#12 Kislev

[historyistold]

English below

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היום יום השישי ה־13, השמחה לחובבי האימה והאמונות התפלות?

אז מתי התחילה המסורת סביב ימי שישי שנופלים ב-13 בחודש?

ב־13 באוקטובר 1307, פשט צבא צרפת בפקודת המלך פיליפ על כל מעוזי הטמפלרים בצרפת. הטמפלרים, או בשמם השני “מסדר אבירי היכל שלמה”, היו אבירים-נזירים שמונו מטעם הכנסייה הקתולית על הגנת הממלכה הצלבנית בישראל ועל הצליינים שהגיעו לירושלים. עם שובם ממשימתם, נטען כי התעשרו ללא היכר, אולי בעקבות אוצרות שמצאו בארץ ישראל.

פיליפ עצר את כל הטמפלרים שהיו על אדמת צרפת משום שהיה, ככל הנראה, מעוניין להשתלט על רכושם. לשם כך הורה המלך לענות את הטמפלרים ולגרום להם להודות בכפירה, בהומוסקסואליות ובפולחן השטן.

אבל יש שגורסים כי למסורת “יום שישי ה־13” אחראי דווקא יהודה איש קריות, תלמידו של ישו, שעל פי המסורת הנוצרית בגד בו והיה השליח ה־13 בסעודה האחרונה.

כך או כך, מיתוס יום שישי ה־13 הועצם במיוחד מאז המאה ה־19 ובעת המודרנית אפילו יותר באמצעות שורה של סרטי אימה ואגדות אורבניות. המספר 13 נחשב במסורת הנוצרית למאפיין של מזל רע ולכן בערים רבות לא נוכל למצוא את השדרה ה־13, ובבתי מלון רבים מקפידים לדלג במספור הקומות הישר מקומה 12 לקומה 14.

רבים מאמינים כי מי שנולד ביום זה סובל ממזל רע, אף שבין ילידי היום “המקולל” ניתן למצוא גם את ראש ממשלת בריטניה לשעבר מרגרט תאצ’ר, שליט קובה פידל קסטרו ועוד.

לחשש מפני יום שישי ה-13 יש גם שם מקצועי: פָראסְקבֶדקטריאפוביה.

יש שמתייחסים ליום הזה ברצינות רבה: למשל עיריית בלפסט נהגה לבטל את כל החתונות שנועדו לאותו יום.

אלא שלאמונות תפלות יש פנים רבות וביהדות 13 הוא דווקא מספר מזל — בר מצווה מצוינת בגיל 13 ו־13 הוא המספר האחרון בשיר ״אחד מי יודע״ והוא מוקדש ל־13 המידות. כך, לפי הפרשנים, שלוש עשרה מייצג את מידות הרחמים שבהן מתגלה הקב”ה, או שלוש עשרה מידות שהתורה ציוותה. כך ה־13 הוא רק עוד מספר והכל תלוי בחשיבות ובפרשנות שאני מעניקים למספר.

Today is Friday the 13th, a day of joy for fans of horror and superstition?

So when did the tradition of Fridays falling on the 13th of the month begin?

On October 13, 1307, the French army, under the command of King Philip, raided all the Templar strongholds in France. The Templars, or as they are also known, “The Order of the Knights of Solomon’s Temple,” were knight-monks appointed by the Catholic Church to protect the Crusader kingdom in Israel and the pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem. Upon their return from their mission, it is alleged that they had become incredibly rich, perhaps due to treasures they had found in the Land of Israel.

Philip arrested all the Templars on French soil because he was apparently interested in taking control of their property. To this end, the king ordered the Templars to be tortured and forced to confess to heresy, homosexuality, and Satanism.

But some argue that the “Friday the 13th” tradition is actually attributed to Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Jesus who, according to Christian tradition, betrayed him and was the 13th apostle at the Last Supper.

In any case, the myth of Friday the 13th has been particularly reinforced since the 19th century and even more so in modern times through a series of horror films and urban legends. The number 13 is considered unlucky in Christian tradition, so in many cities we will not be able to find 13th Avenue, and in many hotels, they are skipping the numbering of floors directly from the 12th to the 14th floor.

Many believe that those born on this day suffer from bad luck, although former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Cuban ruler Fidel Castro, and others can also be found among those born on this “cursed” day.

The fear of Friday the 13th also has a professional name: Parasquebedactriaphobia.

Some take this day very seriously: For example, Belfast City Council used to cancel all weddings scheduled for that day.

But superstitions have many faces, and in Judaism, 13 is actually a lucky number — a Bar Mitzvah is celebrated at the age of 13, and 13 is the last number in the Passover song "One Who Knows" and is dedicated to the 13 Virtues. Thus, according to commentators, thirteen represents the Virtues of Mercy in which God reveals Himself, or thirteen virtues that the Torah commanded. Thus, 13 is just another number and it all depends on the importance and interpretation give to the number…

[extollingtheeveryday]

Galway Kinnell // "December 26" (2006)

[istodayajewishholiday]

13 December 2024 - 12 Kislev 5785

No, today is not a Jewish holiday. Shabbat begins at sundown.

[pomegranate-jewitchery]

The Limbs of the Year - 5785 (2024/2025)

I was inpired by all the Wheel of the Year posts and thought it could be really fun to create one for my fellow Jewitches. If there are any dates missing lmk! I have queued this up to post a couple days before the new year to give anyone who forgot (me) time to prepare for it.

Holidays and Fasts

October - 2024

Rosh Hashanah - Oct 2 - 4

Tzom Gedaliah - Oct 6

Yom Kippur - Oct 11 - 12

Sukkot - Oct 16 - 18

Shmini Atzeret - Oct 23 - 24

Simchat Torah - Oct 24 - 25

December

Chanukah - Dec 25 - Jan 2

Chag HaBanot - Dec 30 - 31

January - 2025

Asara B’Tevet - Jan 10

February

Tu BiShvat - Feb 12-13

March

Ta’anit Esther - Mar 13

Purim - Mar 13 -14

Shushan Purim - Mar 14 - 15

Purim Meshulash - Mar 15 - 16

April

Ta’anit Bechorot - Apr 10

Pesach - Apr 12 - 20

Days of the Omer - Apr 13 - Jun 1

Yom HaShoah - Apr 23 - 24

May

Pesach Sheni - May 11 - 12

Lag BaOmer - May 15 - 16

June

Shavuot - Jun 1 - 3

July

Tzom Tammuz - Jul 13

August

Tish’a B’Av - Aug 2 - 3

Tu B’Av - Aug 8 - 9 

Rosh Hashanah La Behemoth - Aug 24 - 25

September

Leil Selichot - Sep 13

Special Shabbatot

Shabbat Shuva - Oct 4‑5

Shabbat Shirah - Feb 7‑8

Shabbat Shekalim - Feb 28‑Mar 1

Shabbat Zachor - Mar 7‑8

Shabbat Parah - Mar 21‑22

Shabbat HaChodesh - Mar 28‑29

Shabbat HaGadol - Apr 11‑12

Shabbat Chazon - Aug 1‑2

Shabbat Nachamu - Aug 8‑9

Rosh Chodesh

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan - Oct 31‑Nov 2

Rosh Chodesh Kislev - Nov 30‑Dec 2

Rosh Chodesh Tevet - Dec 30‑Jan 1

Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat - Jan 29‑30

Rosh Chodesh Adar - Feb 27‑Mar 1

Rosh Chodesh Nisan - Mar 29‑30

Rosh Chodesh Iyyar - Apr 27‑29

Rosh Chodesh Sivan -  May 27‑28

Rosh Chodesh Tamuz - Jun 25‑27

Rosh Chodesh Av - Jul 25‑26

Rosh Chodesh Elul - Aug 23‑25

Solstices & Equinoxes

Autumn Equinox - September 22, 2024

Winter Solstice - December 21, 2024

Spring Equinox - March 20, 2025

Summer Solstice - June 20, 2025

=

If you want to do any further reading into the dates I would check out The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons by Jill Hammer. I got the majority of the dates from Hebcal and they have links to things there as well. 

[dfroza]

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures

for the 13th of december 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New Covenant) of the Bible

[The Book of John, Chapter 14 • The Book of 2nd Samuel, Chapter 19]

along with Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms with Proverbs 13 and Psalm 13 coinciding with the day of the month, accompanied by Psalm 83 for the 83rd day of Astronomical Autumn, and Psalm 48 for day 348 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 3rd revolution this year)

A post by John Parsons:

Dates for Chanukah 2024

On the Biblical calendar the month of Kislev (כִּסְלֵו) is the ninth of the year (counting from Nisan), and also one of the "darkest," with the days progressively getting shorter and the nights getting longer. Indeed, the Winter Solstice often occurs during the last week of Kislev, and therefore the week of Chanukah (which straddles the months of Kislev and Tevet) often contains the longest night of the year. It is no wonder that, among other things, the holiday of Chanukah represents an appropriate time to kindle the lights of faith - and to remember the Light of the World in the Messiah’s advent to earth...

The Hebrew word Chanukah (חֲנוּכָּה) means "dedication" (from the root חָנַךְ) and marks an eight day winter celebration that commemorates the victory of faith over the ways of speculative reason, and demonstrates the power of the miracle in the face of mere humanism. Although it is customarily observed as a “Festival of Lights,” Chanukah is a “fighting holiday” -- a call to resist the oppression of this world and to exercise faith in the LORD (Rom. 13:12).

This year the eight days of Chanukah will begin on Wed. Dec. 25th [i.e., Christmas day] after sundown (1st candle) and will run until Wed. Jan. 1st until sundown. On the first night of Chanukah one flame is lit, on the second night two, and so on until the eighth night when eight flames are lit. In this way we remember the 'growth' of the miracle.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Psalm 36:9 Hebrew audio:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm36-9-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm36-9-lesson.pdf

Overview of Chanukah:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Winter_Holidays/Chanukah/chanukah.html

12.12.24 • Facebook

from Today’s email by Israel365

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

[insurgentepress]

Mejoran contenido de "Total War: WARHAMMER III"

TeraGames / InsurgentePress, Ciudad de México.- Disfruta de las nuevas novedades que llegan al juego con el DLC Shadows of Change como parte del compromiso de Creative Assembly de mejorar el contenido de Total War: WARHAMMER III. Ya disponible; este contenido incluye 12 unidades nuevas distribuidas entre los ejércitos de Kislev, la Gran Catai y Tzeentch, magia mortífera en la forma del Saber de…

[linuxgamenews]

Discover the Exciting Additions in Total War: WARHAMMER III - Shadows of Change DLC

Shadows of Change DLC gets new content added to Total War: WARHAMMER III on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the talented team at Creative Assembly and Feral Intereactive. Available for all owners on Steam and Humble Store. So, let's dive into the latest and greatest from Total War: WARHAMMER III, specifically the Shadows of Change DLC. Creative Assembly is stepping up their content game with some exciting new additions, and trust me, Linux players will find this essential. First up, we've got 12 brand new units joining the ranks of Kislev, Grand Cathay, and Tzeentch. Each of these factions gets a unique boost with these units, and they're not just any run of the mill additions. They're game-changers for Shadows of Change, in their own right. Let's break it down by faction:

Kislev:

Frost Wyrm: Imagine a massive beast that's a nightmare in combat. It's got these huge jaws, scything claws, and a tail that just won't quit. Plus, it's a mount for Katarin and the Ice Witches.

Druzhina: Who is all about supporting your missile units. He boosts their stats and keeps their ammo topped up in Shadows of Change. And if things get up close and personal, he's ready with his great axe.

The Golden Knight: Decked out in full armor and wielding Urson’s Claw, she's a protective force on the battlefield, enhancing the morale of your troops.

Kislevite Warriors: The backbone of Kislev's army. They're cost-effective and perfect for holding the line.

Total War: WARHAMMER III - Shadows of Change Update OUT NOW

Grand Cathay:

Gate Master of the Celestial Cities: A hero that's all about defense. He boosts nearby units' defenses while picking off enemies with his crossbow.

Saytang the Watcher: This giant hero is a force to be reckoned with in Shadows of Change. His colossal bow wreaks havoc from afar, and he's not shy about jumping into melee combat either.

Great Moon Bird: A versatile fighter both in the air and on the ground, and a mount for the Astromancer.

Celestial Lion: Quick, can fly, and its roar terrifies enemies. Plus, it's a mount for the Celestial General.

Total War: WARHAMMER III patch 4.2 is out now for macOS & Linux — bringing Hags, Heroes and Horrors to owners of the Shadows of Change DLC!

Update now for 12 new units, a deadly new magic lore, and a unique mount for Tzarina Katarin! Get the details👉 Tzeentch:

Chaos Lord of Tzeentch: A champion focused on taking down the toughest enemies, boosting the morale and resilience of nearby troops.

Exalted Hero of Tzeentch: A melee powerhouse with magical attacks. He's built to withstand charges and hit back hard.

Centigors of Tzeentch: Fast, strong cavalry units with a magical edge. They're perfect for quick, hard-hitting attacks.

Changebringers: They offer great mobility and powerful ranged attacks, making them a formidable force.

Aside from these units in Shadows of Change, there's also the Lore of the Hag, bringing some deadly magic into the mix. And let's not forget the unique war mount for Tzarina Katarin, which is a solid freebie for anyone who owns the base game. These additions shake things up, offering new strategies and ways to play. Whether you're into big, brute force, sneaky tactics, or magical mayhem, there's something here for everyone. The diversity in unit types and abilities means more fun, more challenges, and more epic battles. So, gear up and get ready to command these new forces in the Shadows of Change DLC. Whether you're defending Kislev, commanding the might of Grand Cathay, or unleashing the chaos of Tzeentch, the Total War: WARHAMMER III battlefield just got a lot more interesting. Available for all owners on Steam and Humble Store. Priced at $24.99 USD / £19.99 / 24,99€. Along with support for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC

[isaiah118]

Month of Kislev – A Month of MIRACLES and HOPE

Month of Hope, Rest and Trust

Part 1

From the Month of Cheshvan to the Month of Kislev and How They Connect

SHINE – TRUST – HOPE _ SECURITY

Babylonian Name: Kislev – Meaning Security, trust and rest

Month of the year: 9th month of spiritual year and 3rd month of physical year

Theme of the month: It’s the month of HOPE

Season: Fall (Stav) and season of REPENTANCE

Key Appointed Times: Kislev 1 - Rosh Kodesh Kislev – Head of the month of Kislev

Kislev 24 – Chanukah

Tevet 2 – Feast of Dedication

Color/Gemstone: Multicolor, Rainbow - Opal, Jasper

Tribe of Israel: Benjamin – Son of my right hand – MASTERS OF THE BOW/ True Identity

Hebrew Letter:

Value – 60/To trust, support, lean upon, To come full circle

Action/Body Part: Sleeping/Stomach

Constellation: Sagittarius / The Archer develops war strategies

Monthly Characteristics / Scriptures to Meditate On

Month of HOPE, REST & TRUST

Enter into His rest knowing you are His beloved (1 John 4:18 & Hebrews 6)

Meditate on the Vine and the Branches (John 15)

Month of coming ‘Full Circle.’

Month of Dreams/Bring dreams before Him (Psalms 127:2)

Torah portions of Kislev are full of dreams (Genesis 28-44)

Shine as lights of the world (Matthew 5:14-16 & Philippians 2:12-16)

Stand fast like the Maccabees (Zechariah 4:6 & Philippians 4:1)

TIME TO STAND AGAINST EMPIRES AND CULTURES (Ephesians 6:12)

Pull bow back with the Right Arm of the Lord (Isaiah 53:1)

The Maccabees and the Month of Kislev (Hanukkah)

Why do Jews celebrate Hanukkah? This is a festivity not mentioned or ordained by God. Yet, it is an important festival, not just for the Jews, but for believers as well. For us, December 25 is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. However, the Jews celebrate HANUKKAH, known as “THE FEAST OF DEDICATION” or “THE FEAST OF LIGHTS”. This feast is mentioned in the Gospel of John 10:22-23; “And the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Yahshua was walking in the sanctuary, in Solomon's Porch.” Verse 22 clearly states ‘the feast of Dedication’ and specifies, ‘it was winter.’

The story of this important day begins with the death of Alexander the Great. His four main generals divided the empire amongst themselves. One of them named Seleucis fought winning a region that included Israel. After his death Antiochus IV, a Syrian king with Greek blood, who considered himself divine, demanded to be addressed as “Antiochus Epiphanes”, which in the old Greek means “manifested god”. He took control of the region and immediately persecuted the Jews. This persecution included placing a Hellenistic priest in the Jewish temple and preventing Jews from practicing their religion to the point of executing anyone who opposed him.

The Jews were outraged by Antiochus’ claim of being a deity, hence, they gave him a derogatory name; Antiochus Epimanes, translated as “Antiochus the Madman”. Antiochus’ agenda was to impose Greek culture, thereby prohibiting Jews religious and cultural practices.

Antiochus placed the statute of Zeus in the Temple in Jerusalem as well as demanding that similar statutes be placed in every village and every town. And, if this wasn’t enough, he demanded that they build altars and sacrifice pigs in them. (Sounds familiar?) This act, specifically the desecration of the Jewish Temple, brought about ‘The Maccabean Revolt’.

There was an elderly priest named Mattathias who lived in a small village named Modi ‘in (Ben Gurion Airport today), who led the organized resistance along with his five sons: John Gaddi, Simon Thassi, Eleazar Avaran, Jonathan Apphus, and Judas Maccabeus (Maccabeus comes from the Hebrew word for “hammer”). The rebellion started by preventing a Jew from sacrificing to a pagan god and killing the willing priest then killing an officer of the king followed by all the soldiers present. Mattathias escaped with his family to the hills where he was joined by many other faithful Jews.

Mattathias became the leader of the Maccabean revolt that day. He led a series of nightly assaults. Mattathias, being weary and fragile (since he was after all, an elderly man) passed on to his son, Judah, the leadership of the revolt, before passing.

Judah learned the skills of his father, becoming an excellent leader and demonstrated his skills as a military tactician. He quickly earned the nickname “Maccabee”, a Hebrew derived name meaning “hammer”. During the following three years, the Maccabees, as they became known, lived in caves and wore down the Syrian army. The Maccabees became expert at surprise attacks, especially at night. Their guerrilla warfare tactics and nightly assaults, and above all, their faith, hope and trust in God, allowed them to take on their enemy in open combat. Their zeal drove them to victory.

Soon after their victory, they found the altar of the temple defiled and in much need of repair. The sacrifices of pigs, with the idol of Zeus inside the temple, was a gruesome and repulsive scene for the Jews. So, they acted quickly in cleansing, tearing down the altar that had been desecrated and built a new one. On Kislev 25, in the year 165 B.C., they rededicated the temple. This event took place exactly three (3) years to the day of the first desecration by the Assyrians.

According to Jewish tradition, the Maccabees filled the temple lamps with oil. However, they only had enough oil for one day. Hanukkah is celebrated because of an awesome miracle that took place during the dedication of the temple. The oil that was supposed to last one full day, miraculously lasted EXACTLY eight days. The very number of days the priests needed to specially prepare the oil for the temple lamps (Menorah). This miracle does not appear in the books of the Maccabees. It is only recorded in the Talmud (Shabbat 21b) since the Talmud is based on oral traditions.

What is the significance of Hanukkah for us as believers? This is my answer; Hanukkah is a reminder to believers, to be separate and apart from the temptations of the world Peter 2:9 tells us the following; “But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood; a holy people, and a people for possession; that you should proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness to His precious light”. (This scripture is a repetition that Peter quoted out ofExodus 19:5 & 6). Just as the Maccabees resisted Antiochus’ assault in wanting to destroy the Jews beliefs and culture, so must we stand firm against the wickedness and assaults of the Antiochus of this age that is so prevalent around us right now. We need to remember that, although we are in this world, we are not of this world as John 17:11-16 tells us.

We also need to remind ourselves that the greatest miracle that we have been given is, Yeshua, Jesus, who is the light of the world.

John 1:5; “and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it”. John 12:46; “I have come as a Light to the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in the darkness”.

May we, believers stand firm with courage and zeal of a Holy God to do as the Maccabees did, interceding, in prayers and supplication, keeping guard and warring in the spirit, waiting for our deliverance from the Antiochus of this age. Time for the church of Christ to arise as the armies of The Lord of Host. Sing the songs of praise and worship louder than ever before, pray like never before, and as the days grow darker, war in the spirit like never before. For the spirit of the Anti-Christ (Antiochus) knows very well he is running out of time. He is defeated and our soon deliverance from this earthly body is nigh. May we arise as the bride of Christ in this hour.

May the Lord bless you and keep you

[delicatelysuperbasement]

Despertar - ✡ UM MINUTO POR ISRAEL Nosso email diário para você dedicar um instante do seu dia a abençoar Israel e orar por Jerusalém. “Abençoarei quem te abençoar” (Gen 12:3).

Shalom, hoje é 20 de Novembro de 2023 no Brasil - 07 de Kislev de 5784 em Israel.

OREMOS:

Senhor, nosso Deus,

Nós, cristãos brasileiros, elevamos nossos corações em louvor e gratidão por aqueles que, com coragem e determinação, dedicam suas vidas à defesa de Israel. Em especial, rendemos homenagem às forças que trabalham incansavelmente para resgatar os soldados feridos nos confrontos contra os terroristas do Hamas.

Senhor, abençoe e proteja esses valentes homens e mulheres que se arriscam diariamente para trazer esperança e segurança aos seus compatriotas. Derrame Tua graça sobre eles, concedendo-lhes força, sabedoria e discernimento em suas missões.

Também dirigimos nossa oração a todos os soldados que foram resgatados, feridos no cumprimento de seu dever. Senhor, rogamos por sua pronta recuperação e restauração completa.

Em nome de Jesus,

Amém.

[apostlepool1]

The Month Of Kislev (November/December 5784

This is the month of Kislev in the Hebraic (biblical) calendar. It is the month associated with the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin’s name means “son of my strength” or “son of my right hand” (Genesis 35:17-18). This is a season to understand and embrace our position and purpose as sons of Elohim (John 1:12, Romans 8:19). Expect Elohim to speak into your purpose during this season! The voice of…

[reflection-s-of-stars]

I feel like they have to have a simulated 24-hour day/night cycle like Earth’s, as well as the same 12-month 365-day calendar, because otherwise the whole big ten thousand years thing wouldn’t make much sense.

That being said- that’s the First House calendar, and it’s absolutely possible to keep track of multiple calendars at once!

A real-life example is the Jewish lunar calendar, which still follows 12 months but is slightly offset from the Gregorian calendar, which is why Jewish holidays don’t fall on the same date every year (and why I was born in Kislev but my birthday this year was in Tevet, which is pretty cool but also makes me kinda mad).

I could see the Nine Houses using First House time to keep track of both religious and inter-House business, but using their own planet’s cycles to track stuff like farming.

For example: A year on Pluto is 248 earth years, so the 10,000 years of the Empire would’ve existed for about 40.3 seasonal cycles of the Ninth.

(Also: one season on Pluto lasts over a century, and considering the crop yield of Only Snow Leeks, the books are probably set in winter. Between the mass child murder and the harsh Plutonian winter, it’s no wonder the Ninth’s population is dwindling. I wonder if Drearburh is any better in the summer!)

In contrast, years on Mercury are actually 88 days, less than a quarter of the length of our years, so the Sixth would’ve passed nearly 41.5 millenia since the Resurrection.

It’s kinda confusing, but it’s also probably great for the prosperity of the Nine Houses! If the Fifth is in the midst of a particularly harsh decade-long winter, they can ask for crops and other assistance from the Third, which might be starting its eighty-year summer, or the Seventh, whose seasons last only about a hundred days. It’s super convenient to always have a growing season somewhere.

Birthdays might be a bit weird to keep track of, but I assume they go by earth time for that, because 20 years on Mercury is a little less than five years on Earth, and Camilla and Palamedes don’t feel like kindergartners to me.

I do think they would still probably use the 24-hour day-night cycle, for the simple reason that humans evolved in that paradigm and we do get kinda weird when forced to operate on a timeline our brains and bodies aren’t accustomed to. Also, a day on Venus lasts about 8 months. I know Dulcinea’s not doing any of that.

Sorry this response got so long, I just have a lot of feelings about calendars. Don’t even get me started on New Rho!

it’s new year’s eve so like all normal people i’m pondering the calendar year in the locked tomb universe

the length of a year is different on every planet, yet we know that the series starts in the ten thousandth year of the emperor’s reign, so clearly there’s a universal calendar of some sort that everyone follows, or is at least aware of

my best guess is that john kept his empire on earth time, but i wonder what that would look like in practice for nine houses that all have different length days and years

anyone else have thoughts on this? was this explained in the books and I just missed it? I have it in my head that the mithraeum follows a 24 hour clock with simulated day/night, but i honestly can’t remember if that’s in the books or if i made it up

[istodayajewishholiday]

12 December 2024 - 11 Kislev 5785

No, today is not a Jewish holiday.

[coinandcandle]

The Winter Solstice

This is a two-part post! This part focuses on the winter solstice and surrounding holidays.

What is the Winter Solstice?

Coming from the Latin sol (sun) and stare or sistere (to stand or to stop), a solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice a year; one being the Summer Solstice, the other being the Winter Solstice.

In the Northern Hemisphere, this Solstice takes place on December 20th or the 21st. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’ll take place on June 20th or 21st.

The Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. The Sun travels the shortest path through the sky, causing this day to have the least daylight.

This post will focus on the winter solstice of the northern hemisphere.

Celebrations on or around the Winter Solstice

This is not a complete or absolute list of Solstice holidays, these are the most common I’ve found while researching. Feel free to comment if you know of any more!

Yule is an ancient holiday still celebrated by many witches and pagans today though it is historically observed by the Germanic peoples. The holiday takes place in mid-winter and spans 12 days. Historically the holiday would land around what is now mid-November and end around early January.

Bruma/Brumalia, the winter solstice festival of the eastern Roman Empire.

Saturnalia, the ancient Roman festival in honor of the god Saturn would be held on December 17th. The holiday involved a festival, gift-giving, and social taboos were permitted. During this time slaves were seen as almost equals and were allowed to take part in festivities. This is the Roman equivalent to the Greek Kronia held for the Greek god Kronos which was celebrated instead during midsummer around what is now late July and early August.

Inti Raymi (Quechua for "Inti festival") is a holiday in honor of the Incan god Inti. This is a celebration of the winter solstice as well as the Incan New year and is held on June 24th near the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice. The holiday was banned by Spaniards in the past but has since been revived since the 20th Century.

Dongzhi (冬至) or the Winter Solstice Festival is celebrated by Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Koreans, and other East Asian-related people during the Dongzhi solar term, landing somewhere between December 21 to December 23. Dongzhi is especially popular in Taiwan as well.

Yaldā Night (Persian: شب یلدا shab-e yalda) is an Iranian festival that lands on the winter solstice (December 20 or 21st in the Gregorian Calendar) and to the night between the last day of the ninth month (Azar) and the first day of the tenth month, Dey, of the Iranian solar calendar. Families and friends will gather to eat, drink, and read poetry. This holiday is also observed in Iranian-influenced regions such as Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Pomegranates and watermelons are significant during this holiday.

Many North American indigenous tribes also have traditions surrounding the winter solstice, with celebrations and beliefs differing by tribe. Some examples of festivals are Soyal of the Hopi and Shalako of the Zuni.

In Japan, there is a tradition surrounding the new year that is associated with luck and good health called Toji.

Quviasukvik (Inuktitut: ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᕐᕕᒃ) is considered the first day of the year for the Inuit, who hold festivities from December 24th to January 7th. The holiday is observed by Yupik, Aleut, Chukchi, Iñupiat, and NunatuKavut peoples.

Christmas is the Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed on the 25th of December and is celebrated culturally by non-Christians as well.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. This holiday begins on the eve of the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev and lasts eight days. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually falls somewhere in December.

St. Lucia’s Day is a festival celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and areas of Finland and lands on December 13th in honor of St. Lucia, one of the earliest Christian martyrs.

Looking for ideas on how to celebrate the winter solstice as a modern witch? Stay tuned for the second part of this post coming sometime this week!

[eretzyisrael]

1947 Aleppo riots forced out almost all Jews

It is 75 years since the outbreak of vicious riots in Aleppo, Syria,  forced the exodus of almost all its Jewish inhabitants within five years. Joel D Parker met a survivor of the riot. History books claim that 75 Jews were killed, but the witness seems to corroborate a contemporary report that there was extensive property damage, but no Jew died. 

Joel D Parker tweeted the following survivor’s account:

I got to speak to an 88-year-old Jewish man from Aleppo yesterday and it was so amazing. He was able to describe details of the November 29, 1947 riots like it was yesterday. He was about 13, and his school was burned down.In his schoolyard which was adjacent to the main synagogue of the Jewish quarter he witnessed torn and burned Torah scrolls, and claims to have been one of the first people inside the synagogue to look for the Aleppo Codex (Keter Aram Tzova). He recalled that during the riots he and his family were hiding in their house, unarmed, and tried to block the front door with their furniture. He said they knew it wouldn’t hold. They could hear the mobs of people outside. He estimated that there were 100,000 people [likely an exaggeration] of all political streams, mainly Muslims but not exclusively, running around chanting “Filastine Biladna, wa’al-Yahud Kalabna” (Palestine is our land, and the Jews are our dogs). Although virtually every Jewish institution was damaged in the riots, including 13 synagogues, three modern high schools, and other Jewish clubs, etc.,  not one Jew was killed by the rioters [he believes]. Only one old man had a heart attack.He said that the government at the highest levels [i.e., President Quwatli] personally ordered the protestors to avoid bloodshed. They wanted to send a message, but did not want to squander their newly-found independence.

Unfortunately, this very clear message was translated by the Jewish community as a warning to leave, as the next time might not be non-violent. About 6,000 out of 10,000 Jews would leave in the coming months, and by 1954 there were virtually no Jews in Aleppo.

Abraham Elmaleh  reports  in Had HaMizrah, 12 November 1948:

“In the month of Kislev 578, some time after the beginning of the sad events in Israel, terrible riots broke out among the Jews of Aleppo. And this famous Biblical  Jewish settlement was completely destroyed. More than a hundred Jewish homes, five Jewish warehouses and shops, five Jewish schools, the Jewish youth club, the Jewish orphanage and more than ten synagogues were looted for their furniture and contents.  One hundred and five thousand Torah scrolls together with their crowns and the silver and gold crowns on them, about four thousand prayer books, cycles, Talmud and commentaries, everything was burned and destroyed by Arab rioters.

A page from the ‘Keter’

“The greatest damage was caused to the ancient synagogue that was built about 1, 500 years ago, and it was set on fire. Thousands of researchers and scholars and famous Orientalists would turn to it  to examine its precious collection of books and Torah scrolls. Among the precious old treasures destroyed by the rioters in Aleppo in this synagogue, we should especially mention the ancient Torah book known as “Keter” which is attributed to Ezra the scribe, and which was written in gold  letters,  whose price was estimated at thousands of pounds. (The Keter was actually recovered, although some of its pages were missing, smuggled out to Israel and is now in Jerusalem – ed) . The same Keter that was sent to Professor Kasuto  from the Hebrew University so that he  could copy original verses from it. Hundreds of Jewish students wander the streets without Torah, without education, because the  governments of Syria and Lebanon confiscated the school buildings of the Alliance Israelite Universelle and other  institutions to house hundreds of  Arab refugees from Israel.

“Widows who responded to everything with charity have been turned into desolate poor, rolling on piles of leaves without covering for their skin and without a shred of  shade over their heads. Hundreds of other Jews are now naked, thirsty, and barefoot, waiting for the mercy of heaven. These are the  greatest blows inflicted on the heads of the Syrian Jews.”

Chabad’s ‘Thirteen facts about Syrian Jews ‘ (With thanks: Leon, Nigel)

[autisticshadowthehedgehog]

i've got a google drive of major holidays to cross-reference every now and again and it's FAR from the most comprehensive guide but just off what i could find for december:

bodhi day - 12/08

feast of st lucia - 12/13

hanukkah - kislev 25, in gregorian calendar translates to sometime in mid-november through december depending on the year

yule - 12/21-1/1

kwanzaa - 12/26-1/1

if you go all winter you can have gantan-sai, epiphany/twelfth night, like if you dont want to make a character a christmas skin you have options

also you guys have blaze. where are her hindu holiday skins. whERE is her diwali skin she literally has fire powers

hey since sonic speed sim is getting new character skins every five minutes. i am begging the devs to do a non-christian holiday. please