Marking the Year, Locally
As part of the overall North American Wheel of the Year project, we've put together this proposed Wheel for the
Ohio Valley Region. We anchor the year with two classic festivals - Samhain and Beltaine - and base the others
on observations of our environment: the plants, the animals, and sometimes even the people around us.
Samhain
We approach Samhain not as just a single night, but rather the few weeks when the leaves, acorns, and walnuts fall -
generally, the time between October's full moon and the first few days of November. We're lucky in that, along the Ohio,
nature reinforces Samhain's rememberance - all around we can see old life falling to eventually feed the new.
First Frost
First Frost is celebrated to mark the first hard frost of the cold season. Because of our varied landscape, the
timing varies: in the mountains, First Frost can come as early as September; while elsewhere it might hold off until
December. In any case, it signals the cold times to come.
Hearthlight
Hearthlight is an acknowledgement of the lean times and long nights of winter, and becomes a celebration of friends
and community as we come together to help each other through. Hearthlight is timed to the mood of the community -
when we're harried and tired, when the beauty of the dark half of the year appears to fade, that is the time to
gather for Hearthlight. Quite often this means that Hearthlight coincides with the other winter holidays - as a warm
embrace to combat the depersonalizing shopping rush going on around us.
White Lands
White Lands celebrates the first snowfall that covers the ground. Once again, timing varies - in the highlands
this can happen in October, while along the river the snows can hold off until late January. White Lands is a time
to celebrate the peace of a snowscape, and appreciate our land from a slightly different point of view.
First Leaves
First Leaves marks our first peak at spring - when the first tiny buds start to turn to leaves. First Leaves
fulfills the promise of Samhain - the life that fell will return.
Beltaine
Beltaine is, of course, a celebration of fertility at the beginning of May. As with Samhain, the landscape in
the region cooperates - the tiny leaves of First Leaves have burst forth, and our friends of fur and feather
are busying themselves in the fields and woods.
First Storm
First Storm generally happens late in the Spring, and marks the beginning of the storm season. First Storm is a
celebration of the wild beauty of the sky, and the power of thunder that can shake our bones; it is a celebration
of ecstacy and awe; it is a reminder that the gentle wind, if she so chooses, can blow apart even our greatest works.
Full Tops
Full Tops occurs when the trees have reached the peak of their foliage - when the young leaves of Beltaine have
matured to dark, velvety green. This is also the time when the first farm stands open up and local produce becomes
available. Generally, Full Tops happens in the June/July timeframe.
First Turn
First Turn happens when the first leaves begin to turn at the end of Summer. The weather is generally still warm,
but it's a sign of the changes to come. First Turn also marks the peak of the harvest - there is local produce in
abundance, and local wildlife is beginning to fatten up with the help of backyard gardens.
