Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year 2023 – The Year of the Water Rabbit

How to Say Happy New Year in Chinese

(This includes the Chinese characters if you want to write it somewhere. You can copy and paste the characters from here. I have alternated the colors so each character stands out.)

新 Xīn 年 nián 快 kuài 乐 lè!

Click here for more information about the Chinese YEAR OF THE RABBIT from chinesenewyear.net

(I came across this website with a lot of information about the Chinese New Year please click on the link above if you want to read more about this than the couple of paragraphs I have copied and pasted.)

It covers the topics of:

FOOD

DRINKS

DESSERTS

SNACKS

CLOTHES

DECORATIONS

MYTHS

GALA

RED POCKETS

LANTERN FESTIVAL

Chinese New Year 2023 Dates

(I would have gotten this information up sooner if I had realized that celebrations begin 8 days before the actual New Year’s date.)

8 DAYS JAN 14TH–21ST

Little Year

Preparations for the new year begin on January 14th, 2023, and last until New Years Eve.

11 DAYS JANUARY 22ND–FEB 1ST 

Spring Festival

Chinese New Year officially begins on January 22nd, 2023, and ends on February 1st.

4 DAYS FEB 2ND–5TH

Lantern Festival

Preparations begin the 2nd, and the Lantern Festival is held on February 5th.

Spell for Today – Sunday Pagan Worship

(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER)

Finally, it’s Sunday, the official day of rest. Not only do Christians acknowledge this day but I’m sure many pagans appreciate this day, as well. Everyone needs rest and a lot of people need a good day to worship their creator (whomever or whatever that may be), however they deem fit to do so. With the Sun being the central theme of many ancient rituals, Sunday just seems to fit, in name and theory.

Sunday Pagan Worship

What you will need:
Your voice
Your body
1 bell (optional)

Find a quiet, private area, without distraction. Sit down in a comfortable position. Take a few, slow, deep breaths. Allow your body to become very relaxed. When you have done this, if you brought a bell, ring it seven times. Allow the last ring to resonate throughout your body. If you have something you want to say, to God or The Goddess, now would be a good time to do this. When you are finished, say this prayer or chant:

“I know there is a higher
being than me.
I am not alone.
You are with me,
Day and night.
You’ve rode the lows
And watched the heights.
If angels are real,
I’m sure to have a guardian.
I am so thankful
And so grateful for your hand.
You’ve blessed me.
You’ve fed me
You’ve quenched my thirst
And even dressed me.
A ‘man,
A ‘man,
And Blessed Be.”

When you are finished, ring the bell seven more times, to end the ceremony

 

–The Modern Day Spellbook: A Collection of Spells for the Modern Day Witch
R. Marten

Friday the 13th the First of Two for 2023

For many people, Friday the 13th is a holiday that carries ominous overtones and is considered unlucky in Western culture. It’s a day which occurs at least once every year and may occur up to 3 times in a calendar year. However, while some people consider the day to be unlucky or even evil, statistical analysis has shown that fewer accidents happen on this day than on any other day. Which is probably due to more people staying home and being extra careful on this day.

History of Friday the 13th

Unfortunately, the history of this day is somewhat obscured by time, so it really isn’t known why it has come to be known as an unlucky day. Throughout much of modern human history, Friday has been considered unlucky and the number 13 has been unlucky, but the combination of the two wasn’t considered especially unlucky together until about the late 19th century or early 20th century.

Since ancient times, Friday has always been a day of bad luck. On Fridays, sailors avoided starting new journeys, seamstresses would avoid needlework on this day and businessmen would avoid writing letters on this day. The superstition that this day was unlucky was so prevalent that farmers would avoid starting their crops on a Friday. However, not every Friday was considered equal. Good Friday was a day that was seen as a day that brought good luck – especially if you were a sailor who just so happened to have made their maiden voyage on Good Friday.

Likewise, the number 13 has been unlucky since ancient times as well. However, it really isn’t known when that superstition began. Some people think that it goes back to the last supper of Jesus Christ. Counting Jesus and his 12 disciples, there were 13 people at the table. This is considered unlucky because the 13th guest,  Judas Iscariot would betray Christ and died by his own hand. This led to the belief that if 13 people sat down to a meal together, one of them would die by the end of the year. The “unluckiness” of the number 13 became extremely popular during the 19th century. During this time, people would avoid having anything to do with this number. So much so, the number was often skipped when numbering hotel rooms and the 13th floor of buildings were often mislabeled as the 14th floor.

The Horror Movie Franchise …

Click here to read the rest of this article from holidayscalendar.com

Full Moons and Their Spells

Full Moons and Their Spells
January – Wolf Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving organization, ambition, career, politics; healing for the knees, bones, teeth, skin.

 

February – Ice Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving science, freedom, friendship, breaking of bad habits or addictions; healing for the calves, ankles, blood.

 

March – Crow Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving music, art, telepathy, dreams; healing for the feet and lymph glands.

 

April – Planter’s Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving authority, rebirth, leadership; healing for the face and head.

 

May – Flower Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving love, money, acquisition; healing for the throat and neck.

 

June – Strawberry Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving communication, writing, travel; healing for the arms, hands, and lungs.

 

July – Blood Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving the home and for honoring lunar gods and goddesses; healing for the chest and stomach.

 

August – Corn Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving authority, courage, fertility; healing for the upper back, spine, heart.

 

September – Harvest Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving employment, health, diet; healing for the intestines and nervous system.

 

October – Hunter’s Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving justice, unions, balance (spiritual and otherwise), artistry; healing for the lower back and kidneys.

 

November – Snow Moon
Spells and Rituals:

Spells involving power, psychic growth, sex; healing for the reproductive organs.

 

December – Cold Moon
Spells and Rituals:
Spells involving travel, sports, truth; animals; healing for the liver and thigh.

Some of the Witchcraft/Magickal Correspondence for Friday

Venus/Water/East/West/South/Dawn/Female/Libra/Taurus

Magickal Intentions: Love, Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship and Partnerships, Strangers, Heart

Color: aqua, blue, light blue, brown, green, pale green, magenta, peach, pink, rose, white, all pastels

Number: 5, 6

Metal: copper

Charm: green or white garments, scepter

Stone: alexandrite, amethyst, coral, diamond, emerald, jade, jet, black moonstone, peridot, smoky quartz, tiger’s-eye, pink tourmaline

Animal: camel, dove, elephant, goat, horse, pigeon, sparrow

Plant: apple, birch, cherry, clematis, clove, coriander, heather, hemlock, hibiscus, ivy, lotus, moss, myrtle, oats, pepperwort, peppermint, pinecone, quince, raspberry, rose, pink rose, red rose, rose hips, saffron, sage, savin, stephanotis, strawberry, thyme, vanilla, verbena, violet, water lily, yarrow, and all flowers

Incense: ambergris, camphor, mace, musk, myrrh, rose, saffron, sage, sandalwood, sweetgrass, vanilla, violet, all floral scents

Goddess: Aphrodite, Asherah, Baalith, Brigid, Erzulie, Freya (Passionate Queen), Frigg, Gefion, Harbor (Beautiful One), Hestia, Inanna, Ishtar (Lady of Passion and Desire), Lakshmi, Lilith, Mokosh, Nehalennia, Nerthus, Ostara, Pombagira, Sarasvati, Shakti, Shekinah, Sirtur, Al Uzza, Venus (Queen of Pleasure), Vesta

God: Allah, Bacchus, Bes, Cupid, the Dagda, Dionysus, El, Eros (God of Love), Freyr, Frit Ailek, Shukra

Evocation: Agrat Bat Mahalat, Anael, Hagiel, Mokosba, Rasbid, Sachiel, Uriel, Velas

Can Full Moon Rituals Be Done Inside?

Can Full Moon Rituals Be Done Inside?

Question: Can Full Moon Rituals Be Done Inside

A reader writes in asking, “I want to do a full moon ritual this month, but it’s getting really cold. Will the ritual still be effective if I do it inside?

Another reader asks, “If I’m doing a full moon rite outside and the clouds cover the moon, should I start over again?

Answer:

The short answers to those are yes and no. Yes, your ritual will still be effective if you do it inside.

No, you don’t have to start over if the moon goes behind a cloud. Here’s why:

Just because you can’t see the moon doesn’t mean it’s not there, or that it’s no longer full. You’re basing your working or ritual on the energy of the full moon, and that never changes — whether you can see it or not.

 

Looking for seasonal full moon rituals? Try one of these to get you started, depending on the time of the year!

  • Autumn Full Moon Ceremony

  • This ritual can be held during any of the Autumn full moon cycles. Celebrate the Corn Moon in September, the Harvest Moon in October, and November’s Blood Moon. Although this ceremony is designed for a group, it could easily be adapted for a solitary practitioner.
  • Winter Full Moon Ceremony

  • Instead of a regular Esbat rite, some Wiccan and Pagan groups tailor their full moon celebrations to the season. This ceremony is designed for a group of at least four people, and can be held during any of the chilly winter months.
  • Spring Full Moon Ceremony

  • Celebrate the arrival of spring with a seasonal full moon. Welcome spring with a water-themed ritual adaptable for either groups or solitaries.
  • Summer Full Moon Ceremony

  • Instead of a regular Esbat rite, some Wiccan and Pagan groups tailor their full moon celebrations to the season. This ceremony is designed for a group of at least four people, and can be held during any of the sunny summer months.

 

Source: Paganism/Wicca Expert

Watch for January’s Full Wolf Moon!

The full Wolf Moon rises on Friday, January 6, 2023. It’s also a micromoon! How is that different from a supermoon? Learn what’s special about the January full Moon!

When to See January’s Full Moon

January’s full Wolf Moon reaches peak illumination on Friday, January 6, at 6:09 P.M. EST. At a full Moon,  the Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun so the face of the Moon facing towards the Earth will be completely illuminated by the Sun’s rays. Look for the Moon to rise from the northeastern horizon around sunset that evening.

Consult our Moonrise Calculator to see what time you can expect to catch a glimpse of the first full Moon of 2023!

January Micromoon

January’s full Moon is a “Micromoon” this year. Think of this term as the opposite of a “Supermoon.” It simply means that the full Moon is at its farthest point from Earth (not the nearest point). In astronomical terms, we call this “apogee.” Specifically, January’s Micro full Moon is about 252,600 miles from Earth.

Why is the Moon nearer or farther (in this instance) from Earth? Simple: The Moon orbits Earth in an elliptical path. One side is nearer to Earth and one side is farther. This distance does affect the Moon’s size and brightness, although it’s probably not that visible to the naked eye. The perceived size of the Moon from Earth is more related to the “Moon Illusion” and how close the Moon appears to the horizon; in this case, it’s high above the horizon so it may not appear to loom over us the way it appears when it’s near the horizon.

Look up at the full Moon on the 6th (or a day earlier or later)! What do you think?

The sunset embers smolder low,
The Moon climbs o’er the hill,
The peaks have caught the alpenglow,
The robin’s song is still.

–John L. Stoddard (1850–1931)

Why Is It Called the Full Wolf Moon?

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not just to the full Moon itself.

The Wolf Moon …

Click here to read the rest of this article about January’s Full Moon from Farmers almanac.com

The Various Colors of Witchcraft – White Magick

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The Various Colors of Witchcraft – White Magick

The White Witch

O brothers mine, take care! Take care!
The great white witch rides out to-night.
Trust not your prowess nor your strength,
Your only safety lies in flight;
For in her glance there is a snare,
And in her smile there is a blight.

The great white witch you have not seen?
Then, younger brothers mine, forsooth,
Like nursery children you have looked
For ancient hag and snaggle-tooth;
But no, not so; the witch appears
In all the glowing charms of youth.

Her lips are like carnations, red,
Her face like new-born lilies, fair,
Her eyes like ocean waters, blue,
She moves with subtle grace and air,
And all about her head there floats
The golden glory of her hair.

But though she always thus appears
In form of youth and mood of mirth,
Unnumbered centuries are hers,
The infant planets saw her birth;
The child of throbbing Life is she,
Twin sister to the greedy earth.

And back behind those smiling lips,
And down within those laughing eyes,
And underneath the soft caress
Of hand and voice and purring sighs,
The shadow of the panther lurks,
The spirit of the vampire lies.

For I have seen the great white witch,
And she has led me to her lair,
And I have kissed her red, red lips
And cruel face so white and fair;
Around me she has twined her arms,
And bound me with her yellow hair.

I felt those red lips burn and sear
My body like a living coal;
Obeyed the power of those eyes
As the needle trembles to the pole;
And did not care although I felt
The strength go ebbing from my soul.

Oh! she has seen your strong young limbs,
And heard your laughter loud and gay,
And in your voices she has caught
The echo of a far-off day,
When man was closer to the earth;
And she has marked you for her prey.

She feels the old Antaean strength
In you, the great dynamic beat
Of primal passions, and she sees
In you the last besieged retreat
Of love relentless, lusty, fierce,
Love pain-ecstatic, cruel-sweet.

O, brothers mine, take care! Take care!
The great white witch rides out to-night.
O, younger brothers mine, beware!
Look not upon her beauty bright;
For in her glance there is a snare,
And in her smile there is a blight.

James Weldon Johnson, 1871 – 1938
Published on Poets.org

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White Witchcraft

White magic has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for selfless purposes. With respect to the philosophy of left-hand path and right-hand path, white magic is the benevolent counterpart of malicious black magic. Because of its ties to traditional pagan nature worship, white magic is often also referred to as “natural magic”.

In his 1978 book, A History of White Magic, recognised occult author Gareth Knight traces the origins of white magic to early adaptations of paleolithic religion and early religious history in general, including the polytheistic traditions of Ancient Egypt and the later monotheistic ideas of Judaism and early Christianity.

In particular, he traced many of the traditions of white magic to the early worship of local “gods and goddesses of fertility and vegetation who were usually worshipped at hill-top shrines” and were “attractive to a nomadic race settling down to an agricultural existence”. He focuses in particular on the nomadic Hebrew-speaking tribes and suggests that early Jews saw the worship of such deities more in terms of atavism than evil. It was only when the polytheistic and pagan Roman Empire began to expand that Jewish leaders began to rally against those ideas.

During the Renaissance
By the late 15th century, natural magic “had become much discussed in high-cultural circles”. “Followers” of Marsilio Ficino advocated the existence of spiritual beings and spirits in general, though many such theories ran counter to the ideas of the later Age of Enlightenment. While Ficino and his supporters were treated with hostility by the Roman Catholic Church, the Church itself also acknowledged the existence of such beings; such acknowledgement was the crux of campaigns against witchcraft. Ficino, though, theorised a “purely natural” magic that did not require the invocation of spirits, malevolent or malicious. In doing so, he came into conflict with Johannes Trithemius who refused to believe in Ficino’s theory but created spells and incantations of his own related to beneficial communication with spirits. His works, including the Steganographia, were not published until the 17th century and were then immediately placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum where they remained until the 20th century. Trithemius’ “disciple” Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa was responsible for publishing some of his work and in turn created his own. His work included the De occulta philosophia libri tres which contained an outline of, among other things, classical elements, numerology, astrology and kabbalah and detailed ways of utilizing these relationships and laws in medicine, scrying, alchemy and rituals and ceremonies. Giambattista della Porta expanded on many of these ideas in his Magia Naturalis.

It is the coming-together of these ideas – early “natural” religions and later philosophical thinking – that Knight suggests is “at the root of the Western tradition of white magic”. Also at the root of white magic are symbols and religious symbolism in particular. The star, Knight gives as example, was of critical importance to Jewish tradition and then to early Christians (like the Star of David) and to later Masonic tradition and Neo-paganism.It continues to be of importance of white magic practitioners in the form of the pentagram and night-time ritual.

Zambelli goes further and suggests that white magic – though then not specifically distinct from its counterpart black magic – grew as the more acceptable form of occult and pagan study in the era of the Inquisition and anti-witchcraft sentiment. If black magic was that which involved Trithemius’ invocation of demons, Ficino’s “purely natural” white magic could be framed as the study of “natural” phenomena in general with no evil or irreligious intent whatsoever. Zambelli places academics like Giordano Bruno in this category of “clandestine” practitioners of magic.

Modern interpretations
In his 2009 book, Magic and Alchemy, Robert M. Place provides a broad modern definition of both black and white magic, preferring instead to refer to them as “high magic” (white) and “low magic” (black) based primarily on intentions of the practitioner employing them. His modern definition maintains that the purpose of white magic is to “do good” or to “bring the practitioner to a higher spiritual state” of enlightenment or consciousness. He acknowledges, though, that this broader definition (of “high” and “low”) suffers from prejudices as good-intentioned folk magic may be considered “low” while ceremonial magic involving expensive or exclusive components may be considered by some as “high magic”, regardless of intent.

According to Place, effectively all prehistoric shamanistic magic was “helping” white magic and thus the basic essence of that magic forms the framework of modern white magic: curing illness or injury, divining the future or interpreting dreams, finding lost items, appeasing spirits, controlling weather or harvest and generating good luck or well-being.

Goddess worship
Though not exclusively a female pursuit, modern white magic is often associated with stereotypically feminine concepts like that of a Mother goddess, fae, nature spirits, oneness with nature and goddess worship.In modern stories or fairy tales, the idea of “white witchcraft” is often associated with a kindly grandmother or caring motherly spirit. The link between white magic and a Mother Earth is a regular theme of practitioner Marian Green’s written work.

__________________________________

White Witchcraft

Practiced to provide good intentions to the people around you.

The practitioners are often said to have a Wiccan faith. This is a religion which is guided by modern pagan beliefs. It allows one to look in the earth and aspire for its development.

Practitioners believe in the threefold return. This belief says that for every good action you make, the return of this is three times in magnitude. This also applies in the bad side. However Wiccan practice does not encourage bad practices in life.

Practitioners normally utilize prayers and rituals. They use spells to provide luck to the people around them.

Practitioners also use objects which are highly useful for witchcraft. Some witches utilize talismans and crystals. They are said to benefit a lot from such objects.

_______________________________________

Understanding White Witchcraft

White witchcraft is a common theme in movies and TV stories, but it’s a bit more of a tricky subject than you might think. If you have already done some study into Wicca or witchcraft, you probably already have a little introduction into the differences between black and white magic spells.

If you have decided to work with white witchcraft, that generally means you will only cast spells with positive intention and not do any hexing or curses. Of course, not everything can be labelled quite so neatly and you may have some thinking to do about your intentions when it gets into some of those in-between gray areas.

A curse is a clear type of “black magic” but what about a binding to just keep someone away from you? Some would say that it’s not harmful, but some might still see it as a negative approach to interfering with another person’s free will.
Some people feel that the whole concept of white magic is impossible to achieve anyway because everything you do will effect someone else, and that can end up with all kinds of consequences that go way beyond your original intentions.

Instead of worrying about the details, just live your life in a good way and don’t deliberately try to hurt people. That’s usually good enough. Of course, sometimes other people deserve some negative energy but that’s another topic altogether.

Sometimes people add the “white witchcraft” label to themselves just to make other people feel less nervous. So many people misunderstand what witchcraft is that they need a little (meaningless) assurance that we’re not evil.

So if you are looking to get involved in white witchcraft, that really just means you have a positive attitude when you cast spells and that you never seek to harm another person. Pretty much all the spells on this site would fall into that category, but I do have a few pages specifically on white magick spells that you can check out.

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White Witches

White magic is different from black magic because of its purposes. While the latter induces harm or pain from the other party, white magic is cast for the welfare or the good of the person who will benefit from it. Fortunately, a white witch has more power than a black witch. In this case, we can expect that the good will always win over the bad.

For what purpose do White witches use White Magic?
For its great deal of power, white magic is used to bring good or protect people from black magic curses or spells. A white witch also uses her power to destroy or break any types of black magic. White magic protects an individual from the harms caused by black magic.

There are certain spells and magic that white witches can do for you. One of them is the love spell which is the most popular among other spells because we all deserved to feel love and to love. It is the most in-demand forms of white magic as it is to cast love spells on the apple of your eyes. Also, it is used to bring back lost love, to strengthen an existing bond, or to attract a new lover.

In addition, it also protects people in a relationship. For instance, couples can get the services of a white witch to protect their marriage and prevent them from getting separated or divorced. Aside from that, there are also specific cases you can be helped by white witches like lost love, soul mate, anti-lying spells, and lust, among others.

Aside from relationship spells, there are also things your white witch can do when it comes to money and finances. It is another in-demand branch of white magic that is commonly used- money spells.

If you want to become a successful businessman, it is one of the beat spells that you can have because it can take your business and financial status to the next level especially if you follow procedure instructed by your white witch. This type of white magic is one of the most commonly requested by people when it comes to their economic status.

This type of spell will drive money to you; thus, adding more fund onto your bank account. If you need some financial gain this year, hire an expert witch to perform this spell for you. Aside from helping you get more money, you will also have the chance to manage your business effectively.

Moreover, there is also the healing spell that your white witch can perform for you in order to get you rid off your sickness. It is also one of the most requested types of white spells that you can ask from your expert witch.

If you’re loved one is sick, you can also consult this witch to help him recover from his sickness, pain, or injury. This type of healing spell is used to help people who are affected by a certain disorder in their emotional, mental, or physical being.

These are three of the most prominent spells that your white witch can perform for you. To guarantee perfect and desired results, you have to make sure that you also have the pure intention.

_______________________________

Reference:
Wikipedia 
Awaken the witch within 
Free Witchcraft Spells 

2022 Historical Events The Good, The Bad and The Why Did This Have to Happen

Click Here for More 2022 Worldwide Historical Events

Feb 24 Russian leader Vladimir Putin announces the start of a “special military operation” in Ukraine to “demilitarize” the country moments before Russia launches a full-scale pre-dawn invasion by land, air and sea, with bombings in several cities amid international condemnation [1] [2]

Mar 29 In a major victory for Ukraine, Russia announces it is withdrawing its badly mauled forces from around Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv

Jun 24 US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, eliminating constitutional right to choose abortion, in a 6-3 vote [1] [2]

Aug 3 US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the first speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years, prompting condemnation from the Chinese Communist Party [1]

Sep 8 Queen Elizabeth II dies at Balmoral Castle after ruling for 70 years, as the UK’s longest-serving monarch. Her eldest son inherits the throne as King Charles III[1]

Dec 7 After widespread public protests China announces a major loosening of COVID-19 restrictions for the whole country, allowing home quarantine and scrapping QR codes, effectively ending China’s zero-COVID policy [1]

2022

Click Here for More 2022 Historical Events in Flim and TV

Jan 10 79th Golden Globes: Best film “The Power of the Dog” (drama), “West Side Story” (comedy/musical), Best TV series “Succession”, Best Director Jane Campion (Motion Picture)

Jan 26 Spotify removes Neil Young‘s music from its streaming platform after the singer-songwriter’s ultimatum in objection to COVID-19 misinformation in Joe Rogan‘s podcasts [1]

Feb 13 Super Bowl LVI halftime show features Hip Hop legends Dr. DreSnoop DoggKendrick Lamar and Mary J. BligeEminem and 50 Cent

Feb 15 Revival of Meredith Willson’s musical “The Music Man”, starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC

Mar 1 DC film “The Batman” starring Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz, directed and written by Matt Reeves premieres in New York

Mar 9 American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie receives Library of Congress Gershwin Prize at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

Mar 13 75th BAFTA awards: Best Film “The Power of the Dog”, Best Director Jane Campion, acting awards Joanna Scanlan, Will Smith

2022

Click Here for More 2022 Historical Events in Music

Jan 3 Rock singer David Lee Roth cancels his pre-retirement residency in Las Vegas due to “unforeseen circumstances related to COVID…”

Jan 10 79th Golden Globes: Best film “The Power of the Dog” (drama), “West Side Story” (comedy/musical), Best TV series “Succession”, Best Director Jane Campion (Motion Picture)

Jan 26 Spotify removes Neil Young‘s music from its streaming platform after the singer-songwriter’s ultimatum in objection to COVID-19 misinformation in Joe Rogan‘s podcasts [1]

Feb 8 BRIT Awards: Adele wins best artist, song and album of the year

Feb 13 Super Bowl LVI halftime show features Hip Hop legends Dr. DreSnoop DoggKendrick Lamar and Mary J. BligeEminem and 50 Cent

Feb 15 Revival of Meredith Willson’s musical “The Music Man”, starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC

Mar 8 UK band Glass Animals’ song “Heat Waves” sets new record of 59 weeks for longest time to reach No. 1 on US Billboard Top 100 [1]

Mar 9 American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie receives Library of Congress Gershwin Prize at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

Click Here for More 2022 Historical Events in Sports

Jan 1 Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozen becomes first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; hits 3-pointers to beat Washington Wizards, 120-119 and previous night Indiana Pacers, 108-106

Jan 3 Scotsman Peter Wright wins his second PDC World Darts Championship; beats Michael Smith of England, 7-5 at the Alexandra Palace in London

Jan 6 Tennis world No. 1 Novak Đoković’s visa into Australia cancelled after uproar over his COVID-19 vaccination exemption

Jan 10 College Football, National Championship, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana: #3 Georgia beats #1 Alabama, 33-18

Jan 16 Unvaccinated World #1 tennis player Novak Đoković is deported by the Australian government on “health and good order” grounds, without playing in the Australian Open

Jan 18 Boston Bruins retire Willie O’Ree’s #22 jersey, on the 64th anniversary of his becoming the NHL’s first Black player [1]

Jan 23 Buffalo wide receiver Gabriel Davis scores an NFL playoff record 4 TDs in the Bills’ epic 42-36 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in their divisional-round playoff at Arrowhead Stadium

Jan 25 Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle becomes NHL’s new “Iron Man” with his 965th consecutive regular-season game, breaking Doug Jarvis’s all-time record, in a 4-3 loss at the New York Islanders [1]

Jan 29 Australian Open Women’s Tennis: World #1 Ash Barty wins her home Grand Slam event for the first time; beats American Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6

Jan 30 AFC Championship, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri: Cincinnati Bengals beat Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24 OT

Kwanzaa – History Traditions and More December 26th to January 1st

Kwanzaa

First Fruits

Kwanzaa is a time for families and communities to come together to remember the past and to celebrate African American culture.

Created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga, Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community and culture. The ideas and concepts of Kwanzaa are expressed in the Swahili language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa. The seven principles which form its core were drawn from communitarian values found throughout the African continent. These principles are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Kwanzaa gets its name from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” and is rooted in first fruit celebrations which are found in cultures throughout Africa both in ancient and modern times.

The History of Kwanzaa…

 

Click here to read the rest of this article and to watch videos from Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

December 24th Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1565 Compromise of the Nobles in Habsburg Netherlands closes against inquisition

1814 Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States, the United Kingdom and their allies

1936 1st radioactive isotope medicine administered in Berkeley, California

1943 US President FDR appoints General Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied forces

Today’s Historical Events

563 The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by earthquakes.

640 John IV begins his reign as Catholic Pope

1046 Pope Clement II, [Suitger] elected

1294 Cardinal Benedetto Gaetani chosen as Pope Boniface VIII

1476 400 Burgundian soldiers freeze to death during siege of Nancy

1515 Thomas Wolsey appointed Lord Chancellor of England

1565 Compromise of the Nobles in Habsburg Netherlands closes against inquisition

1568 Uprising of Moriscos in Granada

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1860 Actor Joseph Jefferson’s dramatization of “Rip Van Winkle” premieres in NYC

1922 BBC broadcasts first British radio play “The Truth about Father Christmas”

1951 1st opera commissioned for television – “Amahl and the Night Visitors” by Gian Carlo Menotti premieres on NBC with the NBC Opera Theater

1953 KHOL (now KHGI) TV channel 13 in Kearney, NB (ABC) begins broadcasting

1953 KOA (now KCNC) TV channel 4 in Denver, CO (NBC) begins broadcasting

1968 WATU (now WAGT) TV channel 26 in Augusta, GA (CBS) begins broadcasting

1970 Walt Disney releases animated musical “The Aristocats” featuring voices of Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Hermione Baddeley, Sterling Holloway, and Scatman Crothers

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1818 Christmas carol “Silent Night” composed by Franz Xaver Gruber is first sung at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria

1871 Giusseppi Verdi’s “Aida” opera premieres in Cairo, Egypt

1906 Reginald Fessenden becoomes 1st to broadcast music over radio (disputed)

1920 Enrico Caruso gives his last public performance, with the Metropolitan Opera in NYC

1966 Oscar Brand and Paul Nassau’s musical “A Joyful Noise”, starring John Raitt, closes at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC, after 12 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1889 Daniel Stover & William Hance patent bicycle with back pedal brake

1921 Ottawa’s Harry Broadbent scores in 10-0 Senators blowout of the Montreal Canadiens; first in 16-game NHL record goal-scoring streak; Charlie Simmer’s 13 game streak (1979) is considered modern-day record

1927 Test Cricket debut of Walter Hammond, who scored 51 & took 5-36 v S Af

1950 National Football League Championship, Cleveland Stadium: Cleveland Browns beat LA Rams, 30-28; Cleveland has 5 interceptions, Rams 1

1961 AFL Championship, Balboa Stadium, San Diego: Houston Oilers beat San Diego Chargers 10-3; Billy Cannon scores game’s only TD

1968 Ballon d’Or: Manchester United’s winger George Best wins award for best European football player ahead of teammate Bobby Charlton and Red Star Belgrade winger Dragan Džajić; first Northern Irish national to win the award

1969 Curt Flood writes to baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn refusing to accept the Cardinals’ right to deal him and in favor of free agency [1]

1974 MLB St Louis Cardinals Lou Brock is named Sportsman of the Year

Where did the idea of Santa Claus come from?

Santa Claus—otherwise known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle—has a long history steeped in Christmas traditions. Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red who brings toys to good girls and boys on Christmas Eve, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century, when Saint Nicholas walked the earth and became the patron saint of children. Find out more about the history of Santa Claus from his earliest origins to the shopping mall Santas of today, and discover how two New Yorkers—Clement Clark Moore and Thomas Nast—were major influences on the Santa Claus millions of children wait for each Christmas Eve.

The Legend of St. Nicholas: The Real Santa Claus

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. One of the best-known St. Nicholas stories is the time he saved three poor sisters from… Click here to read more of this article on history.com

CONTENTS

The Legend of St. Nicholas: The Real Santa Claus

Sinter Klaas Comes to New York

Shopping Mall Santas

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Santa Claus Around the World 

Christmas Traditions in the United States

The Ninth Reindeer, Rudolph

In Keeping With Honoring Other Spiritual Paths Holidays – History of Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

WATCH: Christmas Documentaries on HISTORY Vault

How Did Christmas Start?

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until… Click here to read the rest of this article on history.com

CONTENTS

How Did Christmas Start?

Saturnalia and Christmas 

Is Christmas Really the Day Jesus Was Born?

When Christmas Was Cancelled

Washington Irving Reinvents Christmas in America

‘A Christmas Carol’

Who Invented Santa Claus?

Christmas Facts

December 23 Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

962 Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under future Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo, recovering the tattered tunic of John the Baptist

1688 King James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch flees to France from William of Orange

1783 US General George Washington resigns his military commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to Congress

1888 Vincent van Gogh cuts off his left ear with a razor, after argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin, and sends to a prostitute for safe keeping

1920 Government of Ireland Act / Home Rule Act passed partitioning Ireland

1954 The first human kidney transplant is performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts

Today’s Historical Events

438 The Theodosian Code of Roman laws proclaimed in the Western Empire (first law reforms since 295)

619 Boniface V begins his reign as Catholic Pope

962 Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under future Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo, recovering the tattered tunic of John the Baptist

1482 The Peace of Atrecht (now Arras) concluded between Louis XI of France and Maximilian of Austria, ending the War of the Burgundian Succession

1493 Georg Alt’s German translation of Hartmann Schedel’s Nuremberg Chronicle is published.

1588 “The Day of the Dagger” Henry, Duke of Guise, leader of the Catholic League is assassinated by the bodyguards of King Henry III at the Château de Blois

1620 French Huguenots declare war on King Louis XIII

1672 Giovanni Cassini discovers Rhea, a satellite of Saturn

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1911 Frank Wedekind‘s play “Oaha, die Satire der Satire” premieres in Munich

1924 German silent film classic “The Last Laugh” directed by F. W. Murnau and starring Emil Jannings is released

1928 NBC sets up a permanent, coast-to-coast radio network

1930 Bette Davis arrives in Hollywood under contract to Universal Studios

1938 Margaret Hamilton‘s costume catches fire while filming “The Wizard of Oz

1951 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game

1961 KICU TV channel 43 in Visalia-Fresno, CA (IND) begins broadcasting

1966 Britain’s rock TV show “Ready Steady Go” last program

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1893 Opera “Hansel und Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck and his sister Adelheid Wette premieres in Weimar, conducted by Richard Strauss

1911 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari‘s opera “I Gioielli Della Madonna” premieres at the Kurfürstenoper in Berlin, Germany, sung in German as “Der Schmuck der Madonna”

1915 Jerome Kern and Schuyler Greene’s musical farce “Very Good Eddie” premieres at the Princess Theatre, NYC; runs for 341 performances

1943 Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel & Gretel” becomes 1st complete opera to be telecast (WGRB, Schenectady, New York)

1948 “Cinderella” the first full-length ballet by Frederick Ashton with music by Sergei Prokofiev is first presented by Sadler’s Wells Ballet at Covent Garden, London

1958 Musical revue “Party with Comden & Green” opens at John Golden Yheater, NYC; runs for 38 performances

1974 Dmitri Shostakovich‘ son cycle “Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti” premieres in Leningrad

1974 Revival of Ray Henderson, B.G. DeSylva, and Lew Brown’s musical “Good News” opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 16 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1866 First yacht race across the Atlantic won by the schooner Henrietta owned by Gordon Bennett of New York, first to reach Bishop Rock in the Scilly Isles after racing from NY

1923 Yankees pitcher Carl Mays sold to Reds for $85,000

1933 Montreal Canadiens center Howie Morenz scores in 3-0 win v Detroit Red Wings; his NHL record 249th career goal

1951 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game

1953 Dodgers 2nd baseman Jim Gilliam wins NL Rookie of Year

1957 Test cricket debut for all-time great Australian wicketkeeper Wally Grout and future captain and coach Bobby Simpson, 1st Test v South Africa in Johannesburg

1969 Ballon d’Or: Milan midfielder Gianni Rivera wins award for best European football player ahead of Cagliari forward Luigi Riva and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Müller

1972 “Immaculate Reception” Steelers turns around a 7-6 defeat with a last second touchdown reception against Raiders to win 13-7

December 22 Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1790 Supposedly impenetrable Turkish fortress of Izmail stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies during the Russo-Turkish War (1787–92)

1877 Thomas Edison‘s Phonograph is announced by Scientific American

1885 Itō Hirobumi, a samurai, becomes the first Prime Minister of Japan

1989 After 23 years of dictatorial rule, Romania ousts Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu

1990 Lech Wałęsa sworn in as Poland’s 1st popularly elected president

2010 Repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy”, a 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the US military, signed into law by President Barack Obama

Today’s Historical Events

401 St. Innocent I begins his reign as Catholic Pope

1135 Norman nobles recognize Stefanus van Blois as English king

1216 Pope Honorius III delegates decree “Religiosam vitam eligentibus”

1465 Peace of St Truiden: Louis van Bourbon becomes bishop of Liège

1536 English scholar Reginald Pole appointed cardinal

1590 Army of Moroccan Pasha Ahmad al-Mansur begins its epic 135 day crossing of the Saharan desert on his way to defeat the Songhai Empire

1596 Ferryboat Meuniers crashes in Paris, 150 die

1642 Pope Urbanus VIII publishes decree In eminente

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1932 “The Mummy” directed by Karl Freund and starring Boris Karloff is released in the US – 1st Mummy horror film

1948 KPIX TV channel 5 in San Francisco, California (CBS) begins broadcasting

1952 WSBA (now WPMT) TV channel 43 in York, PA (IND) begins broadcasting

1957 KWRB (now KFNE) TV channel 10 in Lander-Riverton, WY (ABC) begins

1964 American comedian Lenny Bruce is convicted of obscenity

1965 “Doctor Zhivago” based on the novel by Boris Pasternak, directed by David Lean and starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie premieres in NYC

1966 WCVW TV channel 57 in Richmond, VA (PBS) begins broadcasting

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1808 Beethoven‘s Symphonies No. 5 and No. 6, Choral Fantasy and Piano Concerto No. 4 (featuring the composer as soloist) premiere at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria

1894 Claude Debussy‘s first orchestral masterpiece “Prélude à l’apres-midi d’un faune” premieres in Paris

1946 “Bal Negre” closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 54 performances

1956 “New Faces of 1956” closes at Barrymore Theater NYC after 221 performances

1958 “Chipmunk Song” reaches #1

1958 “Whoop-Up” opens at Shubert Theater NYC for 56 performances

1976 “Your Arm’s Too Short…” opens at Lyceum NYC for 429 performances

1976 East Germany grants rock singer Nina Hagen her request to leave the country, after refusing her stepfather re-entry

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1877 “American Bicycling Journal” begins publishing (Boston, Mass)

1888 Heavyweight boxing champ John L. Sullivan challenges Jake Kilrain

1894 United States Golf Association forms in New York

1915 Organized baseball and Federal League sign a peace treaty at Cincinnati; Federal Baseball League dissolves

1917 In the NHL’s first official week of play, 3 players score hat tricks in the same game, for the same team; Corb Denneny, Reg Noble, & Harry Meeking each score 3 for the Toronto Arenas in an 11-4 win over the Ottawa Senators

1923 Bill Ponsford & Edgar Mayne make 456 opening stand for Vict

1924 Babe Dye of NHL’s Toronto St Patricks scores 5 goals beat Bruins 10-2

1941 1942 NFL Draft: Bill Dudley from University of Virginia first pick by Pittsburgh Steelers

Some Pet Tips For This Holiday Season

Lady Beltane has worked with canines for 50 years as a groomer, obedience and law enforcement trainers, show dog handler and mom to many temporary but only a few permanent ones. She also had a cat for 18 years. Lady Beltane got certified veterinarian assistant in 2008. She specialized in canine nutrition and midwifery. Lady Beltane learned to train dogs the old fashion way of being an apprentice for 3 years than was over seen for another 2 years. So, she is not just pulling ideas out of thin air she has done the legwork to be able to bring you these tips. She will be posting some tips every Sunday until after the mainstream New Year.

  1. Do not feed any 4-legged pet grapes pealed or not
  2. Do not feed a pet any citrus fruit whether you take the membrane off or not
  3.  Do not let the eat onions or chocolate as both can be deadly to our beloved pets
  4. Do not let the dog in the room when decorating your Yule tree as they may try to chase and bite the lights as you put them up, eat garland or tinsels both of these usually get caught in the intestines and have to be surgically removed.
  5. Do not leave a Poinsettia plant where a human child or any pets can reach it as both the leaves and the little white balls are very poison.
  6. While unwrapping gifts again make sure all pets are safely out of the room as cats will stalk and try to eat the paper and even some of the toys, this goes for dogs also, but they will also try to eat those pesky plastic or wire things that hold a toy in place in its box.
  7. If you are going to get someone a puppy, kitten, or another type of mammal for Yule I suggest you get it a couple of days after the extended family has left, all garbage from presents and food are safely in the trash bin outside. A new animal is a lot of work, and they can be scared easily and it doesn’t need to many different people outside of the nuclear family handling it for a few weeks. The reason for not getting the new pet a head of all the commotion of celebrating Yule is the animal may get forgotten or accidentally injured while their humans celebrate.

Grandma Got Run Over By A Broomstick

Grandma Got Run Over By A Broomstick

Author Unknown


Grandma got ran over by a broomstick
Walking home from our house Yule Eve.
Now you can say there’s no such thing as witch’s.
But as for me and grandpa, we believe.

She’d consumed too many spirits.
And we begged her not to go.
But she’d forgot her Belladonna,
So she sacheted out the door, we didn’t know.

When they found her the next morning
At the scene of the attack.
She had bristles on her forehead,
And incriminating brush marks on her back.

Grandma got ran over by a broomstick.
Walking home from our house Yule Eve..
You can say there’s no such thing as witch’s,
But as for me and grandpa, we believe.

Now we’re all so proud of grandpa.
He’s been taking it so well.
See him in there watching wrestling,
Drinking wine and dancing skyclad with cousin Nell.

It’s not Yule without grandma.
She’s the one with the big hat.
And we just can’t help but wonder,
Should we divvy up her Gifts, or simply send them back.

Grandma got ran over by a broomstick,
Walking home from our house Yule Eve..
You can say there’s no such thing as witch’s.
But as for me and grandpa, we believe.

Now the punch is on the table,
And the pumpkin, it’s so big.
And the black and silver candles
That would just have matched the hair in grandma’s wig.

I’ve warned all my friends and neighbors,
Better watch out for yourselves.
They should never give a license,
To a gal who flies a broomstick deosil.

Grandma got ran over by a broomstick,
Walking home from our house Yule Eve..
You can say there’s no such thing as witch’s,
But as for me and grandpa, we believe.

December 20th Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1522 Suleiman the Magnificent accepts surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. They eventually settle in Malta and become known as the Knights of Malta.

1803 French flag lowered in New Orleans to mark the formal transfer of the Louisiana Purchase from France to USA, purchased for $15M

1812 “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” or “Children’s and Household Tales” by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm is first published

1917 Cheka formed – Soviet state security force and forerunner to the KGB, under Felix Dzerzhinsky after decree by Lenin

1960 The National Liberation Front, better known as the Viet Cong, is officially formed in South Vietnam

Today’s Historical Events

69 General Vespasian’s troops occupy Rome after defeating the Emperor Vitellius

1046 Pope Gregory VI abdicates at the Council of Sutri, ending a conflict between himself, Benedict IX and Sylvester III; Clement II becomes the new Pope

1192 Richard the Lionhearted captured in Vienna

1448 Pope Nicholas V appoints Rudolf of Diepholt, Bishop of Utrecht, as cardinal

1522 Suleiman the Magnificent accepts surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. They eventually settle in Malta and become known as the Knights of Malta.

1585 English fleet & Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, reach Vlissingen

1606 The English colonial expedition to America, consisting of the ships Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant, departs Blackwall, London to found Jamestown, Virginia

1626 Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II and Prince of Transylvania Gabor Bethlen sign Peace of Pressburg (Bratislava)

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1920 Bob Hope becomes an American citizen

1928 Ethel Barrymore Theater opens at 243 W 47th St NYC

1946 Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” film, directed by Frank Capra, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore premieres in New York

1950 “Harvey” starring James Stewart premieres in New York

1952 KHQ TV channel 6 in Spokane, WA (NBC) begins broadcasting

1953 KID (now KIDK) TV channel 3 in Idaho Falls, ID (CBS) 1st broadcasting

1953 KWTV TV channel 9 in Oklahoma City, OK (CBS) begins broadcasting

1962 Osmond brothers debut on Andy Williams Show

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1600 Ottario Rinuccini and Giulio Caccini’s opera “Euridice” published

1823 Play “Rosamunde, Princess of Cyprus” by Helmina von Chézy with incidental music by Franz Schubert premieres in Vienna

1943 “Internationale” is no longer USSR National Anthem

1946 Darius Milhaud‘s 2nd Symphony, premieres

1949 Maurice Ravel and John Cranko’s ballet “Beauty And The Beast” premieres

1957 Elvis Presley receives his draft notice to join the US Army for National Service

1967 Ian Anderson & Glenn Cornick form rock group Jethro Tull (SIDE NOTE: Lady Beltane’s all-time favorite rock group)

1969 Peter, Paul & Mary’s cover of John Denver‘s song “Leaving On A Jet Plane” reaches #1 (SIDE NOTE: Lady Beltane’s all-time favorite folk group)

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1894 England beat Australia by 10 runs in the 1st six-day Test Cricket, Australia needed 177 to win, all out at 166 on 6th day

1905 ‘Philadelphia’ Jack O’Brien wins the World Light Heavyweight boxing title after defending champion Bob Fitzsimmons of England retires in round 13 of 20 in San Francisco

1920 Bert Collins scores 104 on Test Cricket debut v England SCG

1921 AL votes to return to best-of-7 World Series, while NL votes best-of-9; Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis casts deciding vote for best-of-7

1925 National Football League Championship: Chicago Cardinals (11-2-1) win controversial first past the post title; Pottsville Maroons suspended after playing unsanctioned game

1926 St. Louis Cardinals trade future Baseball Hall of Fame infielder Rogers Hornsby to NY Giants for Frankie Frisch & Jimmy Ring; concerns over Hornsby’s gambling

1929 Heinie Wagner replaces Bill Carrigan as Red Sox manager

1930 Cricketer Learie Constantine scores 100 runs in 52 mins West Indies v Tasmania (10×4, 1×6, 1×5)

December 19 Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1776 Thomas Paine publishes his 1st “American Crisis” essay beginning “These are the times that try men’s souls” (date disputed)

1783 William Pitt the Younger becomes the youngest ever British Prime Minister at age 24

1932 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) begins transmitting overseas

1958 1st radio broadcast from space, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower Christmas message “to all mankind, America’s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere”

1984 Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sign the Sino-British Joint Declaration to transfer Hong Kong back to China in 1997

Today’s Historical Events

324 Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor.

401 St Anastasius I ends his reign as Catholic Pope

1055 Seldjuken under Toghril Beg occupy Baghdad

1154 King Henry II of England crowned King of England

1487 Opening ceremony of the sixth Great Temple of Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City) 4,000 prisoners of war are sacrificed to Aztec gods over four days [1]

1551 Dutch west coast hit by hurricane

1562 Battle at Dreux: Anne de Montmorency & huguenots under Condé captured

1642 4 of Abel Tasman‘s crew killed at Wharewharangi (Murderers) Bay by Māori; Tasman’s ships depart without landing

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1946 Noël Coward‘s musical “Pacific 1860” premieres in London

1949 WJW TV channel 8 in Cleveland, Ohio (CBS) begins broadcasting

1953 KFYR TV channel 5 in Bismarck, ND (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting

1957 Meredith Willson’s musical “The Music Man”, starring Robert Preston and Barbara Cook, opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 1375 performances, wins 5 Tony and a Grammy Award

1964 “Gertrud”, Danish film directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, starring Nina Pens Rode, Bendt Rothe and Ebbe Rode, is released in France

1968 WCWB (now WMGT) TV channel 41 in Macon, GA (NBC) begins broadcasting

1971 CBS airs “Homecoming A Christmas Story,” (introducing the Waltons)

1971 Stanley Kubrick‘s X-rated film “A Clockwork Orange” based on the book by Anthony Burgess and starring Malcolm McDowell premieres

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1881 Opera “Hérodiade” by Jules Massenet is produced in Brussels

1955 Carl Perkins records “Blue Suede Shoes”

1960 Frank Sinatra‘s 1st session with Reprise Records (“Ring-A-Ding-Ding”)

1969 Beatle’s 7th Christmas fan-club single is released

1971 “Inner City” opens at Barrymore Theater NYC for 97 performances

1973 “Molly” closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 68 performances

1975 British guitarist Ron Wood joins The Rolling Stones

1984 33 unknown Bach keyboard works found in Yale library [1]

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1891 Canadian Rugby Union forms

1904 Dawson City hockey team begins 9 day walk to get a boat to Seattle to catch a train to Ottawa to play in Stanley Cup on Jan 13 1905

1913 Jack Johnson fights fellow African-American Jim Johnson to a draw in 10 rounds for the vacant world heavyweight boxing title in Paris, 1st time two black fighters compete for the title

1917 1st NHL game played on artificial ice in Toronto

1917 Quebec Bulldogs play their 1st professional hockey game

1920 1st US indoor curling rink opens (Brookline, Mass)

1924 Test Cricket debut of Bill Ponsford, who scored 110 in 1st innings

1926 National Football League Championship: Frankford Yellow Jackets (14-1-2) win first past the post title

Honoring Other Religions/Spiritual Paths Holy Days and Holidays

Warning this article has not been proofread. I wrote it while listening to my Spirit Guides, Ancestors, and to me most important my heart. So I decided to leave the words stand as they came to me to be typed.

We as Pagans and witches would like to be accepted openly by society as other more mainstream religions are. Do be able to wear our pentacle, ankh, or other pagan pendants and amulets proudly displayed outside of our shirt, blouse, or dress as other people proudly display a symbol of the spiritual belief.

Granted, being a solitary witch is more the norm for us than belonging to a coven or other pagan groups. Have you ever asked yourself why this is? Or why is it so hard to find a coven, especially a face to face one? Putting it bluntly our spiritual paths are very misunderstood because of the horrible way movies, television shows, books, history, and word to ear stories are told. If people of other spiritual paths would read just one non-fiction book about witchcraft and ask a real, practicing witch about their lifestyle and beliefs public opinion would start to change for the better.

As pagans and witches I feel and think we should set the example of tolerance for other people’s religious beliefs. So, I have decided to further this train of thought by doing posts, starting this December, that will qgive us some insight into other spiritual paths/religions holy and holidays. My hope is that even those of us that have come to some type of pagan spiritual tradition from a “main stream” religion can lose some of the nasty taste leftover from our former spiritual walk while learning things about different religions worldwide. Just as ignorance about Paganism gives us a bad reputation throughout most of today’s cultures and societies, our ignorance of other religions can tend to make us think badly of those that follow them.

I ask you to please read the short definition I will post about each holy or holiday a day or two before it takes place to widen your knowledge of the many different spitual paths people walk and their traditions. Yes, just as there are witches who turn The Craft into something dark to fit their own needs and beliefs there are those of all religions that do the same. Just like we do not want to be judge as a whole by those few please do not judge everyone who follows another religion by the ones that twist it into something it is not.

Do not judge others unless you enjoy someone judging you.