GAMESAnswers to the games will appear in the next issue CRYPTOGRAM In this month which closes with Halloween, we have a quiz to test your knowledge of Celtic holidays. Four significant points occur in the sun's path throughout the year, (and are labeled here for the Northern hemisphere). The point farthest north in the sky: the summer solstice (about June 21 and the longest day of the year); the point farthest south: the winter solstice (about Dec. 21 and the shortest day of the year). The two equinoxes have equal day and night. The vernal equinox occurs around March 21 and the autumnal one around Sept. 21).. The Celtic holidays fall about midway between these points. There are Christian holidays associated with these now, as well as some popular ones. WPZ WXQZ KZHVLVWVUL UH D SLUE VS ULZ FPU JXDAZS HUX FPDW SZCDXDWZS YZL XDWPZX WPDL HUX FPDW QLVWZS WPZY IUPL EQJPDL SOLUTION TO LAST MONTH'S CRYPTOGRAM “Fifteen men on the Dead Man's Chest Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!” - Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island (No, it isn't a real pirate song) CELTIC HOLIDAYS QUIZ 1. What is the name of the Celtic holiday which becomes "Halloween"?
2. Between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox lies another holiday now known sometimes as Candlemas. What is the Celtic holdiay?
3. .A harvest festival falling between the summer solstice and vernal equinax is sometimes called Lammas - ah but was is it's original Gaelic name?
4. Around April 30 or May 1 - between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice comes the last of the four holidays marking the so called "quarter points". It is often associated with fire festivals. What is its name?
5. Finally, since Halloween is associated with supernaturals, so was the festival no the other side of the yeat (i.e. six months away). What is the "supernatural" holiday found in other parts of the world that falls at then (perhaps most famous in its German form)?
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH'S QUIZ |