the astronomical knowledge of the Mayas has transcended far beyond the solar system.”
In two different cultures there is the possibility of two beginnings of the year. One is in the spring, as has been shown above, the other is at the opposite part of the year. The Jews, as the Israelites in ancient times and the Israelis today, celebrate their Autumn festivals as the official New Year, Day of Atonement and Festival of Boots; their Spring festivals contain Passover and Whitson, and the time around the Spring equinox is called in the Talmud New Year of Kings. It is not celebrated as such nowadays
The other culture which officially celebrates New Year, not in springtime but at a date between Autumn equinox and Midwinter is that of the Celts; their seasonal festivals are celebrated today by some Neo-pagans. The Celtic year is divided, as is the Middle Eastern Year, into two parts of winter and summer; but, rather than having a wet winter and dry summer, they consider their seasons as dark and cold winter, warm and bright summer (s. sites). Like the Jewish year, they also have a possibility of two new beginnings, at the head of each half. In contrast to the Mediterranean area, however, in Northern Europe, where the Celts finally settled after their wondering from the north of Italy, the sun in summer is regarded as beneficial rather than a menace. This may be the reason why most Celtic festivals are celebrated around fire, a traditional symbol of the sun, and they continually extinguished and re-light it in their celebrations.
Here are the main Celtic festivals: The Celtic New Year is traditionally celebrated on November 1, in a festival called Samhain, i.e. Summer’s End. On a site of Celtic