The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

every year has a new start and so does the ancient celtic year. it begins on the first of november, after the celebration of hallowe,en or allhallows - Samhain. the celtic year has 13 lunar months, each called after the name of a tree. the first is the white stemmed Birch. in Mannin, the isle of man, off the west coast of Scotland, criminals were ceremoniously birched in order to drive out any evil influences. this practice has only been stopped in the last few years, but what the modern reformers failed to take into account are the religious and spiritual aspects of birching. the new year could not start untill the old one had been finished and all malign influences cast away.