den: (silly)
den ([personal profile] den) wrote2004-10-31 06:39 pm

Hallowe'en

So.

Apparently the day is supposed to be the one half way between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. Groundhog Day is the other one, and falls half way between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox.

That makes April 30 Hallowe'en here, August 1 is Groundog's Day, November 1 is May Day (that would be November Day), and Feb 2 Lammas whatever that is.

Well, we don't have Groundhogs in Australia, but we do have a burrowing animal: the wombat. That makes August 1 Wombat's Day.

From now on I will be celebrating Wombat's Day.

so there.

[identity profile] ngarewyrd.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
which means, in certain (very interesting ways) my birthday should be celebrated in true halloween style, dressups! =8)

[identity profile] weibchenwolf.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
Excellent idea!

Wombat's Day

[identity profile] openheartsoftly.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
Should someone say to you on Wombat's Day;

Happy Wombat's Day

Or

Merry Wombat's Day

Or

Is Wombat's Day a sort of memorial day and therefore no saying is spoken but instead there are parades?

Or

Is Wombat's Day a day for quiet reflection?

Will Wombat's Day be celebrated on the same number every year or will it always fall on the Last Sunday of the month or the first Tuesday or some such like that?

Just curious. ;}

Have the best

Re: Wombat's Day

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't thought that far ahead. How is Groundhog's Day celebrated?

Re: Wombat's Day

[identity profile] hopeforyou.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
I grew up in Pennsylvania, home of Punxsutawny Phil the Groundhog. Your best answer is here:

http://www.groundhog.org/

Re: Wombat's Day

[identity profile] hopeforyou.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, this has the best explanation of the history of the tradition:

http://www.groundhog.org/history/tradition.shtml

Re: Wombat's Day

[identity profile] hopeforyou.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
So given that Groundhogs are used in the US, and hedgehogs in Germany, maybe Echidnas would be more appropriate than Wombats?

Re: Wombat's Day

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
Echidnas don't live in burrows, and so see their shadows all the time.

Re: Wombat's Day

[identity profile] hedgegoth.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 06:34 am (UTC)(link)
But do they take them out for tea?

[identity profile] elektron.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
Hallowe'en the eve of All Saints' Day, which is fixed on November 1st.

Of course, it's Samhain (which I still don't know how to pronounce properly) that's Novembver 6th this year. And Lughnasadh will still be on my birthday next year, if you account for time zones.

[identity profile] kythrain.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 07:10 am (UTC)(link)
Samhain is pronounced 'Sah-when'. If you're saying it like a name (Sam Hane) it's wrong.

[identity profile] claire.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
Wombat day sounds great. I may have to remember to celebrate that next year!

Oz!

[identity profile] madshutterbug.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 06:22 am (UTC)(link)
Ya gotta love it *G*

[identity profile] ursulav.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 06:51 am (UTC)(link)
Not only will I celebrate Wombat's Day, if you remind me come next August, I'll draw up an ad.

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
We'll move it to Aug 2 so that it doesn't clash with the Horses Birthday and to match Groundhog Day on Feb.2.

[identity profile] acelightning.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 07:35 am (UTC)(link)


[identity profile] kelloggs2066.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 09:42 am (UTC)(link)
So, on Wombat's Day, you should dress up like a Wombat and give out Wombat shaped candies to children. :)

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I haven't thought this through very well.

[identity profile] kelloggs2066.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 02:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww!

Who says a holiday has to be thought through?

I mean what about National Rutabega Awareness Month?

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't know there was one.

Rutabegas, I mean.




(yes I did.)

[identity profile] reynardo.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Lammas is the Loaf Mass, the Harvest-style festival where you eat and enjoy of the fruits of the field.

I like Wombat Day. But it's also the Horses' Birthday, so they'll have to share.

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2004-10-31 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Since Groundhog Day is Feb 2, we'll make Wombat Day Aug.2 just to be consistant.