Brython Calendar Overview
Our calendar is represented by a six-spoked wheel. It is based around two pivotal points in the year within Brythonic tradition: Calan Mai and Calan Gaeaf, the four seasons, and festivals for individual deities. This page provides an overview of our celebrations.
Y Gwanwyn (Spring)
As the land awakens to life we acknowledge the first flowers, budding trees and new births of animals and birds. We mark the changes within our localities and honour deities associated with spring.
1st February: Brigantica
Festival of Brigantia ‘High One’ based around hearth, home, forge, crafting and the sacred flame.
20th - 22nd March: Spring Equinox
Festival acknowledging the balance of equal days and nights heading toward summer and seasonal changes.
Calan Mai (1st of May)
Calan Mai marks the end of winter and beginning of summer. It is a time of deep magic pivoting around the defeat of otherworldly and wintry forces and the celebration of life, love, and fertility.
Rhiannon and Pwyll
Festival celebrating Rhiannon’s return from Annwn at Gorsedd Arberth into thisworld as a sovereignty goddess who takes Pwyll as her husband.
Gwyn, Gwythyr and Creiddylad
Festival marking Gwyn’s battle with Gwythyr for Creiddylad. Gwythyr wins and enters a sacred marriage with Creiddylad bringing fertility to the land. Gwyn is defeated and retreats to Annwn.
Yr Haf (Summer)
As crops and fruits ripen beneath the summer sun and the land is at its most fertile we honour the spirits and deities of this season.
May/June: Bel and Belisama
Festival honouring Bel as god of fire and sun and Belisama as goddess of shining waters and high summer.
Summer Solstice
Festival celebrating the longest day and shortest night and the bounty of summer.
Summer Solstice: Maponos
Festival for Maponos, god of youth, music and hunting.
Yr Hydref (Autumn)
As fruits and crops are harvested and the meadows mown we give thanks to their spirits. Leaf fall and decay are acknowledged as signs of the approaching dead season. We listen for the breath of winter.
1st August: Lugus and Rosmerta
Festival for Lugus the many-skilled god and Rosmerta the cup-bearer.
Autumn Equinox
Festival acknowledging the balance of equal days and nights heading toward winter and seasonal changes.
29th September: Gwyn’s Feast
Festival celebrating the end of harvest and honouring Gwyn, a god of hunting and a ruler of Annwn and the dead.
Calan Gaeaf (First Day of Winter)
Nos Galan Gaeaf is an ysbrydnos 'spirit night' and the pivotal point when the powers of darkness and winter return to thisworld with the spirits of the dead. It is a time for honouring our ancestors, particularly those who have passed in the last year. Meals are cooked for the dead or offerings of food and libations made with prayers. Memories of the ancestors and ancestral stories are shared. Nos Galan Gaeaf was a night when glimpses of the future could be seen hence some of us practice divination.
Nos Galan Gaeaf: Gwyn’s Hunt
Festival honouring Gwyn as he rides out with the huntsmen and hounds and Annwn to gather the souls of the dead.
Calan Gaeaf: Gwyn and Creiddylad
Festival marking Creiddylad's return with Gwyn to Annwn to enter a sacred marriage explaining the the barrenness of the land.
First Dark Moon after Calan Gaeaf: Rhiannon’s return to Annwn
Festival acknowledging Rhiannon’s return from thisworld to Annwn celebrating her role as psychopomp.
Y Gaeaf (Winter)
In Britain this is the darkest and coldest time of the year. Prior to electric lighting and heating our ancestors gathered to keep warm, feast, hold rites and tell stories. We keep these traditions alive and honour the deities of frost, ice, snow, death and the otherworld.
18th December: Eponalia
Festival honouring the Horse Goddess Epona focusing on her role as psychopomp.
Winter Solstice
Festival celebrating the longest night and shortest day and the stillness and darkness of winter.
Y Gwanwyn (Spring)
As the land awakens to life we acknowledge the first flowers, budding trees and new births of animals and birds. We mark the changes within our localities and honour deities associated with spring.
1st February: Brigantica
Festival of Brigantia ‘High One’ based around hearth, home, forge, crafting and the sacred flame.
20th - 22nd March: Spring Equinox
Festival acknowledging the balance of equal days and nights heading toward summer and seasonal changes.
Calan Mai (1st of May)
Calan Mai marks the end of winter and beginning of summer. It is a time of deep magic pivoting around the defeat of otherworldly and wintry forces and the celebration of life, love, and fertility.
Rhiannon and Pwyll
Festival celebrating Rhiannon’s return from Annwn at Gorsedd Arberth into thisworld as a sovereignty goddess who takes Pwyll as her husband.
Gwyn, Gwythyr and Creiddylad
Festival marking Gwyn’s battle with Gwythyr for Creiddylad. Gwythyr wins and enters a sacred marriage with Creiddylad bringing fertility to the land. Gwyn is defeated and retreats to Annwn.
Yr Haf (Summer)
As crops and fruits ripen beneath the summer sun and the land is at its most fertile we honour the spirits and deities of this season.
May/June: Bel and Belisama
Festival honouring Bel as god of fire and sun and Belisama as goddess of shining waters and high summer.
Summer Solstice
Festival celebrating the longest day and shortest night and the bounty of summer.
Summer Solstice: Maponos
Festival for Maponos, god of youth, music and hunting.
Yr Hydref (Autumn)
As fruits and crops are harvested and the meadows mown we give thanks to their spirits. Leaf fall and decay are acknowledged as signs of the approaching dead season. We listen for the breath of winter.
1st August: Lugus and Rosmerta
Festival for Lugus the many-skilled god and Rosmerta the cup-bearer.
Autumn Equinox
Festival acknowledging the balance of equal days and nights heading toward winter and seasonal changes.
29th September: Gwyn’s Feast
Festival celebrating the end of harvest and honouring Gwyn, a god of hunting and a ruler of Annwn and the dead.
Calan Gaeaf (First Day of Winter)
Nos Galan Gaeaf is an ysbrydnos 'spirit night' and the pivotal point when the powers of darkness and winter return to thisworld with the spirits of the dead. It is a time for honouring our ancestors, particularly those who have passed in the last year. Meals are cooked for the dead or offerings of food and libations made with prayers. Memories of the ancestors and ancestral stories are shared. Nos Galan Gaeaf was a night when glimpses of the future could be seen hence some of us practice divination.
Nos Galan Gaeaf: Gwyn’s Hunt
Festival honouring Gwyn as he rides out with the huntsmen and hounds and Annwn to gather the souls of the dead.
Calan Gaeaf: Gwyn and Creiddylad
Festival marking Creiddylad's return with Gwyn to Annwn to enter a sacred marriage explaining the the barrenness of the land.
First Dark Moon after Calan Gaeaf: Rhiannon’s return to Annwn
Festival acknowledging Rhiannon’s return from thisworld to Annwn celebrating her role as psychopomp.
Y Gaeaf (Winter)
In Britain this is the darkest and coldest time of the year. Prior to electric lighting and heating our ancestors gathered to keep warm, feast, hold rites and tell stories. We keep these traditions alive and honour the deities of frost, ice, snow, death and the otherworld.
18th December: Eponalia
Festival honouring the Horse Goddess Epona focusing on her role as psychopomp.
Winter Solstice
Festival celebrating the longest night and shortest day and the stillness and darkness of winter.