So what day is your holiday really on then?

[kistha]

So last night I discovered that the mid point holidays (Oct 31, Feb 2nd, May 1st and August 2nd) are not actually on those dates. That's what I get for being lazy and trusting that if the general pagan populace could accurately identify the solstice and equinox, the midpoints would be right as well. Well, not so much as it turns out. In fact it appears that it is impossible for Halloween to be the midpoint. I'm assuming there is a astronomical name for these midpoints but I have not yet discovered it. If any of you know the name for it (if there is one) let me know, would you?

This, while frustrating, does make for more possibilities for me to separate my stuff from other peoples, making me more available for friends' holidays, while also allowing me to go play on Halloween and not feel bad about it. :) I also think it will make my holidays seem much more appropriate, and in a way more mine.

In light of this; and some random and unproductive searching on the 'net I ask you, the overly mathematically smart :

How do you calculate the mid point between the equinoxes and the solstices? This is a calculation based on the light to dark ratio reaching a mid point.

Any help would be most appreciated, many thanks in advance.

Comments

[writersweekend.livejournal.com]

Some say the fire festivals actually fell on days determined by nature...i.e. Beltane was the day the hawthorn trees first bloomed, Lugnasha was the last?/first cutting of the corn...

[kistha.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've heard that. One of the reasons I thought the masses had just plunked down in the middle.

The dates for my holidays are all astronomically based. They are the points in passing influence between the four gods. They are seasonal as well, but more importantly it's the time they are 'in charge' as it were. So it should really be on the midpoint.

Now, if only I could calculate it...