News

The magic calendar

103 festivals, solstices, days of the dead and lucky and unlucky days, with the entries tied to each. Dates are worked out afresh every day; those marked "about" follow the moon or local calendars and can shift by a day.

November 2026

about 1 Nov to 29 Apr 2027The Theyyam season of north KeralaFrom autumn to late spring, men in towering costumes become gods in village shrines and bless the people who kneel before them. 1 to 2 Nov 2026Dia de MuertosMexico's festival of the dead, with altars of marigolds, candles, food and photographs, welcoming the souls of the departed home. 1 to 2 Nov 2026Todos SantosAll Saints in Bolivia, Guatemala and the Andes, with bread dolls for the dead, tables of food at the grave and kites flown to speak to them. 1 to 2 Nov 2026Fete GedeThe Vodou festival of the Gede, the family of spirits of the dead, held at the cemeteries of Haiti on 1 and 2 November. 1 Nov 2026The Wheel of the YearThe modern Pagan calendar of eight sabbats, from Samhain to Mabon, assembled in the mid twentieth century from older festivals. 8 to 12 Nov 2026Diwali, the night of lampsThe new-moon night when lamps are lit to welcome Lakshmi and to drive out misfortune from the house. 8 Nov 2026Kali PujaThe midnight worship of the goddess Kali on the new-moon night of Diwali, in Bengal, Odisha and Assam. 8 Nov 2026Dia de las NatitasIn La Paz, families bring human skulls, kept as protectors, to the cemetery to be decorated, blessed and given flowers and coca. 13 Nov 2026Friday the 13thA day of bad luck in much of the English-speaking world, from the old unluck of Friday and of the number thirteen, studied as a named fear. about 20 Nov to 19 Mar 2027MakahikiThe Hawaiian season of the god Lono, when war was forbidden and tribute was carried round the island. about 25 Nov 2026Loy KrathongThe full-moon night when small floats of leaves, flowers and candles carry away bad luck on the river. 29 Nov 2026St Andrew's EvePoland's Andrzejki and the Romanian night of St Andrew, when wax is poured through a key hole and girls try to learn who they will marry.

December 2026

5 Dec 2026KrampusnachtThe eve of St Nicholas, when horned, furred Krampus figures run through the streets of the Alps, rattling chains and chasing the unwary. 13 Dec 2026St Lucy's Day and Lussi NightOnce thought of as the longest night, when in Scandinavian belief the troll-woman Lussi rides and animals must be guarded. 17 Dec 2026San Lazaro and Babalu-AyeIn Cuba and its diaspora, pilgrims honour St Lazarus, who is also Babalu-Aye, the orisha of disease and healing, on 17 December. 20 to 21 Dec 2026Shab-e Yalda and fal-e HafezThe longest night of the year, kept awake with fruit, poetry and a question put to the poems of Hafez. about 21 Dec 2026Yule and MidwinterThe midwinter feast of the Germanic peoples, now a Pagan sabbat for the longest night, with the Yule log, evergreens and the return of the sun. about 21 Dec 2026Winter solstice at NewgrangeThe rising sun lights the inner chamber of the Irish passage tomb at Newgrange for a few minutes, and Stonehenge marks the midwinter sunset. about 25 Dec to 5 Jan 2027The Twelve Nights and the RauhnächteThe twelve nights from Christmas to Epiphany, when in German-speaking lands the Wild Hunt rides, animals are said to speak, and houses are smoked. 31 Dec to 1 Jan 2027Hogmanay and first-footingThe Scottish New Year, in which the first person over the threshold after midnight is believed to set the luck of the house. 31 Dec 2026Silvester and lead pouringOn New Year's Eve in Germany and Finland, melted metal dropped into water makes a shape that is read as a sign for the year ahead. 31 Dec 2026Iemanja and New Year in RioOn New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro, millions in white throw flowers and gifts into the sea, and jump seven waves, for Iemanja.

January 2027

5 to 6 Jan 2027Epiphany and La BefanaIn Italy a kindly old witch, the Befana, flies on a broom on Epiphany Eve and fills children's stockings with sweets. 6 Jan 2027Dia de los Reyes MagosThe Feast of the Three Kings, the Magi whose name gives magic its word, when children in Spain and Latin America receive their gifts. 10 Jan 2027Vodun Day at OuidahBenin's national day of its indigenous religion, with processions, masked figures and offerings on the Atlantic shore. 11 Jan 2027Burning of the ClavieA burning tar barrel carried round Burghead on the old new-year night, said to cleanse the town of evil spirits and bring luck. 13 to 23 Jan 2027Galungan and KuninganBali's ten days when ancestors are believed to return home, marked with bamboo penjor and offerings. about 13 to 14 Jan 2027Kukeri and SurvaMen in huge furred masks and clanging bells walk the villages of Bulgaria to drive away evil spirits and bring fertility to the year. 14 to 15 Jan 2027Makar SankrantiThe day the Sun turns north, marked with river bathing, kites and sweets of sesame and jaggery. about 17 Jan 2027WassailingOn Old Twelfth Night in English cider counties, orchards are visited with songs, toast and noise to wake the trees and ward off ill luck. 19 to 21 Jan 2027TimkatThe Ethiopian Epiphany, when the tabots, replicas of the Ark, are carried to water that is blessed for baptism renewal. 20 Jan 2027St Agnes' EveOn 20 January, young women in older English custom fasted and went to bed backwards so as to dream of their future husbands. 22 Jan 2027Thaipusam and the kavadiThe Tamil festival of Murugan, when devotees carry kavadi burdens, some with hooks and skewers through the skin. 26 Jan 2027Up Helly AaA fire festival in Lerwick, Shetland, in which hundreds of costumed Vikings drag a replica longship through the town and burn it.

February 2027

1 to 2 Feb 2027Imbolc and St Brigid's DayThe start of spring in the Gaelic year, tied to the goddess and saint Brigid, with rush crosses hung over doors and cloths left out for her blessing. 2 Feb 2027Candlemas weather loreThe old saying that fair weather on 2 February promises a longer winter, and the blessing of candles said to turn away storms and harm. 2 Feb 2027Groundhog DayA groundhog is watched on 2 February to see whether it sees its shadow, taken as a forecast of six more weeks of winter. 2 Feb 2027Festa de Iemanja in SalvadorDevotees of Candomble and many Catholics bring white flowers, perfume and mirrors to the sea at Rio Vermelho, Salvador, for Iemanja, queen of the sea. 3 Feb 2027SetsubunThe eve of spring in the old calendar, when roasted soybeans are thrown to drive out demons and bring in luck. 6 to 12 Feb 2027Chinese New Year and its protective customsRed paper, firecrackers, door guardians and a sweeping taboo, all aimed at keeping bad luck out of the new year. 6 to 9 Feb 2027Tet and its protective customsVietnam's new year, with the kitchen god sent to heaven, a first visitor chosen for luck and a tall pole to keep spirits out. about 6 to 8 Feb 2027Tsagaan Sar, the White MoonThe Mongolian new year, with debts cleared, lamps lit and elders greeted by a ritual exchange of blue scarves. 7 to 9 Feb 2027CarnivalThe days before Lent, when masks, disguise and reversal of order were said to loosen the hold of the dead and the spirits. 14 Feb 2027St Valentine's Day love divinationA day on which, in older custom, the first person you meet or the first bird you see was said to show your future partner. 15 Feb 2027LupercaliaThe ancient Roman rite of purification and fertility, in which young men ran through the city with strips of goat hide. 20 Feb 2027Lantern FestivalThe first full moon of the new year, with lanterns, riddles and sweet dumplings that stand for reunion. 21 Feb 2027Daeboreum, the great full moonKorea's first full moon, with wishes made to the moon, nut-cracking against boils and fire games for the year's fields.

March 2027

5 Mar 2027The brujos of CatemacoA gathering of healers and sorcerers at Lake Catemaco, Veracruz, on the first Friday of March, with cleansings for the coming year. about 6 Mar 2027Wai Khru at Wat Bang Phra (Sak Yant festival)The annual gathering where tattooed devotees renew the protective power of their sacred tattoos and sometimes fall into trance. 6 Mar 2027Maha ShivaratriThe great night of Shiva, kept with fasting, an all-night vigil and the pouring of water and milk over the lingam. 8 to 9 Mar 2027Nyepi and the ogoh-ogohBali's day of silence, preceded by a night when giant demon effigies are paraded and burned. 16 Mar 2027Chaharshanbe SuriThe Tuesday night before the last Wednesday of the Persian year, when people jump over bonfires to leave sickness and ill luck behind. about 20 Mar 2027Spring equinoxThe day of equal day and night in March, kept by modern Pagans as Ostara, and watched at ancient sites such as Loughcrew in Ireland. 21 Mar to 2 Apr 2027Nowruz, the threshold of the yearThe spring equinox new year, with a deep clean, a table of symbolic foods and first-footing for luck. 21 to 22 Mar 2027Holika DahanThe bonfire on the eve of Holi, burned in memory of Holika, and a night when ash and the fire are used as protection. 26 Mar 2027Good Friday folk beliefsA day of many small beliefs: bread baked on it said never to go mouldy, eggs laid on it said to keep, and buns hung up as a charm. 27 to 28 Mar 2027Easter firesOn Holy Saturday and Easter night, large bonfires are lit in northern Europe to drive out winter, with older claims of warding off witches. 27 to 28 Mar 2027Burning of JudasFigures of Judas, often stuffed with fireworks and made to look like local politicians, are hanged and burned in Holy Week.

June 2027

9 Jun 2027Dragon Boat Festival and its protective herbsThe fifth day of the fifth month, a time believed dangerous for illness, met with mugwort, calamus and scented sachets. about 15 Jun to 27 Sept 2027Famadihana, the turning of the bonesIn the dry season, Malagasy families open the family tomb, rewrap their dead in new cloth and dance with them. about 21 Jun 2027Summer solstice at StonehengeThousands gather at Stonehenge to greet the longest day, among them Druids, Pagans and visitors, as the sun rises over the Heel Stone. about 22 to 25 Jun 2027Ambubachi Mela at KamakhyaThe annual three-day closure of the Kamakhya temple in Assam, when the goddess is believed to menstruate. about 23 to 24 Jun 2027Midsummer and St John's EveThe night around the summer solstice, when plants are said to be at their strongest, bonfires are lit, and girls try to see their future husbands. 23 to 24 Jun 2027Noche de San JuanOn the night of 23 June, Spaniards light beach bonfires, jump the flames and write wishes to be burned, in a rite of cleansing at midsummer. 24 Jun 2027Inti RaymiThe Inca festival of the sun, held at the winter solstice in the south, now re-enacted each 24 June at Cusco and Sacsayhuaman. about 25 to 27 Jun 2027Gnawa and World Music Festival, EssaouiraA June festival in a Moroccan port town that brings the Gnawa, descendants of enslaved West Africans, to a wide audience. 25 Jun 2027MatarikiThe Māori new year, when the rising of the Pleiades before dawn is read for the year ahead and the dead are remembered.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly digest

Every Monday: seven entries you may not know, what is on the calendar this week, and one rite drawn step by step.