Samhain and the Bee
Why I follow the Celtic calendar The ancient Celtic calendar follows the agricultural year more closely than our modern calendar. This is especially true for the beekeeper.
It "officially" becomes Winter on December 21st by the standard Western calendar, but in the ancient Celtic calendar, it begins a lot earlier, for on November 1st the season of Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) begins
The Celtic seasons are:
1. Samhain (Winter) November 1st, the beginning of the new year, to January 31st.
2. Imbolc (Spring) February 1st to April 30th
3. Beltaine (Summer) May 1st to July 31st
4. Lughnasadh (Fall) August 1st to Oct. 31st
Why does the Celtic Winter start so early?
For beekeepers, it means that the queen stops laying and the bees go into their winter cluster with the queen always at the center, huddling together for warmth until Imbolc arrives in February and the queen again becomes active.
For most "believers", Samhain, means "End
of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the
year commences on this day.
It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November
1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being
Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are
temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted.
Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for
they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands.
This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for
eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain
were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires
were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were
thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New
Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the
fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone
foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit
from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the
harvested fields to protect and bless the land.
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/samhainlore.htm
Happy
Samhain!