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lilianasgrimoire · 1 month

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Every Pagan Holiday

JANUARY

KALENDS

1st January

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists

Honouring Janus/Juno, first day of the Year. Kalends brought us the word 'calendar'.

ÞORRABLÓT (THORRABLÓT)

End of January/beginning of February

Origins: Iceland

Observed by: Heathens, Asatru

Midwinter Festival honouring Thor, usually by feasting and poetry.

FEBRUARY

IMBOLC

2nd February

Origins: Celtic polytheism /Ireland, as St. Brigid's Day

Observed by: Most neopagans, Wiccans, Druids, Asatru (as Charming of the Plow)

Imbolc is the most widely known and observed pagan holiday in the months of January and February. It falls at the beginning of spring/end of the winter for the Celtic peoples; marking the changing of the seasons, as most holidays do. St. Brigid is a Christianised form of or inspired by the Celtic fertility goddess Brigid who is celebrated on this day.

PARENTALIA

13th-21st February

Origins: Ancient Rome

Observed by: Greco-Roman polytheists

Translating to 'Ancestors Day', Parentalia is a nine-day celebration of deceased ancestors. Historically it was observed by feasting and making offerings and sacrifices to the dead and spirits of the underworld.

VÁLI'S BLOT

14th February

Origins: Old Norse

Observed by: Heathens, Asatru, Norse polytheists

Váli's Blot is considered by some Asatru to be the Norse equivalent of Valentine's Day but is widely acknowledged as a season changing festival. A day for marriage and celebrating with family and friends, and for remembrance of Váli, the son of Odin who defeated Höðr on this day.

LUPERCALIA

15th February

Origins: Ancient Rome

Observed by: Greco-Roman polytheists

Festival thought to honour a wolf who raised abandoned princes, celebrated originally by sacrificing goats to the gods, feasting, and, for fertility, nudity and fornication.

LESSER ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES

17th-23rd February

Origins: Ancient Greece

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists

Initiation to the cult of Persephone and Demeter by sacrificing a pig. Prelude to Greater Mysteries, initiations held on these dates. Once completed, initiates could then move onto Greater Mysteries in the autumn.

ANTHESTERIA

27th February - 1st March 2021

Origins: Ancient Greece

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists

Athenian festivals dedicated to Dionysus and the dead. Held around the full moon in the month of Anthesterion, which in the Gregorian calendar this year roughly translates to 27th February.

THE DISTING/DÍSABLÓT

End of February/beginning of March

Origins: Uppsala, Sweden

Observed by: Heathens, Asatru, Norse polytheists

Celebration of Valkyries and other female spirits, called dísir. Sacrifices were made for a good harvest. Celebrated still by an annual market in Sweden.

MARCH

KALENDS

1st March

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists

Honouring the god Mars/Ares. Kalends brought us the word 'calendar'.

OSTARA/EARRACH

20th March

Origins: Anglo Saxon paganism, popularised as Ostara by Wicca

Observed by: Anglo Saxon Pagans, Wiccans, Neopagans, Druids (as Alba Eilir), Heathens (as Summer Finding), Ásatrú (as Sigrblót)

The northern hemisphere's vernal equinox, the word Ostara was introduced though Wicca and named for the goddess Eostre. Surprisingly unrelated to Easter in all but name, Ostara symbolises the beginning of spring. As a seasonal holiday it is widely celebrated by many different groups of pagans.

RAGNAR LODBROK'S DAY

28th March

Origins: Icelandic Sagas

Observed by: Ásatrú

Day of remembrance for Ragnar Lodbrok, Viking King of legend

APRIL

KALENDS/VENERALIA

1st April

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists

Celebration of the first of the month, this one honouring the goddess, Venus.

REMEMBRANCE FOR HAAKON SIGURDSSON

9th April

Origins: Norway, C9th

Observed by: Ásatrú

Day of remembrance for ruler of Norway who claimed lineage to Odin in the Icelandic Sagas.

WALPURGISNACHT

30th April

Origins: German Christianity, originally Saint Walpurga was known for banishing witches and other pests

Observed by: LaVeyan Satanists

Anton LaVey chose to celebrate this holiday as a follow up to the spring equinox and due to its past association with witchcraft.

HEXENNACHT (WITCHES' NIGHT)

30th April

Origins: German folklore, as Walpurgisnacht but witches were alleged to convene with the devil in this night

Observed by: Temple of Satan as 'a solemn holiday to honour those who were victimized by superstition'.

MAY

BEALTAINE/BELTANE

1st May

Origins: Celtic (Ireland/Scotland/Isle of Man)

Observed by: Wiccans, Neopagans, Celtic reconstructionist, Ásatrú/Heathens (as May Day)

One of the more well-known pagan festivals, Beltane is a festival of fire and the beginning of the summer. Also widely referred to as May Day, it is celebrated by lighting fires.

KALENDS

1st May

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists

Honouring the goddess Maia, for whom the month may have been named.

REMEMBRANCE FOR Guðröðr of Guðbrandsdál

9th May

Origins: C11 Norway, Icelandic Sagas

Observed by: Ásatrú, Norse, heathens

Guðröðr had his tongue removed by Óláfr for rebelling against violent conversion from Norse paganism to Christianity.

JUNE

KALENDS

1st June

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists

Anniversary of temples to Juno Moneta (protectress of money, her temple was where coins were made), Mars/Ares (God of war), and the Tempestates (goddesses of storms).

ARRHEPHORIA

3rd Skirophorion (translates to mid-June)

Origins: Ancient Greece

Observed by: Hellenic reconstructionist

Feast in celebration of Athena and fertility.

MIDSUMMER/SUMMER SOLSTICE

21st June

Origins: Agricultural holiday/longest day observed for centuries by many civilisations. Christianity can date to as early as C4th

Observed by: Wiccans/Germanic neopagans (as Litha), Asatru/Heathens, Druids (as Alban Hefin)

One of the main four holidays in the Wheel of the Year and popularised by Wiccans and neopagans as Litha which is taken from the Anglo-Saxon words for June/July, this is the longest day of the year and the middle point and sometimes considered the beginning of summer.

JULY

REMEMBRANCE FOR UNNR/AUD THE DEEP MINDED

9th July

Origins: C9th Iceland

Observed by: Ásatrú, Heathens, Norse reconstructionist

Aud was a traveller in the 9th century moving between Dublin, the Hebrides, Orkney, and finally Iceland following the deaths of her husband and son. This day is to honour her memory.

HERACLEIA

July/August

Origins: Ancient Greece

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists

Festival dedicated to Heracles the demigod and his death, involving feasting and celebration.

AUGUST

LUGHNASADH/LAMMAS

1st August

Origins: Celtic Britain (Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man)

Observed by: Wiccans, Neopagans, Christians (as Lammas), Ásatrú (as Freyfaxi)

Named for the god Lugh, this festival is one of the Celtic harvest festivals and marks the beginning of the harvesting months. It was celebrated by climbing mountains, bull sacrifice, offerings, and feasting. Handfasting is commonplace with Wiccans in modern times.

REMEMBRANCE FOR REDBAD, KING OF THE FRISIANS

9th August

Origins: C7th Frisia (area of Germany/Netherlands)

SEPTEMBER

NOUMENIA

8th September

Origins: Ancient Greece

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists

Celebration of new Hellenic lunar month. Offerings of honey and incense made to household deities.

REMEMBRANCE FOR HERMANN THE CHERUSCAN

9th September

Origins: C9th CE

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú

Hermann the Cheruscan, also known as Arminius of the Cherusci tribe, led the defeat against the Romans at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest and is lauded for saving Eastern Germanic peoples from being conquered by the Roman Empire.

AUTUMN EQUINOX (NORTHERN HEMISPHERE)

22nd September

Origins: 1970s neopaganism

Observed by: Wiccans and Neopagans (as Mabon), Ásatrú (as Winter Finding)

Named Mabon by prominent Wicca and Neopagan Aidan Kelly, after the Welsh mythological figure Mabon ap Moldron, the autumn equinox is one of the harvest festivals and marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. Mabon is a relatively new pagan holiday not based on any specific historical festival, but traditionally people around the world would celebrate some kind of harvest festival around the end of September/beginning of October.

OCTOBER

PYANOPSIA

7th October

Origins: Ancient Greece

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists

Pyanopsia, or Pyanepsia, is a festival to honour Apollo, one of the most important deities, God of music, the sun, knowledge, healing, and archery - amongst other things. During the festival, two special offerings would be placed on doorways and carried to the temple. These offerings were a bean stew, and an olive branch wrapped in wool with honeys, pastries and seasonal fruits hanging from it.

REMEMBRANCE FOR LEIF EIRIKSSON

9th October

Origins: C10th CE

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans

Remembrance for Leif and his sister Freydís Eiríksdóttir, children of Erik the Red, who are cited with being the first Norse explorers in North America.

THESMOPHORIA

12th-14th October

Origins: Ancient Greece

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists

Festival held in honour of Demeter Thesmophoros, goddess of agriculture, and her daughter Persephone, goddess of death and life, Queen of the Underworld. Celebrated primarily by women, this festival is linked with fertility, and we know very little about it due to its secretive rites. It is thought that it involved the sacrifice of pigs (although some sources say women), and abstinence.

REMEMBRANCE FOR ERIK THE RED

28th October

Origins: C9th CE

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans

Erik the Red, probably named for the colour of his hair and beard, was the first permanent European settler in Greenland. His children were explorers too, who went to America, and although his wife converted to Christianity, Erik remained faithful to his Norse pagan gods.

SAMHAIN (HALLOWE'EN)

31st October-1st November

Origins: Gaelic - Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man

Observed by: Celtic pagans, Neopagans, Wiccans

Pronounced SOW-in (sow rhyming with cow), Samhain was originally a harvest festival marking the beginning of winter. The day itself is the 1st November, but celebrations begin on October 31st, and this has become the accepted associated day. It's a festival of the dead, where the síthe, fae and spirits, can enter this realm from their own. Wiccans talk of a 'veil' thinning, meaning the boundary between worlds. Similar death related festivals around this time can be noted in other faiths from across the globe, and of course in the modern Hallowe'en.

WINTER NIGHTS (VETRNAETR), ÁLFABLÓT/DÍSABLÓT

31st October

Origins:

Celebrated by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans

Winter Nights is mentioned in the Ynglinga Saga as one of the three greatest blessings of the year, the other two being Sigrblót in April, and þorrablót in late Jan/early Feb. Winter Nights is the celebration of the beginning of the winter season; Álfablót is a sacrifice to the elves, and Dísablót a sacrifice to the female spirits (dísir) and Valkyries.

NOVEMBER

REMEMBRANCE FOR SIGRID THE HAUGHTY

9th November

Origins: C9th CE

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans

It is not actually known whether Sigrid Storråda, or Sigrid the Haughty, was an actual historical figure, an amalgamation of a few, or simply a myth. The lore goes that she was proposed to multiple times and turned down many but went on to orchestrate conflict when a potential suitor - Olaf Tryggvason, King of Norway - attempted to convert her to Christianity.

DECEMBER

REMEMBRANCE FOR EGILL SKALLAGRÍMSSON

9th December

Origins: C10th CE

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans

Day celebrating the poet, farmer, and berserker Egill Skallagrímsson, who is recalled in The Icelandic Sagas by Snorri Sturluson. Egill is known for his many killings and escaping death by writing an epic poem after being captured when washing up on our Northumberland coastline.

SATURNALIA

17th - 23rd December

Origins: Ancient Rome

Observed by: Roman polytheists, some Hellenic

Like Yule and Lesser Dionysia, Saturnalia was the Roman winter festival celebrating the coming return of the sun and honouring the god Saturn. The standard feasting and drinking feature, and slaves would be treated as equals like Dionysia. Saturnalia is another festival cited as being picked up by Christians and used as inspiration for Christmas.

WINTER SOLSTICE (YULE/MIDWINTER)

21st December

Origins: Germanic nations, as early as C4th CE

Observed by: Norse pagans, Wiccans, Neopagans, LaVeyan Satanists, Ásatrú, Heathens, many Germanic nonpagan peoples

Yule is the midwinter festival known commonly among pagans as a time for feasting, being with loved ones, remembering ancestors, and looking forward to the return of the light and warmer days. Many pagans will celebrate Yule for more than one day, some celebrating a week either side, some for longer, up to two months, and some for twelve days afterwards. True Yule would have originally been in January for midwinter, but King Haakon the Good

moved it to coincide with the Christian celebrations in the 10th century, as told in the Ynglinga Saga.

On the 24th of December, Anglo Saxons are said to have celebrated 'Mothers Night' honouring female ancestors.

RURAL/LESSER DIONYSIA

End of December/beginning of January

Origins: Ancient Greece

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists

Smaller festival honouring the god Dionysus (Greater Dionysia took place in cities at the end of winter). Feasting, mask wearing to stop distinction between classes so that everyone could feel equal, sacrifices, parades, and phallic display were all used to celebrate.

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the-railways-of-seidrey · 1 year

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The railway lines on Seidrey are the Gunnigrind & Tarfalam Line, Ben Fisag Branch, & Kirktobaness Light Railway, and the Tarfalam, Chraig, & Laughof Railway

The stations along the railways (and their Scots Gaelic translations

Main Line

Mainland from Wilkhaven, connecting to the Far North Line at Fearn

Tarfalam (Tarsainn Falamh)

• Tarfalam Chraig & Langhof Railway

Dochas (Dóchas)

Lubadmore (Lùbadh Mòr)

• Dairy

Gunn Castle (Caisteal Guinnich)

• Kirktobaness Light Railway

• Guinnich Brewery

Tradham (Ag Ionaltradh Neamh)

• Farm

Samchair (Sàmhchair mu Dheireadh)

Gunnigrind (Port O' Guinnich)

• Ben Fisag Branch

• MOD

• Main Shed

• Port/Fishing

•Stewart's Holiday Camp

Kirktobaness Light Railway

Gunn Castle (Caisteal Guinnich)

• Mainline

• Guinnich Distillery

Kirktobaness (Caisteal ri Taobh an Eas)

Ben Fisag Branch (Beinn Phiseag)

Gunnigrind (Port O' Guinnich)

• Mainline

• MOD

• Main Shed

• Port/Fishing

• Holiday Camp

Bailanns (Bhaile Anns na Beanntan)

• Bailanns Distillery

Gemsted (Áite Falaich)

• Game Lodge

Hörgr (Aoradh)

• Stone Quarry

Tarfalam, Chraig, & Langhof Railway

Tarfalam (Tarsainn Falamh)

• Mainline

Chraig Castle (Caisteal Air a' Chreig)

Mountain Farms

Laughof Central (Bath Earrach Teth)

• Stewart's Hot Spring Resort

• Laughof Academy

Laughof Main Street

Hiking Hault

Bonniebear (Bonn na Bearraidh)

• Fishing Town

The History

In 1868 the Tarfalam & Gunnigrind Railway was formed, and started construction from the Sutherland Railway station at Fearn, crossing the water from the mainland at Wilkhaven to the island at Gunnigrind. Construction was finished in 1874. It was absorbed into the Highland in 1884 (they were already providing services along the line), the same time as the Sutherland, Duke of Sutherland Railway, and Sutherland & Caithness Railway.

In 1890 the Highland built the branch up to Aoradh and double tracked the entire line from Inverness to Gunnigrind, strengthening the line more than they would ever need (end enough for the LMS to even run Pacifics on it in the 30s).

The Kirktobaness Light Railway started construction in 1900, and was opened in 1902, a part of the Highland, but heavily subsidized by the chief of Clan Gunn at the time. Despite the station name of Gunn Castle, the actual castle was around 7 miles away at Kirktobaness, so a light railway was built out to it. The railway had bypassed it in the beginning due to the 1 in 45 gradients required to the town and castle

In 1915 a naval base was constructed at Gunnigrind.

In 1923 the Highland railway was grouped into the LMS, however other than a new coat of paint, the roster didn't change much. The line, like most of the surrounding lines, was given the shed code 32A.

In 1928 a Gunnigrind local and millionaire, Roger Masters, took a visit to Kent and became infatuated with the the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, and decided he wanted to bring such small charm to Seidrey. He got his friend Emmett Stewart in on the action, and next year a Light Railway Order was applied for and granted for a fifteen inch gauge line from Tarfalam to the hot springs at Laughof, and in 1930 construction began on the Tarfalam, Chraig, & Laughof Railway (they also stole the locomotive designer, Henry Greenly, from the RH&DR in March 1929). The railway was opened in 1931 from Tarfalam to Laughof. The railway helped build Mr. Stewart's hot springs spa and resort at Laughof, and then bring passengers to it. It also had sidings at the local farms to haul wool to the mainline.

In 1929 the LMS started testing 6299 Fury on the line and due to it's early faults, a year later a new express locomotive arrived, Royal Scot class 6168 The Girl Guide

Other engines started to arrive through the years, including Patriots, moguls, 8fs, Stanier red and black 5's, a Pacific, 6204 Princess Louise, and even the Turbomotive.

In 1937 the TC&L was extended to the seaside town of Bonniebear. Fish trains were attempted, to surprisingly moderate success.

During the war, the naval base got a lot of traffic, and an Austerity tank, a WD 2-8-0 and two 2-10-0s were moved to the region, and stayed, even after the war.

The 2-10-0s were absolutely crucial on the Ben Fisag Branch, as the rails at the stone quarry past Hörgr were so light that none of the LMS built engines assigned to the region could run on them, so they were being run by increasingly tired HR locomotives until the 2-10-0s showed up.

One oddity about the Gunnigrind & Tarfalam is it is a near perfect microcosm of the WCML, so experimental locomotives were sent here for trials. In December 1947 this was the case for 6256 Sir William A. Stainer, F.R.S. and 10000, who found their homes here (almost all LMS and LMS ordered experimental diesels also found their home here). Because of this, the Gunnigrind sheds had a heavy maintenance sheds for diesels, always stocked with parts for the sometimes temperamental LMS diesels.

BR's takeover once again didn't change much at first, only a few BR standard class 5 and 6s showed up. The shed code was changed to 60F

However, in 1966, the Benching Axe fell for both the Kirktobaness Light Railway and Ben Fisag Branch, as standard classes of diesels took over the island.

Named Passenger Trains and their stops

The Black Wolf (Sleeper Train) (Hauled by Royal Scots, Rebuilt Patriots, or Pacifics)

Gunnigrind

Tarfalam

Perth

Stirling

Glasgow Buchanan Street (later Queen Street)

Symington Junction

Carlisle Kingmoor

Preston

Crewe

Stafford

Rugby

London Euston (from 1966-1981 Kensington Olympia)

Glasgow Highlander (Hauled by Patriots or Jubilees)

Gunnigrind

Tarfalam

Perth

Dunblane

Stirling

Glasgow Buchanan Street (later Queen Street)

Edinburgh Highlander (Hauled by Patriots or Jubilees)

Gunnigrind

Tarfalam

Perth

Dunblane

Stirling

Falkirk Grahamston

Edinburgh Princes Street (later Edinburgh Waverly)

Aberdeen Highlander (Hauled by Patriots or Jubilees)

Gunnigrind

Tarfalam

Keith

Aberdeen Joint

Seidr Pullman / Seidrian (Runs opposite days) (Hauled by Royal Scots, Rebuilt Patriots, or Pacifics)

Gunnigrind

Tarfalam

Perth

Stirling

Glasgow Buchanan Street (later Queen Street)

Symington Junction

Carlisle Kingmoor

Workington

Whitehaven

Barrow-in-Furnesa (Engine Change to NWR)

Crovan's Gate

Tidmouth

The Spa Express

Tarfalam

Laughof

Preservation

A large amount of steam locomotives from this line survived. When withdrawing old HR engines, the railway liked to donate one of a class to a village along the line. Once this was unreasonable, Roger Masters, the Creator of the Tarfalam Chraig & Langhof Railway, created a "scrap yard" where he could store engines.

In 1948, the Guinnich Distillery purchased the HR Clan class locomotive 54765 Clan Stewart (the express engines of the line until 1930, and which has been retired in 1945) as well as the wooden Pullman coaches that ran the Seidr Pullman to use as a display and diner/bar.

When the LMS express engines were retired, they were put on display, some at the Gunnigrind Resort, some others at the Butlins Ayr resort.

In 1966, when the Ben Fisag Branch closed, preservationists, led by Mr. Masters, managed to come up with enough money to buy the branch and all locomotives that served it and the two tank engines that ran the Kirktobaness Light Railway, creating the Ben Fisag Railway.

In 1968, they also purchased the (at that point disused) Gunnigrind engine facilities, retrofitting the diesel works so they could also maintain their steam engines, and started restoring some of them to operation. They started purchasing the Highland Railway locomotives on display around the island, restoring them to operating condition.

In 1971 the train bought by Guinnich Distillery was restored at the works for operation, now that the distillery could do an actual running dinner train on the mainline.

Throughout the 1980s, the engines that had been displayed at holiday camps were purchased back by the museum and trust for mainline use.

All names and history are subject to change as I figure more working solutions, this is a living story.

#Seidrey #trains #this is a massive thing sorryyyyy #but im passionate #vaguely ttte #anyone who speaks scots gaelic i am sorry i dont and am having to use google translate #lore

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