Moon & Seasons Calendar
Moon phases, full moon names, the Wheel of the Year and festivals from around the world. Choose what to show, then print.
Times are shown for UTC.
Moon & Seasons 1974
Moon phases. Moon phases are calculated from the Moon's and Sun's positions and shown in your time zone. Full moon names follow the Old Farmer's Almanac, which draws on Algonquin and other Native American names as well as Colonial American and European folklore; they follow Northern Hemisphere seasons.
Wheel of the Year. The solstices and equinoxes are calculated for your time zone. The four fire festivals use their traditional dates, with the astronomical midpoint (when the Sun is halfway between solstice and equinox) given in the notes. Ostara, Litha and Mabon are modern pagan names, given in the 1970s.
Astrology. Sign seasons begin when the Sun enters each sign of the tropical zodiac. A cazimi is the moment a classical planet (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter or Saturn) is exactly in line with the Sun. Aspects are exact conjunctions (0°), squares (90°), trines (120°) and oppositions (180°) between Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Times are in your time zone. Checked against NASA JPL’s Horizons system for 1900–02, 2020–27 and 2097–99, they came within 15 minutes for sign seasons and cazimis, and within 95 minutes for the slow-planet aspects, which move so slowly against each other that a tiny difference in position adds up to a long time.
Celtic fire festivals. Traditional Irish customs around the fire festivals, which begin on the evening before.
East Asian lunar festivals. Calculated from the Chinese lunisolar calendar in China time. Korea and Vietnam use the same calendar, but their dates can occasionally differ by a day.
Hindu festivals. Dates for New Delhi, following the Drik Panchang almanac; they can differ by a day in other places and traditions. Listed for 2026–2030.
Christian holidays. Western (Catholic and Protestant) dates. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the church’s full moon on or after March 21; that full moon comes from fixed tables, not the sky, so it can be a day or two away from the real one in the Moon phases. The holidays from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost move with Easter. Orthodox churches usually keep Easter on a later Sunday.
Jewish holidays. Calculated from the Hebrew calendar. Each holiday begins at sundown on the evening before the date shown.
Islamic holidays. Expected dates from the Umm al-Qura calendar. Actual dates can move by a day depending on the sighting of the new moon, and differ between countries. Each begins at sundown on the evening before.
World & goddess festivals. Folk festivals and days connected to goddesses in our encyclopedia.
Hindu festival dates are currently listed for 2026โ2030 only.
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January 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 First Quarter 6:06 PM | 2 | 3 Eid al-Adha* | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 Epiphany | 7 | 8 Wolf Moon 12:36 PM | 9 Mercury cazimi 8:22 AM | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 Last Quarter 7:03 AM | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 Aquarius season 10:38 AM | 21 | 22 | 23 New Moon 11:02 AM Venus cazimi 9:22 PM Lunar New Year | 24 Islamic New Year* | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 First Quarter 7:38 AM Brigid's Eve |
- 3 Jan Eid al-Adha. The festival of sacrifice, during the pilgrimage to Mecca. Begins at sundown the evening before. May vary by a day.
- 6 Jan Epiphany. The visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus; the end of the twelve days of Christmas.
- 8 Jan Wolf Moon (12:36 PM). Named for wolves heard howling in the cold of midwinter.
- 9 Jan Mercury cazimi (8:22 AM). Mercury is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 20 Jan Aquarius season (10:38 AM). The Sun moves into Aquarius, beginning Aquarius season.
- 23 Jan Venus cazimi (9:22 PM). Venus is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 23 Jan Lunar New Year. The Spring Festival begins the Year of the Tiger, with family feasts, red envelopes and fireworks.
- 24 Jan Islamic New Year. The first day of Muharram, beginning the new Hijri year. Begins at sundown the evening before. May vary by a day.
- 31 Jan Brigid's Eve. Oíche Fhéile Bríde: rush crosses are woven, and a cloth or ribbon is left outside for Brigid to bless.
February 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Imbolc St Brigid's Day | 2 Festa de Iemanjá | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Snow Moon 11:23 PM Lantern Festival | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 Jupiter cazimi 3:54 PM | 14 Last Quarter 12:03 AM | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 Pisces season 12:52 AM | 20 | 21 | 22 New Moon 5:33 AM | 23 |
| 24 Mercury cazimi 8:29 PM | 25 Jupiter trine Uranus 9:47 PM | 26 | 27 Jupiter trine Saturn 1:54 AM Ash Wednesday | 28 |
- 1 Feb Imbolc. The first stirrings of spring, sacred to Brigid and honored with candles and rush crosses. Astronomical Imbolc: 02/04/1974, 4:56 AM. Learn more
- 1 Feb St Brigid's Day. Lá Fhéile Bríde, the feast of Ireland's St Brigid, whose traditions blend with those of the goddess. Learn more
- 2 Feb Festa de Iemanjá. In Salvador, Bahia, crowds in white bring flowers and gifts to the sea for Iemanjá. Learn more
- 6 Feb Snow Moon (11:23 PM). Named for the heavy snows that often fall in February.
- 6 Feb Lantern Festival. The first full moon of the lunar year, celebrated with glowing lanterns and riddles.
- 13 Feb Jupiter cazimi (3:54 PM). Jupiter is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 19 Feb Pisces season (12:52 AM). The Sun moves into Pisces, beginning Pisces season.
- 24 Feb Mercury cazimi (8:29 PM). Mercury is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 25 Feb Jupiter trine Uranus (9:47 PM). Jupiter and Uranus are exactly 120° apart.
- 27 Feb Jupiter trine Saturn (1:54 AM). Jupiter and Saturn are exactly 120° apart. Exact 3 times as one of them moves back and forth: 02/27/1974, 08/22/1974, 01/10/1975; this is number 1.
- 27 Feb Ash Wednesday. The first day of Lent, the forty days of fasting and prayer before Easter; many are marked with ashes.
March 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 First Quarter 6:01 PM Matronalia | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 Worm Moon 10:02 AM Purim | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 Guanyin's birthday | 13 | 14 | 15 Last Quarter 7:15 PM | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 Ostara 12:03 AM Aries season 12:03 AM | 22 | 23 New Moon 9:23 PM |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 First Quarter 1:43 AM |
- 1 Mar Matronalia. Roman festival of Juno Lucina, when husbands gave gifts to their wives. Learn more
- 8 Mar Worm Moon (10:02 AM). Named for the earthworms and beetle larvae that appear as the ground thaws.
- 8 Mar Purim. Celebrating Esther's rescue of the Jewish people, with costumes, gifts and a reading of the Megillah. Begins at sundown the evening before.
- 12 Mar Guanyin's birthday. Celebrated on the 19th day of the second lunar month. Learn more
- 21 Mar Ostara (12:03 AM). Spring equinox. Day and night in balance as spring begins. The name comes from Bede's Eostre, a goddess of spring.
- 21 Mar Aries season (12:03 AM). The Sun moves into Aries, beginning Aries season.
April 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Qingming | 6 Pink Moon 8:59 PM | |
| 7 Palm Sunday Passover | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 Maundy Thursday | 12 Good Friday | 13 |
| 14 Last Quarter 2:57 PM Easter | 15 Mazu's birthday | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 Jupiter square Neptune 8:02 PM | 20 Taurus season 11:18 AM |
| 21 | 22 New Moon 10:15 AM | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 First Quarter 7:38 AM | 30 May Eve Walpurgis Night |
- 5 Apr Qingming. Tomb-Sweeping Day, when families tend their ancestors' graves and enjoy the spring.
- 6 Apr Pink Moon (8:59 PM). Named for the pink wild ground phlox, one of the first flowers of spring.
- 7 Apr Palm Sunday. Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem, when crowds laid palm branches in his path; the start of Holy Week.
- 7 Apr Passover. Pesach remembers the exodus from Egypt, beginning with the Seder meal. Begins at sundown the evening before.
- 11 Apr Maundy Thursday. The Last Supper, Jesus’s final meal with his disciples.
- 12 Apr Good Friday. The crucifixion of Jesus.
- 14 Apr Easter. The resurrection of Jesus, the oldest and most important Christian festival.
- 15 Apr Mazu's birthday. Celebrated on the 23rd day of the third lunar month with processions, especially in Taiwan and Fujian. Learn more
- 19 Apr Jupiter square Neptune (8:02 PM). Jupiter and Neptune are exactly 90° apart. Exact 3 times as one of them moves back and forth: 04/19/1974, 10/27/1974, 12/01/1974; this is number 1.
- 20 Apr Taurus season (11:18 AM). The Sun moves into Taurus, beginning Taurus season.
- 30 Apr May Eve. Oíche Bhealtaine: hawthorn and May flowers are hung at doors, and fires are lit to welcome summer.
- 30 Apr Walpurgis Night. Bonfires across northern and central Europe on the eve of May Day.
May 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Beltane | 2 | 3 | 4 Mercury cazimi 4:54 PM | |||
| 5 | 6 Flower Moon 8:53 AM | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 Last Quarter 9:28 AM | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 New Moon 8:33 PM Gemini season 10:38 AM | 22 | 23 Ascension Day | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 Shavuot | 28 First Quarter 1:02 PM Saturn square Pluto 1:46 PM | 29 | 30 | 31 |
- 1 May Beltane. The start of summer in the Gaelic year, celebrated with bonfires, flowers and maypoles. Astronomical Beltane: 05/05/1974, 9:35 PM.
- 4 May Mercury cazimi (4:54 PM). Mercury is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 6 May Flower Moon (8:53 AM). Named for the flowers that bloom everywhere in May.
- 21 May Gemini season (10:38 AM). The Sun moves into Gemini, beginning Gemini season.
- 23 May Ascension Day. Forty days after Easter: Jesus’s ascension into heaven.
- 27 May Shavuot. The festival of weeks, celebrating the giving of the Torah and the wheat harvest. Begins at sundown the evening before.
- 28 May Saturn square Pluto (1:46 PM). Saturn and Pluto are exactly 90° apart. Exact 3 times as one of them moves back and forth: 09/14/1973, 10/07/1973, 05/28/1974; this is number 3.
June 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 Pentecost | 3 | 4 Strawberry Moon 10:08 PM | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 Last Quarter 1:44 AM | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 New Moon 4:54 AM | 21 Litha 6:42 PM Cancer season 6:42 PM Midsummer Eve | 22 |
| 23 | 24 Dragon Boat Festival | 25 | 26 First Quarter 7:18 PM | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 Saturn cazimi 12:06 PM Mercury cazimi 8:06 PM |
- 2 Jun Pentecost. Fifty days after Easter: the Holy Spirit coming down on the apostles.
- 4 Jun Strawberry Moon (10:08 PM). Named for the wild strawberries ready for gathering in June.
- 21 Jun Litha (6:42 PM). Summer solstice. The longest day, at the height of the Sun's power. Litha is an old English name for the midsummer months.
- 21 Jun Cancer season (6:42 PM). The Sun moves into Cancer, beginning Cancer season.
- 21 Jun Midsummer Eve. Midsommarafton in Sweden: maypoles, flower crowns and dancing, always on a Friday between June 19 and 25.
- 24 Jun Dragon Boat Festival. Dragon boat races and sticky rice dumplings, remembering the poet Qu Yuan.
- 30 Jun Saturn cazimi (12:06 PM). Saturn is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 30 Jun Mercury cazimi (8:06 PM). Mercury is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
July 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Buck Moon 12:39 PM | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 Last Quarter 3:27 PM | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 New Moon 12:05 PM | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 Leo season 5:36 AM | 24 | 25 | 26 First Quarter 3:49 AM | 27 |
| 28 Reek Sunday | 29 | 30 | 31 |
- 4 Jul Buck Moon (12:39 PM). Named for the new antlers growing on male deer in July.
- 23 Jul Leo season (5:36 AM). The Sun moves into Leo, beginning Leo season.
- 28 Jul Reek Sunday. Pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, a custom thought to continue the ancient Lughnasa gatherings.
August 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Lughnasadh | 2 | 3 Sturgeon Moon 3:56 AM | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 Last Quarter 2:45 AM | 12 | 13 Nemoralia | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 New Moon 7:00 PM Mercury cazimi 10:06 AM |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 Jupiter trine Saturn 5:44 AM | 23 Virgo season 12:35 PM | 24 First Quarter 3:37 PM Qixi |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
- 1 Aug Lughnasadh. The first harvest, named for the Irish god Lugh; in England, Lammas ('loaf-mass'). Astronomical Lughnasadh: 08/07/1974, 9:59 PM.
- 3 Aug Sturgeon Moon (3:56 AM). Named for the sturgeon most easily caught in the Great Lakes in late summer.
- 13 Aug Nemoralia. Diana's torchlit festival at Lake Nemi, held around August 13–15. Learn more
- 17 Aug Mercury cazimi (10:06 AM). Mercury is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 22 Aug Jupiter trine Saturn (5:44 AM). Jupiter and Saturn are exactly 120° apart. Exact 3 times as one of them moves back and forth: 02/27/1974, 08/22/1974, 01/10/1975; this is number 2.
- 23 Aug Virgo season (12:35 PM). The Sun moves into Virgo, beginning Virgo season.
- 24 Aug Qixi. The meeting of the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd, lovers parted by the Milky Way.
September 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Corn Moon 7:23 PM | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 Last Quarter 12:00 PM | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 New Moon 2:44 AM | 17 Rosh Hashanah Ramadan begins* | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 First Quarter 7:06 AM Mabon 10:03 AM Libra season 10:03 AM | 24 | 25 | 26 Yom Kippur | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 Mid-Autumn Festival |
- 1 Sep Corn Moon (7:23 PM). Named for the corn harvested in early autumn.
- 17 Sep Rosh Hashanah. The Jewish New Year, greeted with the shofar and apples dipped in honey. Begins at sundown the evening before.
- 17 Sep Ramadan begins. The month of fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer and charity. Begins at sundown the evening before. May vary by a day.
- 23 Sep Mabon (10:03 AM). Autumn equinox. Day and night in balance again at the second harvest. The name comes from Mabon, a figure in Welsh legend.
- 23 Sep Libra season (10:03 AM). The Sun moves into Libra, beginning Libra season.
- 26 Sep Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year, kept with fasting and prayer. Begins at sundown the evening before.
- 30 Sep Mid-Autumn Festival. Families admire the harvest moon and share mooncakes, honoring the moon goddess Chang'e. Learn more
October 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Harvest Moon 10:37 AM Sukkot | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 Last Quarter 7:45 PM | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 Mars cazimi 12:56 PM | 15 New Moon 12:24 PM | 16 Eid al-Fitr* | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 First Quarter 1:52 AM Scorpio season 7:11 PM Double Ninth | 24 | 25 Mercury cazimi 1:28 PM | 26 |
| 27 Jupiter square Neptune 3:37 PM | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 Hunter's Moon 1:18 AM Samhain Samhain Eve |
- 1 Oct Harvest Moon (10:37 AM). The full moon nearest the September equinox. For several evenings it rises soon after sunset, giving farmers extra light to bring in the crops.
- 1 Oct Sukkot. The festival of booths, when families eat in a sukkah open to the sky. Begins at sundown the evening before.
- 14 Oct Mars cazimi (12:56 PM). Mars is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 16 Oct Eid al-Fitr. The festival of breaking the fast at the end of Ramadan. Begins at sundown the evening before. May vary by a day.
- 23 Oct Scorpio season (7:11 PM). The Sun moves into Scorpio, beginning Scorpio season.
- 23 Oct Double Ninth. Chongyang: climbing hills, drinking chrysanthemum wine and honoring elders.
- 25 Oct Mercury cazimi (1:28 PM). Mercury is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 27 Oct Jupiter square Neptune (3:37 PM). Jupiter and Neptune are exactly 90° apart. Exact 3 times as one of them moves back and forth: 04/19/1974, 10/27/1974, 12/01/1974; this is number 2.
- 31 Oct Hunter's Moon (1:18 AM). The full moon after the Harvest Moon, by whose light hunters tracked game for winter.
- 31 Oct Samhain. The Gaelic start of winter, when the veil to the otherworld was thin; the root of Halloween. Astronomical Samhain: 11/07/1974, 7:11 PM.
- 31 Oct Samhain Eve. Oíche Shamhna: bonfires, guising and divination games on the night when the otherworld draws near.
November 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Samhain | 2 Día de los Muertos | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Venus cazimi 1:10 PM | 7 Last Quarter 2:47 AM | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 New Moon 12:53 AM | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 First Quarter 10:39 PM | 22 Sagittarius season 4:35 PM | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 Beaver Moon 3:10 PM | 30 |
- 1 Nov Samhain. Lá Samhna, the first day of winter in the Irish calendar.
- 2 Nov Día de los Muertos. Mexican families welcome back their dead with ofrendas, marigolds and sugar skulls, on November 1 and 2.
- 6 Nov Venus cazimi (1:10 PM). Venus is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 22 Nov Sagittarius season (4:35 PM). The Sun moves into Sagittarius, beginning Sagittarius season.
- 29 Nov Beaver Moon (3:10 PM). Named for the time when beavers build their winter dams, and when trappers set their traps.
December 1974
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jupiter square Neptune 10:09 PM First Sunday of Advent | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Last Quarter 10:10 AM | 7 |
| 8 Second Sunday of Advent | 9 Hanukkah | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 New Moon 4:25 PM St Lucia's Day | 14 |
| 15 Third Sunday of Advent | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 Mercury cazimi 8:02 PM | 20 | 21 First Quarter 7:43 PM |
| 22 Yule 5:49 AM Capricorn season 5:49 AM Fourth Sunday of Advent | 23 Eid al-Adha* | 24 Christmas Eve | 25 Christmas | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 Cold Moon 3:51 AM | 30 | 31 |
- 1 Dec Jupiter square Neptune (10:09 PM). Jupiter and Neptune are exactly 90° apart. Exact 3 times as one of them moves back and forth: 04/19/1974, 10/27/1974, 12/01/1974; this is number 3.
- 1 Dec First Sunday of Advent. The start of Advent, the season of waiting and preparing for Christmas, and of the church year.
- 8 Dec Second Sunday of Advent. Advent, the season of waiting and preparing for Christmas.
- 9 Dec Hanukkah. The festival of lights, eight nights of candles remembering the rededication of the Temple. Begins at sundown the evening before.
- 13 Dec St Lucia's Day. In Scandinavia, girls in white with crowns of candles bring light to the darkest time of year.
- 15 Dec Third Sunday of Advent. Advent, the season of waiting and preparing for Christmas.
- 19 Dec Mercury cazimi (8:02 PM). Mercury is exactly in line with the Sun. Traditionally a planet this close to the Sun is called cazimi, “in the heart of the Sun”; how close counts varies between traditions, from about 16 or 17 arcminutes to about a degree.
- 22 Dec Yule (5:49 AM). Winter solstice. The longest night, when the Sun's return is celebrated with evergreens, candles and the Yule log.
- 22 Dec Capricorn season (5:49 AM). The Sun moves into Capricorn, beginning Capricorn season.
- 22 Dec Fourth Sunday of Advent. Advent, the season of waiting and preparing for Christmas.
- 23 Dec Eid al-Adha. The festival of sacrifice, during the pilgrimage to Mecca. Begins at sundown the evening before. May vary by a day.
- 24 Dec Christmas Eve. The evening before Christmas, with midnight services in many churches.
- 25 Dec Christmas. The birth of Jesus.
- 29 Dec Cold Moon (3:51 AM). Named for the long, cold nights of December.