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Greece—a month began
    at the new moon, but in the northern European cultures it
    seems the months were reckoned by the full moons.
    My inhíred gathers once a month to observe a húsel, giv-
    ing offerings to our gods, but these “months” are not Gre-
    gorian (secular) months. They are true monthas , or moons.
    Because of this, we are keenly aware of the moon’s cycles.
    Remember that Hal Sidu is all about integrating your body,
    mind and spirit. By following a lunar based calendar, my
    híredmenn and I attune ourselves to the rhythm of the nat-
    ural world and, of equal importance, with the ways of our
    Saxon predecessors.
    The lunar months help us connect with the world view
    of the early Saxons, and thus express our spirituality more
    fully. Solmonath, which falls in January and February, liter-
    ally means “mud-month” in Old English. The historian Bede
    recorded that the Saxons gave offerings of cakes during this
    month. By cake he meant a baked product that was probably
    more like our modern bread. When the Solmonath moon
    grows full, I leave a loaf or cake on tilled soil as an offering.
    f 39 2
    the sacral calendar
    The two months following, Hrethmonath and Eostremon-
    ath, are named for the earth goddess Herthe and the vernal
    goddess Eostre. After this comes Thrimilci, “three-milkings”,
    so named because the cattle could be milked three times a day.
    The next two months are Ærra Litha and Æfterra Litha.
    The Old English word lith means a point or moment, and in this context it is a reference to the summer solstice, that point in time when the days cease to increase in length and begin
    to decrease. The names of these two months, Ærra Litha and
    Æfterra Litha, mean Before the Solstice and After the Sol-
    stice. Incidentally, during a thrilithe the thirteenth month is inserted between these two, and is known simply as Litha.
    Next comes Weodmonath, or “weed-month”, and, if you
    have ever had any connection with the earth, you understand
    why it has this name. Weodmonath occurs around August,
    when weeds grow like…well, like weeds…in the summer’s
    heat in the temperate northern hemisphere. Then comes
    Haligmonath, the “holy-month”, when offerings are given in
    thanks for a successful harvest.
    It is almost always sometime in October when the Win-
    terfylleth moon grows full. This month, as its name suggests,
    signals the beginning of winter. At this time, Saxon Pagans
    celebrate Winter Finding. It is not the end of the year, but it is an important transitional month that leads into Blodmona-th, or the “blood-month”. Winter began for the early Saxons
    with a final harvest—the harvest of meat. Only the best live-
    stock would be wintered over, and the excess was butchered,
    smoked and salted.
    The final two months are Ærra Geola and Æfterra Geola,
    meaning Before Yule and After Yule. The meaning of “Yule”
    f 40 2
    the sacral calendar
    is uncertain, but it may mean “wheel”. Both of these months
    comprise the Yule season. Ærra Geola marks the end of the
    old year, while Æfterra Geola is the beginning of the new.
    Observing the lunar months is an important aspect of
    my personal spiritual practice, but the Saxon calendar also
    acknowledges holy tides—holidays—at various times of
    the year. These holy tides correspond more closely to the
    Neo-Pagan calendar than those of some other Pagan paths.
    This is because Gerald Gardner, the founder of Wicca, was
    an Englishman. While the Neo-Pagan calendar is often
    thought to be Celtic in origin, the fact is that it is simply
    English, blending both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon holy days.
    Beltane and Samhain are Celtic fire festivals welcoming in the
    summer and winter. Yule and Midsummer are Anglo-Saxon
    festivals marking the summer and winter solstice. Lughnasa-
    dh is a summer festival commemorating the Celtic god Lugh
    and his foster mother; the Anglo-Saxons celebrated a grain
    festival called Hláfmæsse at the same time of year. The