It’s called Paraskavedekatriaphobia, or even more wondrously, friggatriskaidekaphobia, a fear of Friday the 13th. Seguir leyendo »

The first day of April marks Fools Day, the Festival of Kali, the Womens’ festival of Fortuna Virilis, the Day of Hathor and very possibly the birthday of Venus. In fact the Kalends of April are sacred to Venus, as is the entire month. Seguir leyendo »

Easter - it’s hard enough trying to work out the date without developing permanent wrinkles by pinning down a deity called Ostara. Or perhaps the name was Eostre, Ostarun, Eastre, Eoastrae, or even Oestre. Seguir leyendo »

Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns!
One a penny two a penny - Hot cross buns
If you haven’t any daughters, give ‘em to your sons
One a penny two a penny - Hot cross buns ! Seguir leyendo »

Immortal Venus, to whose Name
Millions of Altars daily flame;
Daughter of Jove, whos flatt’ring Art
Knows well to wound a Wretch’d Heart;
- Sappho

Look up. The brightest, the most glorious object in the heavens, beside the Sun and Moon, is the luminous and lovely planet Venus. She is the Morning Star, the Evening Star and the Star of the Sea. To our distant ancestors she epitomised the joys of grace and beauty, and her passage across the sun became the stately dance of the goddess. Seguir leyendo »