Cross-quarter day
A cross-quarter day is a day falling approximately halfway between one of the four main solar events (two solstices and two equinoxes) and the next one. These originated as pagan holidays in Northern Europe and the British Isles, and survive in modern times as neopagan holidays.
The cross-quarter days mark the mid-way points between the start of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively, and are:
- Imbolc or Imbolg (February 1)
- Beltane or Bealtaine (May 1)
- Lughnasadh or Lunasa (August 1)
- Samhain (November 1)
Together with the solstices and equinoxes (Yule, Ostara, Midsummer, and Mabon), these form the eight solar holidays in the neopagan wheel of the year. They are often celebrated on the evening before the listed date, since traditionally the new day was considered to begin at sunset rather than midnight.
There are Christian and secular holidays that correspond roughly with each of these four, and some argue that historically they originated as adaptations of the pagan holidays, although the matter is not agreed upon. The corresponding holidays are:
- Candlemas (February 2 or February 15), Groundhog Day (February 2) and St.Brigids Day (February 1)
- Walpurgis Night (April 30) and May Day (May 1)
- Lammas (August 1)
- Halloween (October 31), All Saints (November 1), and All Souls' Day (November 2)
See each for more on its possible relationship with the pagan holiday.
See also: quarter days
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