One of the reasons that I celebrate the turning of the Gregorian calendar when my spiritual and ancestral year turns at the end of October is due to the flow of energy. I truly feel the end of the year when Samhain arrives, but I don’t feel that burst of vital new energy until January first.
The egregore created from millions of people anticipating, planning, preparing, and celebrating isn’t something that is easy to ignore. We all get caught up in it. More so, I would say, than the commercialism of secular Xmas. Everyone loves a new beginning.
The time between Samhain and Twelfth Night I’ve come to call the Fallows. It’s the dark time of the year. Our regular concerns are put aside and we focus on warmth, food, family and friends. That’s probably also why many of us put on an extra ten pounds around this time of year. We don’t worry about getting exercise or fresh air because (for me, anyway), it’s damned cold out there!
A Less Travelled Path 