February Holy Days:
- February 1: Imbolc (Broader Paganism)
- February 2: Spring Cleaning
- February 7: Birth of Claudia the Witch
- February 8: Birth of Cordelia the Witch
- February 13: Birth of Cecilia the Witch
- February 13, Friday the 13: Birth of Thirteen
- February 14: Valentine’s Day
- February 15: Dahlia’s Day
- February 19: Birth of Mallory, Right Hand to the Ophelia
- February 23: Birth of Malaise the Witch
- February 24: Birth of Malice the Witch
- February 27: Birth of Mary the Witch
- February 28: Ride of the Six Sisters
- February 29: Liathianic Holiday
February 1 – Imbolc
I have added this to the Otherfaith calendar as it is part of larger Pagandom. All of our members are part of other Pagan traditions, and I have personally begun reconnecting with my Wiccish Pagan roots. I will be adding all of the eight Sabbats to the Otherfaith calendar less as actual ‘holy days’ and more as cultural observances (similar to Valentine’s Day).
February 2 – Spring Cleaning
February 2 is also observed as Imbolc by some. I have it listed as Spring Cleaning to acknowledge the quickening of spring and encourage physical cleaning of our spaces. Our homes can build up with grime and stuffy energy over the winter, when those in colder climates tend to stay indoors. (The opposite is true back in Tucson; summer was so hot many people stayed inside rather than brave the heat.) Energetic cleansing should be performed along with physical cleaning.
February 7 – Birth of Claudia the Witch
The majority of ‘Witch spirits’ in the Otherfaith are born in February, and the first Witch to be born is Claudia. Part of the Six Sisters, she is the eldest and closest to Cordelia. The two tend to appear with each other, often atop brooms. From an older post about February’s holy days:
They carry staffs and wands and ride around on brooms. They’re also associated with youth, and a bit of ill-gotten youth at that. They are teachers and compassionate spirits, watching over younger Witch spirits and…young witches on our own earth.
Personally I see the Witches as taking on more malevolent forms in February, before we see them out at the end of the month.
February 8 – Birth of Cordelia the Witch
Claudia’s closest sister. I see Cordelia as the younger sister of the two, though that shouldn’t be taken as gospel. Even during February and the Witches more malevolent stages, I perceive Cordelia as being the cheeriest of the Six Sisters. She gladly takes in apprentice witches and teaches them the basics. I associate her with ‘Hollywood magic’, the sort one sees in ‘The Craft’ and ‘Practical Magic’.
February 13 – Birth of Cecilia the Witch
The third of the Six Sisters, Cecilia is one of the newer additions to the Witches. Her name means ‘blind’, tying into the largely ‘negative’ name meanings the Witches have. Apart from the inkling of her existence I do not know much about this spirit yet.
February, Friday the 13 – Birth of Thirteen
A few years ago, as I was working on the Other People’s calendar, I had the inspiration to make each month’s ‘Friday the 13th’ a holy day. Theoretically the holy day would be observed only when that month’s 13th fell on Friday. February’s Friday the 13 corresponds to the Birth of Thirteen. A Witchy spirit herself, she steals the youth of other spirits and forces them to age. In one of the unpublished stories I wrote about Ava and Alma, Thirteen is the spirit that forces Ava to split herself and her sister into their child and adult selves (Arrise and Azure). Thirteen has described herself to me as ‘permanently thirteen’ years old. She could represent the process of aging and growing up, though there is likely much to be explored in her stealing and hoarding of youth itself.
February 14 – Valentines’ Day
Added to the calendar originally because of its cultural significance, Valentine’s Day can also herald the return of the Dierne Pallis. (I headcanon that the gods become busy after Reunion and slowly return to us throughout the new year, culminating with the Dierne Pallis’ return on Valentine’s.) The Other People may take this time to acknowledge spirits of love (the Laethas Arabella and Asier and Dierne Pallis) or their own spirit partners, along with any physical partners they have. I am hoping to integrate the giving of chocolate to friends and coworkers into the Other People’s cultural celebration of this holiday, borrowing from the Japanese concept of ‘obligation chocolate’.
February 15 – Dahlia’s Day
Previously called ‘Chocolate Day’, post-Valentine’s sees a bulk of chocolate and sweets go on sale. Dahlia is associate with joy and excess, as well as trade because of her seafaring ties, so chocolate is a good offering. Chocolates and sweets could also be offered to her lovers, furthering the connection to romance.
February 19 – Birth of Mallory, Right Hand of the Ophelia
Mallory is the daughter of Lyra, the huntress lover of the River Ophelia. She is rejected by her mother and accepted by the Ophelia, eventually becoming the god’s Right Hand. Right Hands are the direct aids to the deities, and they fill the role of the god should the god be incapacitated or absent. Mallory is mute and communicates through sign language, as well as very stern looks when something meets her disapproval. She is one of three Calamities the West experiences, the first two being the Firebird and Althea Altair. She controls rot and decay and can spread it through her touch.
February 23 – Birth of Malaise the Witch
Malaise brings about her namesake: sickness and disease. Malaise and Malice are both the most outwardly malevolent of the Six Sisters. Malaise appears as a witch from the swamp, wearing a ragged cloak and hair dripping with foul smelling water. She is tied strongly to the Ophelia, and her skin often has a blue-green tone and is slimy to the touch. She teaches the other witches how to wrangle and control disease and inflicts it on her enemies.
February 24 – Birth of Malice the Witch
Malice is the sister to Malaise and, similarly, brings about her namesake: hatred and spite. She is cheerier in appearance than her sister, tending to prefer bright colors. She views her magic of spreading fighting and ill will as a joyous act, and she loves seeing people bicker about any subject. She has especially sharp fingers that prod at people’s soft spots. Malice is associated with the Laetha and often wears the god’s colors of white, red, and gold.
February 27 – Birth of Mary the Witch
The most dangerous of the Six Sisters, Mary oversees all witchcraft focusing on murder and murderous revenge. She knows the most malevolent of all magic and lacks any hesitation toward using her arts. She is connected most strongly to the god of outsiders, the Liathane. Though she represents the most dangerous and feared witchcraft, she can also teach us some of the strongest protection magic. Her more amicable forms appear around Halloween, where she plays with her arts for the entertainment of those around her, especially children.
February 28 – Ride of the Six Sisters
At the end of February we bid goodbye to the Witches that have been with us throughout fall and winter. Spring calls in other riotous spirits, and we want to see out our playful and unpredictable guests. We send the Sisters out eastward to spread their knowledge. This holiday is also meant to help us move past the cold winter into the brighter springtime, shifting our own religious practice and magical arts into a different gear.
February 29 – Liathianic Holiday
For Leap Years, it has been suggested February 29 be associated with the Liathane. Originally I called February 29 ‘Fool’s Day’, but April 1 is actually Fool’s Day. I am unsure what a Liathanic holiday at this time might be or look like. Hopefully by next year we have a clearer picture.
If you would like a PDF listing the holidays, for your own use or to share, you can download this month’s ‘program’ below.