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Word Origin: December is the first month of winter. The term “December” comes from the Latin word “decem”, which means “ten”. December was originally the tenth month in the original Roman calendar introduced by Romulus. Winter was originally considered to be a longer winter period, but was eventually divided into three months by adding January and February. Historical names for December include the Finish name “joulukuu” (“month of Christmas”) or “talvikuu” (“month of winter”), the Anglo-Saxon name “Aerra Geola” (“the month before Yule”) or “Wintermonat” (“winter month”), the Frankish name “Heilagmanoth” (“holy month”), the Asatru name “Wolfmoon”, and the Irish name “Míí na Nollag” or “an Dubhlachd” (“the dark season”).

Mythology: December is deeply associated with the Horned God or Cernunnos. In the story of the Goddess and God, the God has grown old and died, only to be reborn again at the Winter Solstice or Yule on December 21st. This is the shortest day of the year, and the God’s rebirth is symbolized through the days getting longer. As the God grows older, there is more sunlight and the days get longer once again. Cernunnos’ antlers are a symbol of this time of year because this is the time when the stag’s antlers are the biggest. During this time, the Horned God rules and supposedly leads those seeking spirituality to wisdom and enlightenment.

Traditions and Folklore: As I already spoke about above, Yule is the most important time of December for Pagans because it marks the Winter Solstice. The Christian version of Yule is Christmas, and like All Saint’s Day, was an attempt to convert a pagan holiday to a Christian holiday. This is Jesus’ birthday, which corresponds to the birth of the Horned God on Yule. Other holidays during the month of December include Hanukkah, which beings on sundown on December 2nd, Saint Nicholas Day on December 6th, the first day of Kwanzaa on December 26th, and the New Year’s traditions on the night of December 31st. Folklore sayings for the month of December include “December changeable and mild, the whole winter will remain a child”, “Thunder in December presages fine weather”, “Frost on the shortest day is said to indicate a severe winter”, “December cold, with snow, brings rye everywhere”.

Moon: Long Night Moon, Oak Moon, Snow Moon

Zodiac: Sagittarius, Capricorn

Element: Fire, Earth

Gender: Masculine

Sabbat: Yule/Winter Solstice (December 20-23)

Deities: Athena, Attis, Dionysus, the Fates, Frey, Freyja, Hathor, Hecate, Ixchel, Kris Kringle, Lucina, Minerva, Neith, Norns, Osiris, Odin, the Horned God

Animals: mouse, deer, horse, bear, rook, robin, snowy owl

Nature Spirits: Fates, Norns

Trees: pine, fir, holly

Colors: black, red

Flowers/Herbs: holly, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, narcissus, daffodil, jonquil, English ivy, fir, mistletoe

Crystals: aquamarine, bloodstone, ruby, blue topaz, turquoise, blue zircon, blue topaz, lapis lazuli, onyx, sapphire, amethyst, serpentine, jacinth, peridot

Incense: violet, patchouli, rose, geranium, frankincense, myrrh, lilac

Characteristics, Influences, and Energies: dedication/devotion, love, peace, prosperity, strength

Works Cited:

Kynes, Sandra (2013), Complete Book of Correspondences, Llewellyn, E-book edition

Shawna (December 2008), December, Across the Hedge, http://acrossthehedge.com/blog/2008/12/01/december/

Mantague Whitsel (2002), Cernunnos: The Celtic Horned God, Isis Books, https://www.isisbooks.com/Cernunnos_s/400.htm

Okay, by now, you already know this is not rwby related. But if ever you have the time (and patience) to read Bokura no Kiseki, do it, because it is a good story. Spoilers for anyone who haven’t read it and are interested to read.

Okay.

When I read BnK, a question came to mind: “If a person loses the memories of themselves, but is replaced with the memories of someone else’s life, is the person still the same person?”

Interesting that though the author may not have intentionally posed this as the central theme of the series, but it might as well have been. BnK presents us with a very interesting scenario of what really happens when a person suddenly inherits the memories of another person’s life. We all know that this is reincarnation we are talking about, but unlike other reincarnation stories that I’ve seen thus far, their past-selves change their entire identity and outlook of things

In most reincarnation centred stories, past-lives are treated as a bonus to a character. Even go so far as to act like their actual past-selves. Each time I see a troupe like this, I often asked myself: what about the current self that they were born as? In the few reincarnation stories I encountered, series like NG life and BnK actually addresses the clash between the life of the past and present. An actual consequence to their character and identity when they inherit their past-incarnation’s memories.

Interestingly enough, not only do we see this handled well in BnK, the author expands this idea and demonstrates how her characters’ struggles with this. Having to balance out the life of the present and trying to solve the mystery of their past-selves; not to mention that those who are affected by this are still teenagers, it’s a situation that gives room for a lot of good psychological drama.

The struggle to accept the burdens of the past and whilst trying to live the life that they currently have; unlike other reincarnation plots, in the end, the characters end up living like their past-selves rather than the current self that they were before inheriting their memories (i.e. THe mummy returns for one).

The identity of their past-selves in itself have personalities that were shaped by the culture and period that they were born in. And thus, even their sense of values of the past for some characters end up clashing with the values of the present. The constant struggle of jumping from past to present changes the outlook of the concept of reincarnation. And especially when the characters once merited from the past and was now reborn as the neglected individual of the class.

Perhaps, I might be over-praising this series, and that I might be overlooking other stories that delve into the same concept. But to me, this story has a lot of potential in making itself known to a wider audience, because the series takes on a whole different level of redefining one’s character in the question of memories and the individual.

I met a girl, I fell in love, and I wanna marry her.

The Little Mermaid (1989)