The apparent path of the sun will reach its southernmost point at 15:03 UTC today; that makes this the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day of the year in the Southern. This is a time for remembrance, renewal and rebirth; I wish for all my readers the blessings of the season, and pray that all of you get all you hope for in the new year. Blessed Be!
Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category
Yule 2025
Posted in Holidays, tagged holidays, paganism on December 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »
St. Nicholas Day 2025
Posted in Holidays, tagged holidays on December 6, 2025| Leave a Comment »
If you’re a new reader and don’t understand why I specifically honor St. Nicholas on his day, I suggest you reread my 2014 column for this day, and don’t skip the links. And if you wish to honor the jolly saint yourself, I suggest you reread my column from November 28th and proceed accordingly; I’ve provided ways you can help several of the saint’s favorites at the same time. And if you already know what this is about, what are you waiting for? I know you don’t want to end up on his naughty list.
Yuletide 2025
Posted in Holidays, Miscellaneous, Tyranny, tagged activism, advertising, games, Grace, holidays, Presents, Toys for Tots on November 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Every year on this day, the traditional beginning of the Yuletide season in the US, I remind my readers that the real spirit of the season involves giving to others rather than literally fighting to get more for yourself. Children and whores are St. Nick’s two favorite groups of people; you can help the latter by donating to a sex worker charity such as SWOP Behind Bars, or you can help both by booking a session with a sex worker you know has kids. And if you don’t know any, you can help by participating in my annual toy drive! Regular readers know how it works: from today until Tuesday, December 16th, I’m collecting donations with which to buy toys, which I then donate to Toys for Tots. Send your donation via PayPal to maggiemcneill@earthlink.net, and please put “Toys for Tots” in the subject line so I’ll know it’s not a regular blog donation; I can also accept donations via Zelle if you prefer not to use PayPal. If you’re not hurting economically yourself, please consider donating (either to my drive or to one near you). Mad Emperor Scrooge’s destructive tariffs are going to make toys much more expensive this year, and his pogroms & mass firings, plus the inflation resulting from his idiotic policies, will result in a lot of people having a lot less money for presents. Please help me provide some joy to at least a few little ones, who are even less able to understand economics than politicians. And you’ll also be helping me to enjoy some Christmas cheer in a year when my heart is likely to be heavy.
Thanksgiving 2025
Posted in Holidays, tagged holidays on November 27, 2025| 2 Comments »
Armistice Day 2025
Posted in History, Holidays, Philosophy, Tyranny, tagged holidays on November 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Armistice Day has become Veterans’ Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans’ Day is not. – Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
Guy Fawkes Day 2025
Posted in Holidays, Philosophy, Tyranny, tagged cops, holidays, left-right myth, politicians on November 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Since I’ve already said plenty on this subject, it hardly seems necessary to say more about the danger of giving governments too much power, when that is currently being demonstrated clearly and irrefutably every single day. So I’ll just share this image of a sign Grace had near her desk.
Day of the Dead 2025
Posted in Holidays, Philosophy, tagged Grace, holidays, paganism, Thanatopsis on November 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Gerontocracy is the enemy of human progress. – “Eros and Thanatos”
Every year on this day I remind my readers about the inevitability and goodness of Death, and this year is no exception. Some may believe that the passing of my beloved friend Grace has changed that, but that is not so; both of us knew we must one day be parted by death, and both of us knew that given her poor health and greater age, it was very likely she would go first. Unlike the powerful and privileged men who embrace childish fantasies about life extension or even immortality to assuage their fear of the dark, I do not whine and stomp my feet in protest of the fact that I and all I love must die, nor waste my life in vain and foolish denial of reality. If anything, my tears spring from the opposite source. I do not weep because my best friend died; I weep because I have to go on living without her.
Halloween 2025
Posted in Holidays, tagged holidays, paganism on October 31, 2025| 2 Comments »
Happy Halloween, dear readers, and Blessed Be!
Mabon 2025
Posted in Holidays, tagged holidays, paganism on September 22, 2025| 1 Comment »
The apparent path of the sun crosses the celestial equator southbound at 18:19 UTC today, making this the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the first of spring in the Southern. This is the time of harvest, when plans come to fruition; it is also the harbinger of the time of rest, especially for Daughters of Darkness like myself who are exhausted and overstimulated by the long days of summer. But even if you’re not a fan of the growing gloom, I hope you can enjoy the cooler days and hold summer in your heart while waiting for its return, just as I wait patiently through the long, bright days for the time that best reflects my inner landscape.
Blessed Be!
Lammas 2025
Posted in Holidays, tagged holidays, paganism on August 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Happy Lammas, dear readers, and Blessed Be!
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