Happy Celtic New Year

November 1st - All Saints' Day, Samhain, Calan Gaeaf, the end of the harvest season and the beginning of Winter, the darker half of the year, as well as the Celtic New Year. 

November comes

and November goes,

with the last red berries

and the first white snows.

With night coming early,

and dawn coming late,

and ice in the bucket,

and frost by the gate.

The fires burn

and the kettles sing,

and earth sinks to rest

until next spring.  (Clyde Watson)

This Olde Crone depiction has long been my favorite for Samhain Blessings. 

Calan Gaeaf  is the Welsh name for the November 1st celebration.

What I miss about not living in the country is the accompanying celebratory bonfire.

This Halloween card is from our Oregon kids, daughter Kari and her husband Ken.

November is a big month for birthdays and anniversaries in our family. Ken's birthday is one of those.

I'm not a fan of the early darkness, nor the cold and snow, but they go along with the changing seasons and I do love those.

November comes from the Latin word novem which means nine. In the early Roman calendar November was the ninth month. 

Autumn is my favorite time of the year, partly because of my birth month but also because its tone is mellower, its colors richer and it is tinged with a little sorrow. It speaks of maturity and wisdom that comes with age.

"Some of the days in November carry the whole memory of summer." (Gladys Taber)

This first day of November, 2024, has been lovely. Sunny, breezy enough to rattle the drying leaves of the oak trees....

.....warm enough to have the windows open. 

Happy November!  💛🍂🍁🔥