* 1/31 eve to 2/2 eve: Imbolc/St. Brigid's Day.
* 1/31 eve to 2/3 eve: Mid-Winter/Groundhog's Day/Candlemas--Festival marking the transformation from death to life - the beginning of the agricultural year, awakening of hibernating animals, and return of migrating birds and fish. Observed with a candlelight procession to bless fields and seeds, recognition of newborns, and contemplation of life.
* 2/1 to 2/14: Old Greek festival of God Dionysos, in which vines were pruned and sprinkled with wine, accompanied by ritual singing and dancing.
* 2/1 to 2/28: February dedicated to Old Roman God-Goddess Februus-Februa - purifier and protector of the home. Homes were cleaned and blessed, offerings of reparation were given, and peace was made.
* 2/2: Death day of Marija Gimbutas (1994), archeologist who studied Old European Goddess-God spirituality.
* 2/3 (6:09 p.m. EST): Full Moon (Cold/Seed Moon).
* 2/3 eve to 2/4 eve: Tu B'Shevat--Jewish Festival of Trees, celebrated with tree plantings and orchard blessings.
* 2/3 to 2/11: Navajo Sing--Festival in preparation for the coming agricultural season; celebrated with prayer, chanting, dancing, and healing.
* 2/7: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that you, and all that is, are in the process of transformation.
* 2/11: First appearance of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lady of healing waters (France 1858).
* 2/11 to 2/17 (OC 2/9 to 2/15): Carnival/Meat Fare--Christian time of feasting, dancing, and revelry.
* 2/13 to 2/15: Lupercalia/St. Valentine's Day--Old Roman festival of God-Goddess Faunus-Fauna; merged with the Christian feast of St. Valentine - celebrating love of all kinds.
* 2/17 to 2/18: Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Bastet, Cat Goddess who protects the home and fosters domestic harmony.
* 2/17 to 2/18: Mahashivaratri--Hindu fast, night vigil, and feast for God-Goddess Shiva-Shakti (union of Will and Power), who dances to create, destroy, and re-create the Universe. Tantric Hindus believe Shiva is within all men and Shakti within all women.
* 2/17 eve to 2/20 eve: Old European Lunar New Year--Celebration of the Triple Goddess (Goddess of the Moon and the Seasons) being transformed from the Crone into the Virgin; celebrated with ritual bathing of divine images.
* 2/18 (6:47 p.m. EST): New Moon.
* 2/18: Sojong Day--Tibetan Buddhist day of fasting, confession, and reparation for harm done.
* 2/18: Birthday of Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836), Hindu mystic who fervently loved Great Goddess Maha Devi - Mother of God, Mother of Nature, Elemental Matter, and Cosmic Power. He recognized Her immanence in all, and knew Her to be a manifestation of the one universal Deity.
* 2/18 to 4/4 (OC 2/23 to 4/3): Ash Wednesday (Pure Monday) and Lent--Christian time of purification by self-reflection, peace-making, reparation for harm done, and helping those in need.
* 2/19: Beginning of Pisces (the Fishes).
* 2/19 to 2/22: Hsih Nien/Suhl/Tet--Chinese and East Asian Lunar New Year (Year 4713: the Sheep).
* 2/19 to 3/5: Losar/Tibetan Buddhist New Year (Year 2142: the Wood Sheep) & Monlam Chenmo/Great Prayer Festival--Commemorates miracles performed by the Buddha. Rituals, dances, and sculptures are offered to drive out evil spirits and to protect and benefit all sentient beings.
* 2/22: Caristia--Old Roman festival for renewing family ties and patching up quarrels.
[caption id="attachment_10024" align="alignleft" width="218"]
Image: Susan M. Stanton[/caption]
* 2/24 eve to 2/25 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis - as creatrix, midwife of birthing creatures, protector of the young, and punisher of child abusers.
* 2/28: Old Slavic Velja Noc--Spirits of the dead visit their living relatives, overseen by Veles, Lord of the Dead. Morana and Jarilo are born. Veles steals Jarilo and raises him in Virey, realm of the dead.
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Excerpted fromTHE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2015A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality© 2014 Marija Miovskiwww.WheeloftheYear.com
