Pridie Idus November

Modern Date : November 12th

Pridie Idus November
Day Before the Ides of November

This is one of the dies comitiales when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

The Festival of Jupiter
This three-day festival honored the one deity given the title of God - Jupiter or Jove to the Romans and Zeus to the Greeks. Jupiter was a friendly, mostly happy god, not vengeful or destructive like Jehovah. From Jove comes our word jovial. Jupiter was born of Cronus (Saturn) and Rhea (Ops) and usurped the throne when his father proved an unfit ruler. As the father of gods and men, Jupiter arbitrated godly disputes, assisted men in just government, governed the four seasons, and watched with fatherly interest over the actions of men. Zeus was first worshipped at Epirus in Greece, where his voice was heard coming from a giant oak tree. His priests were called Helli and would assist suppliants who came to the shrine seeking advice or favors from Zeus.

This day began the celebrations to the goddesses of Plenty, Fortune and Piety which climax tomorrow on the Ides. The festivities of this and the next two days included feasting, games, music, singing, dancing in the streets and wine-drinking.

November is the ninth month (after March) and is a lucky month which is almost free of religious obligation.


Lamentations of Isis
In the Egyptian calendar, re-enactment of one of the most poignant parts of the Isis and Osiris story, as Isis seeks the body of the murdered Osiris, only to find that he and the box he's in are both inside a massive tree trunk that is holding up the royal palace of Byblos. How Isis grieves for her husband, finally gets him back, and begins the process of healing and reviving him, is the ritual play for this climactic festival of the month of Koiak (days 27 - 29).


Mirza Husayn Ali Baha'u'llah
Birthday (1817) of Mirza Husayn Ali Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i faith, the first world religion to recognize officially the equality of all genders and peoples.


Tewa Buffalo Dances
Among the Pueblo peoples of the American Southwest, the annual Tewa Buffalo Dances give thanks for the abundance of the harvest and pray for correct alignment of the people with the four directions and elemental energies.


Hollantide
November 12th would be the date of Halloween in the Old Style calendar. On the Isle of Man, young women stayed up all night, singing songs and playing games to determine their marriage prospects. Each girl dug a hole (apparently at night) and looked in it during the day, hoping to find a worm in it. In another game, each girl was blindfolded and dipped her hand into one of four saucers which contained oatmeal (wealth), salt (widowhood), water (marriage) or nothing (spinsterhood).