Pahan Holiday Calendar 2022 The Pahan holiday calendar for 2022 is packed with exciting festivities and celebrations. It is a year filled with cultural events, religious observances, and national holidays that bring people together to rejoice and remember important occasions. Starting the year off with a bang, on January 1st, Pahan celebrates New Year's Day, a time for reflection, setting goals, and spending time with loved ones. This is followed by Epiphany on January 6th, a Christian holiday commemorating the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. In February, Pahan celebrates Carnival, a vibrant and colorful event full of parades, costumes, and parties. This is a time for people to indulge in delicious food, dance to lively music, and let loose before the solemn season of Lent begins.
A resurgence of interest in the occult blossomed in the Victorian age including the establishment of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, mysticism propelled by Madame HP Blavatsky and Dion Fortune, to name a few. WB Yeats and WY Evans-Wentz were occultists and writers who came out of the Victorian era recording folklore and fairy tales from Celtic countries like Ireland, Brittany and more. An interest in ley lines, spirit guides, Tulpas, and nature spirits emerged from the Victorians. People were beginning to explore the “sinful” or repressed parts of the human psyche and supernatural worlds once more.
And therefore this Victorian trend gave a spotlight to psychic mediums and spirit-channels people who had the ability to communicate with spirits OR allow the spirits to speak through them. I also compared two critical pieces on Victorian witches in Recent Critical Discussions on the Witch , before ending with Historical Context on both the Pendle and Salem Witches.
This is a time for people to indulge in delicious food, dance to lively music, and let loose before the solemn season of Lent begins. Speaking of Lent, it begins on March 2nd with Ash Wednesday, marking the start of a 40-day period of fasting and penance leading up to Easter. This is a significant time for the Christian community in Pahan, as they reflect on the sacrifices made by Jesus.
Victorian Witches | A Dissertation:
I’ve been moaning about my dissertation on these parts since the start of the year. I don’t want all my research, time and effort to go to waste, so I thought I’d share what I found during the process of writing my dissertation on Victorian witches with you.
So, I recently finished my Master of Arts degree in Victorian Literature at the University of Liverpool. You can find out all about my modules, essays and reading lists here: sem I & sem II. I will eventually have a separate post on my experience as a master student, so let’s not dwell on that here.
Anyway, four months, 53 pages and 16,138 words later, I handed my dissertation (and my final essay ever) in on the 13th September – of all days, smh.
I chose to write on Victorian witches as it combines two of my favourite things (and I had already written on the Brontës for my undergrad diss) . I focused on how Victorian authors re-told history, titling my work ‘William Harrison Ainsworth’s and Elizabeth Gaskell’s Historical Storytelling of the Witch Through Famous Witch Hunts/Trials’.
Witches receive very little attention by critics, despite being prevalent in Victorian literature. Due to the fluidity of their definition, as I discovered, witches metamorphised in various forms. Writers were forced to play with the image of the witch because belief in the occult, the supernatural, and in womanhood, was constantly in flux during this century.
I could add to the debate on Victorian Gothic by looking at portrayals of witches from a historical perspective. I focused on Ainsworth’s The Lancashire Witches, which re-told the Pendle Witches, and Gaskell’s ‘Lois the Witch’, which re-told the Salem Witch Trials. Although set on opposite ends of the Atlantic, they explore how women were vilified by small communities. I analysed through obvious themes, such as gender, race and class.
So, I split my introduction into four subsections:
Up first was Defining the ‘Witch’, where I tried to make sense of how the witch has been defined throughout history, specifically in British culture. I explored the many varying definitions of the witch, including black and white magic, cunning-folk, and familiars. I then wrote on The Victorian Literary Witch, giving examples of other Victorian witches (written by Thomas Hardy, William Wordsworth, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc.). I also compared two critical pieces on Victorian witches in Recent Critical Discussions on the Witch, before ending with Historical Context on both the Pendle and Salem Witches.
Chapter One was dedicated to William Harrison Ainsworth’s Fictionalisation of the Pendle Witch Trials in The Lancashire Witches (1848). Ainsworth is interested in the supernatural and evil witch. He sensationalises the Pendle Witches to sell weekly copies of the Sunday Times, which this was first published in. The Pendle Witches rely on spells, voodoo, chanting around cauldrons, cursing people, and having familiars. He takes on a predominantly misogynistic idea of the witch in order to rouse curiosity in his readers.
To Ainsworth, the witch is both a Gothic and historical figure who can play on readers’ fears and who can undermine our understanding of gender roles/concepts. He ends the novel warning us to BEWARE OF THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES, for they are still a threat to society, but in a new and seductive way, because women have the ability to transform in order to escape justice.
Gaskell, however, takes on a completely different approach to the witch.
Chapter Two explored Elizabeth Gaskell’s Fictionalisation of the Salem Witch Trials in ‘Lois the Wich’ (1861). Gaskell has a different reason for telling the story of a witch. As a Victorian woman, Gaskell is aware of how labels can ruin a woman’s life. These labels, according to Gaskell, are a way to control women through their body and mind. It takes away their autonomy. Her witch represents two ideas:
1) Witches are women who are different; and who do not align with the current ideas of womanhood. This can be women who are foreign, working-class, deformed, mentally ill, and so on. Although saying this, Lois, except for being British in an American town, is a middle-class, white woman, who is also accused of witchcraft. Gaskell reinforces but also disrupts traditional depictions of witchcraft, showing that any and all women can be targeted.
2) The witch is a tool through which men can gain, maintain and assert power over women. The label limits how women move within society, as the witch is always controlled by men (either the devil, the pastor, the government, and so on). ‘Witches’ are also usually scapegoats for men’s desires – if a man is weak enough to have sex with a woman in a society that tells him to wait, it is, naturally, her fault (LOL).
It is these realities that make this Gothic story so unnerving, as the vilification of women has not changed much since the seventeenth century. Gaskell combines the Gothic and realism to illuminate the cruel injustice of women, people of colour and the working-class, which is still an issue in Victorian England.
Of course, to end my paper I included a Conclusion and Bibliography. Despite the difference in their depictions, both authors reflect the changing attitudes towards the witch in the Victorian imagination. By reimagining historical events through the mode of storytelling, they are able to explore how versatile the definition of the witch is. The witch is not One Thing, but Multiple. There is no fixed definition. This is why the literary witch is so unique; she is not limited to one storyline, but can flourish in any narrative. The witch can also be used to explore both historical and modern issues.
Although rarely discussed in critical material, the witch plays a key role in both the Victorian Gothic and Victorian realism, because she can shift between the two forms of being human and being supernatural. Victorian attitudes of witchcraft are being reproduced in the resurrected interest of witches in twenty-first century fiction, showing that their portrayal is timeless and, more importantly, crucial to our understanding of women throughout time.
A very long-winded post, I know, I’m sorry , but that’s how my masters dissertation goes. I enjoyed researching and writing it, despite how much I struggled with balancing this with life and illness at the time. I’m glad I got to write my last ever essay on two things that make me happy: Victorian literature and witches.
Thanks for reading, Lauren X
April is an exciting month as Pahan celebrates Easter. This holiday is marked by church services, Easter egg hunts, and the sharing of special meals with family and friends. It is a time for joy and renewal, as Pahannians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Moving into May, Labor Day is celebrated on the 1st, honoring the contributions of workers to society. This day is often marked by parades, rallies, and various events that promote workers' rights and achievements. In June, Pahan celebrates Whit Monday, which follows Pentecost Sunday. This Christian holiday commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus. It is a time for Pahannians to gather for church services, enjoy outdoor activities, and spend quality time with their families. August brings Independence Day on the 24th, a national holiday in Pahan. This day marks the country's independence from colonial rule and is celebrated with patriotic ceremonies, parades, and cultural performances. October is a month filled with religious observances. On the 5th, Pahan celebrates the feast of Saint Therese of Lisieux, a beloved Catholic saint. This is followed by All Saints' Day on the 31st, when Pahannians honor and remember their loved ones who have passed away. November 1st is All Souls' Day, a day dedicated to praying for the souls of the departed. It is a time for Pahannians to visit cemeteries, light candles, and offer prayers for their deceased family members and friends. Finally, December is a month of festive cheer and Christmas preparations. On December 24th, Pahannians come together to celebrate Christmas Eve, attending midnight Mass and exchanging gifts. This is followed by Christmas Day on the 25th, a time for Pahannians to gather with their loved ones, enjoy festive meals, and exchange greetings of peace and joy. In conclusion, the Pahan holiday calendar for 2022 is a rich tapestry of cultural, religious, and national celebrations. From New Year's Day to Christmas, every month brings festivals that bring the community together and create a sense of unity and joy. These holidays are not just occasions to relax and have fun but also serve as opportunities to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future..
Reviews for "The Magic and Mysticism of Pahan Holiday Celebrations in 2022"
1. Jessica
Rating: 1/5
I was extremely disappointed with the "Pahan holiday calendar 2022". The layout was confusing and difficult to navigate, making it challenging to find specific holidays or dates. The design was lackluster and unappealing, with boring colors and generic graphics. Additionally, the information provided for each holiday was minimal and uninformative. Overall, I found this calendar to be a waste of money and would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Michael
Rating: 2/5
I expected more from the "Pahan holiday calendar 2022". The selection and variety of holidays included were limited, missing out on important events and celebrations. The layout and organization were also lacking, making it difficult to keep track of holidays and plan accordingly. Furthermore, I found several incorrect dates listed for certain holidays, causing confusion and inconvenience. Although the calendar had a few useful features, it fell short of my expectations.
3. Emily
Rating: 2/5
I found the "Pahan holiday calendar 2022" to be underwhelming. The overall design lacked creativity and appeared outdated, with boring fonts and colors. The information provided for each holiday was repetitive and lacking any interesting facts or details. Additionally, the size of the calendar was impractical, being too big to carry around or display conveniently. Overall, I was disappointed with this calendar and would not purchase it again.
4. David
Rating: 1/5
As a frequent traveler, I was looking for a holiday calendar that would help me plan my trips effectively. Unfortunately, the "Pahan holiday calendar 2022" fell short of my expectations. The holidays listed were limited to only a few regions and cultures, leaving out important international holidays. The layout and design were confusing, making it difficult to determine the significance of each holiday and plan my travels accordingly. I would not recommend this calendar to fellow travelers or anyone seeking a comprehensive holiday guide.