a cosmic hinge — a night where ancient festivals overlap, mythologies speak to one another, and the boundary between old year and new year thins. From  Yule’s sacred fires to the stillness of the Solstice  to the shadowed reverence of Hekate’s Deipnon , this date has al

Every December, when the nights stretch long and the world leans into the glow of candles, feasts, and celebration, I love looking back at the winter traditions that came long before us. One of the most vibrant — and honestly, the most chaotic in the best possible way — is Saturnalia, Ancient Rome’s week-long festival for Saturn, the god of agriculture, liberation, and golden-age abundance. If you’ve ever wondered why winter is so full of feasting, gift-giving, and joyful re

Halcyon Days is a phrase used to describe periods of calm, happiness, and peacefulness. Often associated with nostalgia or a golden time in life, the term evokes a sense of tranquility and stress-free living. Whether in literature, history, or everyday conversation, Halcyon Days represent moments when everything feels balanced and serene. Origins of Halcyon Days The term “Halcyon Days” comes from ancient Greek mythology. According to legend, Alcyone, a devoted wife, was trans

Mystery. Silence. Sacred rites hidden behind closed doors. Few deities in ancient Rome embodied secrecy and feminine power quite like Bona Dea, the “Good Goddess” whose worship was so exclusive, even her own name was considered too sacred to speak aloud. For centuries, Roman women sought her blessings for fertility, healing, protection, and purity, gathering in ritual spaces men were forbidden to enter. Though her temples once bustled with activity, much of her story has been

The Poseidea is a relatively obscure festival from the ancient Attic calendar, held in honour of Poseidon, god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. It took place in the lunar month called Poseideon (roughly late December into January). Although details are limited, the festival provides an intriguing insight into how the Athenians and other Greeks recognized the power of the sea and its perils — especially in winter. Date & Calendar Context The Attic month Poseideon is identi

Hekate is among the more fascinating deities in the Greek pantheon — a goddess of magic, boundaries, crossroads, the night, and the underworld. While her worship in classical antiquity had specific ritual forms, modern practitioners have also adopted particular dates in November for her honour. This article explores the “night(s) of Hekate,” how they are observed today, what their roots may be, and how you might choose to mark them yourself. The Ancient Practice: Deipnon, Nou

The Pompaia is an obscure yet fascinating festival from the ancient Athenian (Attic) calendar, celebrated during the month of Maimakterion (roughly mid-November to mid-December). Though few records of it survive, scholars and modern Hellenic practitioners have pieced together its likely purpose: a ritual of purification and protection held at the onset of winter’s storms. The name Pompaia  derives from pompe  (πομπή), meaning “procession,” suggesting a ceremonial parade of sa

After a day of beans, grapes, and myth during the Pyanepsia and Oskhophoria, the Athenians weren’t done yet. The very next day, they held...

While the Athenians celebrated the Pyanepsia with beans and blessings for the harvest, another festival was happening on the very same...

In the agrarian societies of ancient Greece, the success of each harvest was a matter of life and death. Agriculture shaped not only the...

When we think of ancient Greek festivals, our minds often jump to the grand spectacles—like the Olympic Games or the dramatic...

As summer fades and the air takes on a crispness, the wheel of the year turns to Mabon, the pagan harvest festival that honors the autumn...

Among the sacred festivals of the Attic calendar, few were as profound, secretive, and enduring as the Eleusinia ta Megala—the Great...

If you’re diving into the ancient Attic calendar, you might stumble across a curious festival called Basile, celebrated on the 4th of...