Welcoming January with a Little Lore

Happy New Year!! I’m so thrilled to welcome in 2023. Sending out all the best wishes for a brilliant, prosperous, joyous year ahead.

Over the past year, I made an effort to study and research more and more about how different cultures welcome the changing months and seasons, especially those which place Nature as their focus. So without any further ado, I happily kick off this new year, new month, with some of my favorite lore that celebrates everything January.

• January’s is named after Janu, who was the Roman god of beginnings and protector of entryways.

• January’s birthstone is the Garnet. It’s fun to learn that it’s name is derived from the Latin word for seed as this dark red gem reminded them of pomegranate seeds.

• January’s birth flowers are carnation and snowdrop. The essence of these two flowers is their strength to bloom during the coldest of months.

• According to the Celtic Tree of Life, whose calendar follows the lunar months, two trees share a space in January. The Birch tree (December 24-January 20) symbolizes new beginnings, achievement and resilience. This period of time is great for creative focus and starts of projects. The Rowan tree (January 21-February 17) carries us through mid-February with symbolic meaning of courage and connection. The red berries of the Rowan tree are said to represent protection.

• The Ox is the animal of the month.

• January’s colors are white and light blue, with white symbolizing a clean start and the light blue evoking a snowy winter’s day.

• The Wolf Moon howls this Month in the sky above.

• And finally, a little fun fact about Finnland that I recently learned…Did you know that they have their own language in regards to the names of the months? January is known in Finnish as Tammikuu which translates to “oak moon”. Wait until you learn what February is called!

Cheers to a bountiful, beautiful new year ahead!