Dance, Drum, Community, Food, Pride………Introducing the Pow Wow 

How the Powwow Began

The modern powwow and many styles of contemporary powwow dancing have their roots in the historic warrior societies of the Southern and Northern Plains. Over time, these dances, ceremonies, and gatherings have evolved from formal, tribal-based ceremonies into modern-day intertribal celebrations of culture, dance, song, crafts, food, and pageantry.

Today powwows are held across the United States and Canada, in small towns and in big cities. These quintessential social gatherings can take place anywhere – from community dance grounds to large arenas and convention centers.

The powwow has become a way that Native American people representing all tribal backgrounds can join together to share experiences, reconnect with old friends, and make new ones. It is an opportunity to reflect on time-honored traditions, while helping to educate future generations of dancers and singers.

Pow wows, by definition, are Native American gatherings in which American Indians sing, dance, reconnect with old friends and celebrate their rich ancestral histories. Often accompanied by a conference or meeting, pow wows are one of the best ways to experience traditional Native American culture. While there’s no singular hard-and-fast pow wow definition, this article provides a brief overview of the true pow wow meaning and spirit.

There are several different stories of how the gathering was started. Some believe that the pow wow originated with the War dance Societies of the Ponca and other Southern Plains Tribes.

The term “powwow” derives from Pau Wau, meaning “medicine man” in Narrtick, a language spoken by the Algonquian peoples in Massachusetts. English settlers began misusing the word to refer to the meetings of Indigenous medicine men, and later to any kind of American Indian gathering. American Indians have since reclaimed the term.

Nineteenth Century

For centuries, American Indian communities have conducted ceremonial gatherings. Modern powwows, however, derive from more recent ceremonies that began in the Plains area. In the late nineteenth century, the U.S. government seized swaths of land from the Lakota, Dakota, Blackfoot, and Ojibwa peoples in the Northern Plains and from Kiowa, Comanche, Pawnee, and Ponca peoples in the Southern Plains. This period of forced migration and upheaval resulted in great intertribal exchange and solidarity among Plains Indians.

Two intertribal traditions emerged during this period: the Drum Religion and the Grass Dance (or Helushka Society). The Drum Religion was a sacred drum ritual that fostered peace and friendship, while the Grass Dance was an adapted form of ancient warrior dances. Both emphasized the value of generosity and gift-exchange. As these were diffused throughout the Plains, other tribes amended and adapted them. They became homecoming celebrations, when families and communities separated by government removal could reunite. These were the precursors to modern powwow.

Two intertribal traditions emerged during this period: the Drum Religion and the Grass Dance (or Helushka Society). The Drum Religion was a sacred drum ritual that fostered peace and friendship, while the Grass Dance was an adapted form of ancient warrior dances. Both emphasized the value of generosity and gift-exchange. As these were diffused throughout the Plains, other tribes amended and adapted them. They became homecoming celebrations, when families and communities separated by government removal could reunite. These were the precursors to modern powwow.

Twentieth Century

The word “powwow” began to appear in newspapers in the early twentieth century, advertising “authentic” Indigenous dance shows. Some performers put on exaggerated “war dances” to entertain pioneers traveling westward. These Wild West shows became a part of popular culture as non-Native spectators became infatuated with the “traditional” Native image. They sought out powwows that boasted the presence of elders, in order to ensure an “authentic” ceremony.  

World War I and II brought warrior traditions back to the forefront of powwows, which became a place to celebrate and memorialize American Indian veterans. In the following years, the American Indian veterans organizations took an increasing role in organizing the events. Memorial Day powwows became major annual traditions, and veterans continue to be honored and celebrated at powwows.

In the 1950s, a series of Bureau of Indian Affairs programs again relocated thousands of Plains Indians to cities across the country. This mass migration created a proliferation of intertribal collaboration, akin to the intertribal alliances of the late 1800s. American Indians in urban centers created new communities and new spaces where they could connect with one another and their cultures. They founded community centers and organized powwows, sports leagues, and church events.

Many students were forced to attend government and Christian boarding schools with members of enemy tribes or groups they would have never met due to distance. During this forced assimilation, American Indian children who did not have Great Plains powwow dances in their culture learned that style of song and dance from their Great Plains classmates. They adopted the early ideology of what was to become the modern powwow.

As the culture urbanized, the number of powwows across the country exploded. Powwow circuits and traveling performance groups emerged. This period is associated with the rise of competition events in powwows.

Twenty-First Century

Today, powwows are held every weekend in the United States and abroad. They are hosted everywhere from reservations to cities, small venues to national stages, for local, intertribal, and international audiences.

Native American Pow Wow Dancing

Another belief is that when the Indian tribes were forced onto reservations the government also forced the Native Americans to have dances for the public to come and see. Before each dance, they were led through the town in a ceremony or parade, which is the beginning of the Grand Entry.

Native American Indian singers are very important figures in the gathering. Without them, there would be no dancing. The songs are of many varieties, from religious to war to social.

As various Indian tribes gathered together, they would share their songs, often changing the songs so singers of different tribes could join. With these changes came the use of “vocables” to replace the words of the old songs. Thus, some songs today are sung in “vocables” with no words, depending on the ceremony.

MALE TRADITIONAL

The outfits are an older style of dress. Men may wear a smaller style of feather bustle or bustle where the feathers hang down in the back. The beadwork is most commonly floral in the Great Lakes region, featuring tribally specific stylized versions of art and movement. Many people familiar with Pow Wows can identify the Nation and area a person is from just by looking at the outfit. 

First and foremost – dancers in this category are aiming to tell you a story. Typically it is one of a hunt, a battle, or a certain victory. Dancers utilize different movements to demonstrate the story they are telling you; crouching, tracking, aiming, dashing about and so on. Many dancers are taught to dance toward the center of the circle and tap once on the pole or shout out during this style. This is done to represent victory over an enemy or victory in the hunt they are telling you about. One stellar Men’s Traditional second song is called the Duck and Dive. Some say this style of dance came about during the First World War. Dancers listen very carefully for slow hard drumbeats bend downward in time as if to dodge artillery fire.

MEN’S GRASS DANCE

This is considered by many to be a traditional style of dance. The dance look and style comes to us from the plains. Men will usually wear an outfit with long fringes made of yarn, leather, ribbons or some sort of fiber. The dancer usually does not have a feather bustle, and the smooth movements of the dance can either be to tell a story, to mimic the movements of tall grass in the wind, or to interpret a dancer’s vision of what a particular song is saying to them.

Grass dancing was birthed from young men of the plains nations stomping down tall prairie grasses to prepare the site of a new village or site for ceremonies. Today’s Grass Dancers try to dance as smooth as possible as if they are those long prairie grasses blowing in the wind. For that kind of controlled movement, these Grass Dancers must be fit and strong. This sometimes results in some fantastic movements leaving you wondering, “How did he do that?!”

This style is known as one of the medicine dances. The fluid swaying motions represent a sense of balance with the natural order of creation. Grass Dancers are taught that the motions they do on one foot, they must do with the other foot. It is that intentional act of balanced footwork that makes the Grass Dance so spectacular to watch.

MEN’S FANCY DANCE

Two often time colorful bustles are worn on the back for this dance and can be divided into two categories, Southern and Northern. These dancers are athletes, with their dance demanding a high level of knowledge, songs, movements, and stamina. The dance is one of the most recent additions to dancing, and most often compared to the way “Rock and Roll” revolutionized the sight and sound of dancing.  This is the kind of Pow Wow dancing that spectators love. It is fast and furious. Dancers must be in top physical condition to execute the tricky footwork and acrobatic movements that make this style so exciting to watch. It’s not uncommon to see Fancy Feather dancers do cartwheels, backflips and splits in competitive dancing.  The key to being a champion Men’s Fancy dancer is keeping on the beat while making fringe and feather bustles shaking and swaying all the while twirling handheld spinners.

This dance is one of the more recent additions to Pow Wow traditions. It is believed to have originated from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows where young men would dance hard and fast to impress the crowds. Fancy Dancers are usually called on to perform Sneak-Up or Trick Songs. These extremely fast songs ruffle the drumbeat while dancers twirl about, followed by fast sections with sudden stops. It is always exciting to see the dancers interpret what the drum is doing and to see them all stay in time with the beat and stop on time. You definitely don’t want to miss this category!

WOMEN’S TRADITIONAL DANCE

Many of the designs in this category of dancer are tribally specific, and while many of the patterns used are inherited, many times great creativity is given to produce moving works of art on the regalia. Moccasins usually reflect the specific tribal heritage of a dancer, as well as the inspired beadwork and ribbon work. These women will usually dance in place or appear to “walk” to the timing of a song.

It looks easy enough, but when wearing regalia upwards of 40 lbs, the deep knee bends of a Women’s Traditional Dancer require a lot of leg strength, good balance, and breath control. Scrubbing is a stationary dance style. Dancers bounce in place along in time with the drum turning ever so slightly. Some say scrubbing is the original women’s style of Pow Wow dance. When scrubbing the dancers are trying to keep those fringe tips snapping just right. Walking style is when the dancers travel around the circle in deep knee bends, taking small steps forward. Dancers who use the walking style want to look smooth, controlled and elegant as their fringe sways in time to the drum. They sometimes recognize the strong beats of the drum, called honor beats, by either leaning forward or lifting their fan in the air – depending on what nation they come from.

WOMEN’S JINGLE DANCE

Women that dance in this mode are easily distinguishable from the other dancers by the way their dresses are made. Spectators can see the dance jingles, or rolled metal cones that are sewn onto the dress. The cones move against each other making a unique sound. The dress originates from the Ojibwa people and has spiritual significance and origin. Many tribes have adopted the general ideas of the dress and incorporated their own interpretations into the patterns.

This healing dance comes from the Anishinabek people of Whitefish Bay where a young girl was gravely ill. One of the men received a dream where he saw the dresses, songs, and dances that needed to be done for her. Women in the community made the dresses, drummers learned the song and some women were shown the steps to carry out what was given in the dream. As the dancers went around this young girl she started to recover and by the end of the night, she was healed and up dancing with the women.

Today there are two kinds of competitive Jingle Dances; contemporary and old style. Contemporary dancers use complex but gentle footwork making the dance look effortless. They wear soft eagle plumes in their hair and raise eagle tail fans during honor beats to ‘lift up’ the prayers of the people. Old style jingle dancers don’t wear eagle feathers or sparkly materials to pay respect to the original intention of the dance. They are taught to always keep one foot touching the ground to show our connection to the earth and lift their hands during honor beats to raise the prayers of the people.

WOMEN’S SHAWL DANCE

Otherwise known by other names such as “Graceful Shawl” or “Shawl Dance”, this is another recent addition to the Pow Wow scene. The movements are very athletic and songs can be just as fast as the men’s fancy dance. Many people say that the movements are to reflect the beating wings of birds or even the butterfly. The Shawl is generally worn over the shoulders and has patterns that can be simple to complex, showing amazing artwork by accomplished artisans. Beadwork in the outfits is usually matching and reflects on the hours of work gone into creating a unique look for each dancer.

Like Jingle, there are Contemporary and Old Style Fancy Shawl dancers. Contemporary shawl dancers are spinning, kicking, twirling, leaping and traveling as fast and as furious as the men’s fancy dancers, but light on their feet. The goal is to look as if you are floating about the dance arena and barely ever touch the ground. Old style dancers are still quick on their feet, but there is usually less spinning involved. The focus is to marry intricate footwork with smooth shawling to make for a seamless performance.

Pow wows have changed over the years. However, they are still gatherings where Indian people can share part of their tribal traditions and culture. But they should not be confused with other tribal customs and ceremonies that are not performed or shared in public gatherings. 

Pow wows have changed over the years. However, they are still gatherings where Indian people can share part of their tribal traditions and culture.

A Day To Talk About: December 21^st!

 

Let’s talk about December 21, as some consider it the most magical time of the year.  Lots of wedding and engagements happen on this day of the year.

 

Dec. 21: The Winter Solstice Explained:

For northern latitudes, the solstice marks the beginning of winter, but ancient Sky Watchers didn’t understand the sun’s migration, fearing it could disappear forever as it dipped below the horizon.

At 6:12 a.m. EST on Friday (Dec. 21), the sun will reach a point where it will appear to shine farthest to the south of the equator, over the Tropic of Capricorn, thus marking the moment of the winter solstice — the beginning of winter.

Since June 20, the altitude of the midday sun has been lowering as its direct rays have been gradually migrating to the south.

The sun’s altitude above the horizon at noontime is 47 degrees lower now, compared to six months ago.  Your clenched fist held at arm’s length measures roughly 10 degrees, so the sun at midday is now nearly “five fists” lower in the southern sky compared to on June 21.

The ancient Sky Watchers had no understanding of the sun’s migration; they thought this celestial machinery might break down someday, and the sun would continue southward, never to return. As such, the lowering of the sun was cause for fear and wonder.

As “armistice” is defined as a staying of the action of arms, “solstice” is a staying of the sun’s apparent motion over the latitudes of the Earth. At the summer solstice, the sun stops its northward motion and begins heading south.

At the winter solstice, it turns north. Technically, at one minute past the moment of the solstice, the sun has turned around and started north. It will cross the equator at the vernal equinox, passing into the Northern Hemisphere on March 20, at 7:02 a.m. EDT.  [Top 10 Winter Sky Targets for Sky watchers]

When the ancients saw the sun stop and slowly climb to a higher midday location, people rejoiced; here was a promise that spring would return. Most cultures had winter solstice celebrations and some adapted it to other events. In Persia, the solstice marked the birthday of Mithra, the Sun King.

In ancient times, Dec. 25 was the date of the lavish Roman festival of Saturnalia, a sort of bacchanalian thanksgiving. Saturnalia was celebrated around the time of the winter solstice. And in 275 A.D., the Roman Emperor Aurelian commemorated a feast day coinciding with the winter solstice: Die Natalis Invicti Solis (“The birthday of the Unconquered Sun”).

Among the many varied customs linked with this special season for thousands of years, the exchanging of gifts is almost universal. Mother Nature herself offers the sky observer in north temperate latitudes the two gifts of long nights and a sky more transparent than usual.

One reason for the clarity of a winter’s night is that cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air can. Hence, on many nights in the summer, the warm moisture-laden atmosphere causes the sky to appear hazier. By day it is a milky, washed-out blue, which in winter becomes a richer, deeper and darker shade of blue. For us in northern climes, this only adds more luster to that part of the sky containing the beautiful wintertime constellations.

Indeed, the brilliant stars and constellations that now adorn our evening sky, such as Sirius, Orion, Capella, Taurus, and many others, plus as an added bonus this winter season of the planet Jupiter, all seem like Nature’s holiday decorations to commemorate the winter solstice and enlighten the long cold nights of winter.

 

Winter Solstice:

The word solstice comes from the Latin sol “sun,” and sistere “to stand still.” So, loosely translated, it means “sun stands still.” Why? The Sun’s path across the sky appears to freeze for a few days before and after the solstice. The change in its noontime elevation is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same or stand still.

The day after the winter solstice, the Sun’s path begins to advance northward again, eventually reaching its most northerly point on the day of the summer solstice.

Then, as summer advances toward winter, the points on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets advance southward each day; the high point in the Sun’s daily path across the sky, which occurs at local noon, also moves southward each day. It’s a never-ending cycle!

 

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. Is it also the coldest?

The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, which means that it’s the day in which we experience the least amount of daylight. Logically, it would make sense to assume that this is also the coldest day of the year since we are exposed to less warmth-giving sunlight on this day than at any other time. But this is not true.

Many factors affect the temperature of a location on any given day, including altitude, snow cover, and large-scale weather patterns. Snow cover, for example, partially blocks solar radiation from being absorbed by the Earth, which results in less heat being released and an overall drop in temperature. Because of these factors, it’s impossible to point to the same date year after year and call it the coldest day.

In the United States, the coldest days of the year tend to occur between mid-December and late January, so while it’s certainly possible that the coldest day of the year could also be the day of the winter solstice, that’s not usually the case!

 

Is the Winter Solstice really the start of winter?

There is not a black-and-white answer to this question—it depends on which definition of “winter” you follow:

Astronomical winter begins at the winter solstice and ends at the spring equinox. Astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth in relation to the Sun.

Meteorological winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) starts on December 1 and ends on February 28 (or 29). Meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle and climatological patterns observed on Earth.

Because an almanac is traditionally defined as a “calendar of the heavens,” it follow the astronomical definition of the seasons, which states that each of the four seasons starts on a solstice or equinox.

However, that doesn’t mean that the meteorological definition is incorrect. It is important for meteorologists to be able to compare climatological statistics for a particular season from one year to the next—for agriculture, commerce, and a variety of other purposes. Thus, meteorologists break the seasons down into groupings of three months. Meteorological winter starts on December 1 and includes December, January, and February.

Did you know? For the ancient Celts, the calendar was based around the solstices and equinoxes, marking the Quarter Days, with the mid-points called Cross-Quarter Days.

 

The Magic of December 21:

The Solstice is also the start of a new season depending on where in the world you live, and a new season always brings a transition of energy.

The winter solstice is celebrated by many people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness turning into light. The Talmud recognizes the winter solstice as “Tekufat Tevet.” In China, the Dongzhi Festival is celebrated on the Winter Solstice by families getting together and eating special festive food.

Until the 16th century, the winter months were a time of famine in northern Europe. Most cattle were slaughtered so that they wouldn’t have to be fed during the winter, making the solstice a time when fresh meat was plentiful. Most celebrations of the winter solstice in Europe involved merriment and feasting. In pre-Christian Scandinavia, the Feast of Juul, or Yule, lasted for 12 days celebrating the rebirth of the sun and giving rise to the custom of burning a Yule log.

In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, to honor Saturn, the god of agricultural bounty. Lasting about a week, Saturnalia was characterized by feasting, debauchery and gift-giving. With Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, many of these customs were later absorbed into Christmas celebrations.

Saturnalia was a pagan festival celebrated on the December Solstice, and was meant to be reminiscent of the Golden Age- a time where there was peace on Earth and Saturn was our Sun.

The December Solstice was chosen for this day as it was said to signify a “return to the light.”

 

 

The Solstice is a time where the veil between dimensions is thin. It is also a time where we are more open and connected with the energies of the Earth. Hence the magic! 

Surprise!  Native American Food Helped Today’s Menu! Order Please!

From acorn bread to fry bread, succotash to beef stew, Native American cuisine has been a staple in homes across America for centuries.

Today, these traditional dishes are still consumed in homes and restaurants throughout the country, some stick to the classic recipes, and some put a modern twist on the old favorites. Many staples in our daily diets, like tomatoes, wild rice, and peanuts are often credited to the Europeans, when in fact the Indigenous people of the Americas are to thank for it.

Depending on the region and tribe, the food varies quite a bit. Different tribes had to cater their menus with the foods native to their regions back in the day. Today, traditional meals are still enjoyed and prepared all over the country.

Keep reading to learn a bit about the different tribes, and which Native American foods are known to them.

Southeast

One of the main staples of the southern diet, corn, came from the Southeast Native American tribes.

Still today, much of the food consumed in the south got its roots from the Native Americans. We can thank them for cornbread, grits, and whiskey. While our cornbread and grits may taste a bit different today, the inspiration behind the dishes dates back centuries. The Southeast Native Americans were mainly hunters and gatherers for smaller animals like rabbits and turkeys. The Southeast of the United States is quite warm and was ideal for farming. Crops like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, tobacco, peppers, and cotton were among the most common. They incorporated these foods with their hunted meat to create their main dishes.

Southwest

From Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado the southwest, tribes coming from the present-day Four Corners area of the United States, relied heavily on agriculture. Commonly known as Ancestral Pueblans, they are famous for their pottery, basket weaving, and clay pot cooking. Corn (maize), beans, squash, and sunflower seeds are the most common ingredients in their dishes.

They were also sure to utilize their local pinyon pine trees for pine nuts. For their meat sources, they relied heavily on hunting game, including deer, rabbits, and squirrels. Most of the time they would cook the meat on an open fire or in hand-crafted tools, which are variations of our modern-day cooking ware.

Northeast

The Northeast is today commonly referred to as the New England region of the United States. One thing to remember about this region is the drastic change in seasons.

Famous for having harsh winters and hot summers, the Native Americans in this area had to cater their diets to the current season. Many Native Americans farmed in this area, mostly corn, beans, and squash, also known as “the three sisters.”

Do you like maple syrup over your pancakes or how about maple sugar candy?

The Native Americas from the Northeast to thank for these tasty treats we still eat today. Although they most likely didn’t sweeten their waffles with syrup, they mainly used it season vegetables, fish, game, and grains. The Northeast is also cranberry heaven; the Native Americans used to grow the berries and eat them dried or mixed into different dishes. Sometimes they would even use them raw to flavor their drinking water.

Plains

In the plains region, Native Americans relied on a very meat-heavy diet. They hunted turkeys, ducks, deer, buffalo, elk, and bison for their families. Berries and other dried fruits were also often consumed. Usually, berries would be consumed raw while they did cook the meat into various stews and savory dishes. Pumpkins, herbs, and root vegetables were also heavily used in this region.

Northwest

Native Americans from what is now known as the Northwest region of the United States, relied heavily on salmon, other kinds of fish, and seafood as their primary source of protein. Mushrooms and berries were also abundant in their area, so they used the berries to sweeten their bread and desserts.

They were primarily hunter-gatherers, and their warmer climate made it easier to rely on year-round food supplies. For other sources of protein, they hunted deer, duck, and rabbit and made various stews from the game meat. Only during the summer were they able to dry meat, so dried deer and rabbit meat were often consumed during the warmer months. To make loaves of bread, cakes, and other baked goods, the tribes from the Northwest region would grind acorns down into a flour.

How did Native Americans influence modern cuisine?

Do you love a good turkey dinner with all the fixings?

How about cornbread, cranberries, blueberries, and grits? While these may only be consumed during the holiday seasons in the United States, we do have to give credit to the Native Americans for this food.

Without the Native Americans, we would not have the same corn, beans, squash, wild rice, avocados, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and even chocolate. Today, many Native American families will serve fry bread at their social gatherings, and it’s a commonly known staple in the south. In the last decade, people have been health-conscious than ever before.

While quinoa and spirulina may sound like new foods to you, the Native Americas have been eating them for centuries. Today, they are known as ‘superfoods’ or foods with an ample amount of nutrients. Quinoa has the highest protein content of any grain, and some tribes even used the leaves of the plant in soups and stews. Back in the day, they would also toast and grind up the quinoa seeds to make it into bread. The Native Americans bread, cultivated and domesticated some of the many plant species we still use to today in our daily lives. These crops originating from the Americas are now everyday staples in diets worldwide.

Can you imagine a world without vanilla, potatoes, or peppers?

Without Native Americans, we would not be able to enjoy so many of the favorite foods we have today.

It might not be surprising to know that the “first Thanksgiving” didn’t resemble what we were often taught in school. There was likely no stuffing, turkey, or pumpkin pie. But there was definitely no shortage of options, as Native Americans marked celebratory meals with plenty of fish, produce, and wild rice. Want a fully Indigenous-inspired Thanksgiving meal? Pair our whole roasted trout with roasted turnips, fried cornbread, and wild rice pudding for dessert.

Indigenous Americans originated many classic dishes that just might surprise you too, like fried green tomatoes, succotash, and tamales. Did you know? Grilling salmon on cedar planks also has roots in tribes of the Pacific Northwest, where salmon is revered as a sacred food to tribes all across the region.

Succotash

Tribes across the country enjoyed this super nutritious dish long before more folks relied on it as a cheap meal in the Great Depression.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. fresh or dry lima beans

3 cups fresh corn cut from cob

4 to 6 wild or pearl onions

2 Tbsps. melted bacon fat

2 pieces smoked ham hock

3 quarts water

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Soak dry beans for three to four hours to soften. Drain and add to a pot of boiling water. Let them cook for about 10 minutes, then add corn, ham hocks, salt and pepper, and onions.

Reduce the heat and cook on low for one hour.

This is an excellent side dish for the holidays or anytime.  May even be eaten with a piece of cornbread as a meal.  I love this.  It is one of my favorite recipes and it is totally Native American

 

ABC It is Easy As 1,2,3……May I present our Calendar? December Is Our Star! 

Have you ever wondered, “How did the months of the year get their names?” The months’ names reflect a mix of gods, goddesses, rulers, and numbers. Discover how our calendar developed into what it is today.

How Our Calendar Came to Be

The Ancient Roman Calendar

Today, we follow the Gregorian calendar, but it’s based on the ancient Roman calendar, believed to be invented by Romulus, who served as the first king of Rome around 753 BC.

The Roman calendar, a complicated lunar calendar, had 12 months like our current calendar, but only 10 of the months had formal names. Basically, winter was a “dead” period when the government and military weren’t active, so they only had names for the time we think of as March through December.

March (Martius) was named for Mars, the god of war, because this was the month when active military campaigns resumed. May (Maius) and June (Junius) were also named for goddesses: Maia and Juno. April (Aprilis) is thought to stem from the Latin aperio, meaning “to open”—a reference to the opening buds of springtime. The rest of the months were numbered; their original names in Latin meant the fifth (Quintilis), sixth (Sextilis), seventh (September), eighth (October), ninth (November), and tenth (December) month.

Eventually, January (Januarius) and February (Februarius) were added to the end of the year, giving all 12 months proper names. January was named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. February’s name is believed to stem from Februa, an ancient festival dedicated to ritual springtime cleaning and washing.

Julian Calendar Updates

When Julius Caesar became Pontifex Maximus, he reformed the Roman calendar so that the 12 months were based on Earth’s revolutions around the Sun. It was a solar calendar, as we have today. January and February were moved to the front of the year, and leap years were introduced to keep the calendar year lined up with the solar year.

The winter months (January and February) remained a time of reflection, peace, new beginnings, and purification. After Caesar’s death, the month Quintilis was renamed July in honor of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, and later, Sextilis was renamed August in honor of Roman Emperor Augustus in 8 BC.

Of course, all the renaming and reorganizing meant that some of the months’ names no longer agreed with their position in the calendar (September to December, for example). Later emperors tried to name various months after themselves, but those changes did not outlive them!

Today’s Gregorian Calendar

Quite a bit later, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced many reforms to the Julian calendar, as there were still some inaccuracies and adjustments to be made. Mainly, the Julian calendar had overestimated the time it took the Earth to orbit the Sun, so the Gregorian calendar shortened the calendar year from 365.25 days to 365.2425 days. This meant that the calendar could be more easily corrected by leap years and that the dates of the equinoxes and solstices—and thus, the date of Easter—once again lined up with their observed dates.

Origins of the Months’ Names

JANUARY

Named for the Roman god Janus, protector of gates and doorways. Janus is depicted with two faces, one looking into the past, the other into the future. In ancient Roman times, the gates of the temple of Janus were open in times of war and closed in times of peace.

FEBRUARY

From the Latin word februa, “to cleanse.” The Roman calendar month of Februarius was named for Februalia, a festival of purification and atonement that took place during this period.

MARCH

Named for the Roman god of war, Mars. This was the time of year to resume military campaigns that had been interrupted by winter. March was also a time of many festivals, presumably in preparation for the campaigning season.

APRIL

From the Latin word aperio, “to open (bud),” plants begin to grow in this month. In essence, this month was viewed as spring’s renewal.

MAY

Named for the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. Also, from the Latin word maiores, “elders,” who were celebrated during this month. Maia was considered a nurturer and an earth goddess, which may explain the connection with this springtime month. 

JUNE

Named for the Roman goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and the well-being of women. Also, from the Latin word juvenis, “young people.”

JULY

Named to honor Roman dictator Julius Caesar (100 B.C.– 44 B.C.) after his death. In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar made one of his most significant contributions to history: With the help of Sosigenes, he developed the Julian calendar, the precursor to the Gregorian calendar we use today.

Named to honor the first Roman emperor (and grandnephew of Julius Caesar), Augustus Caesar (63 B.C.– A.D. 14). Augustus (the first Roman emperor) comes from the Latin word “augustus,” meaning venerable, noble, and majestic.

SEPTEMBER

September comes from the Latin word septem, meaning “seven,” because it was the seventh month of the early Roman calendar.

OCTOBER

In the ancient Roman calendar, October was the name of the eighth month of the year. Its name comes from octo, the Latin word for “eight.” When the Romans converted to a 12-month calendar, they tried to rename this month after various Roman emperors, but October’s name stuck!

In Old England, the month was called Winmonath, which means “wine month,” for this was the time of year when wine was made. The English also called it Winterfylleth, or “Winter Full Moon.” They considered this full Moon to be the start of winter. In weather lore, we note, “If October brings heavy frosts and winds, then will January and February be mild.”

NOVEMBER

From the Latin word novem, “nine,” this had been the ninth month of the early Roman calendar.

DECEMBER

From the Latin word decem, “ten,” this had been the tenth month of the early Roman calendar.

More Information On December

In ancient Rome, the calendar had only ten months and a total of 304 days. The year would start in March, which was considered the beginning of spring. March was named after Mars, the Roman god of war. This was followed by April, May, and so on until December.

During the reign of King Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, the calendar was revised to include two additional months at the beginning of the year. This change was made to align the calendar with the lunar cycles and to account for the winter period, which was previously unaccounted for.

The months of January and February were added, with January becoming the first month of the year. January was named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. February, on the other hand, was named after the Latin word ‘februum’, which means purification. It was a month dedicated to religious rituals and cleansing.

With the addition of January and February, December was pushed to the twelfth and final month of the year. Despite these changes, the name ‘December’ has prevailed throughout history, maintaining its significance as the month that brings the year to a close.

December holds a special place in many cultures and religions around the world. In the northern hemisphere, it marks the beginning of winter, with shorter days and colder temperatures. It is a time when people gather with their loved ones to celebrate various holidays, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

Christmas, in particular, is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in December. It commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is observed by Christians worldwide. The holiday is marked by festive decorations, gift-giving, and special religious services.

In addition to religious holidays, December also brings about a sense of reflection and anticipation for the upcoming year. Many people take the time to reflect on the past year, set goals for the future, and make resolutions for self-improvement.

December is also a month filled with cultural traditions and festivities. In some countries, such as Mexico, the celebration of Las Posadas takes place throughout the month. It eenacts Joseph and Mary’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem and involves processions, music, and food.

In Scandinavian countries, the celebration of St. Lucia’s Day on December 13th is a significant event. It honors St. Lucia, a Christian martyr, and is marked by processions of girls wearing white robes and candles on their heads.

Furthermore, December is a time when many people engage in acts of charity and giving. The holiday season often inspires individuals to donate to charitable organizations, volunteer their time, and help those in need.

Overall, December is a month that holds historical, cultural, and religious significance. It is a time of reflection, celebration, and giving. As the final month of the year, it symbolizes the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, making it a truly special time for people around the world.

The Etymology of December

The etymology of December traces back to the Roman word ‘decem’, which directly translates to ‘ten’. This word reflects the month’s original placement within the Roman calendar. The roots of the name highlight the evolving nature of calendars and the significance they hold in shaping our perceptions of time.

December, the twelfth and final month of the Gregorian calendar, has a rich history that goes beyond its etymology. It is a month filled with festivities, celebrations, and a sense of closure as the year comes to an end.

In ancient Rome, December marked the beginning of the winter season. The Romans believed that during this month, the god Saturn, the god of agriculture and time, reigned supreme. They celebrated the festival of Saturnalia, a week-long event filled with feasting, gift-giving, and revelry. It was a time when social norms were temporarily suspended, and people indulged in merriment and freedom.

As the Roman Empire expanded, December became a month of great significance in various cultures. In medieval Europe, it was a time of preparation for the upcoming winter months. People would gather supplies, stock up on food, and ensure their homes were well-insulated to withstand the harsh weather.

December also holds religious importance for many. It is a time when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on the 25th of December. The holiday season brings people together, fostering a sense of unity and goodwill.

Furthermore, December is a month of reflection and introspection. As the year draws to a close, many individuals take the opportunity to evaluate their accomplishments, set goals for the future, and express gratitude for the experiences and challenges they have faced throughout the year.

December is also a time when nature undergoes significant changes. In the Northern Hemisphere, the days become shorter, and the temperatures drop, marking the official arrival of winter. Snow blankets the landscape, creating a serene and magical atmosphere. In contrast, in the Southern Hemisphere, December brings the arrival of summer, with longer days and warmer weather.

As we delve into the etymology of December, we discover a month that encompasses a multitude of cultural, religious, and natural elements. It is a time of celebration, reflection, and transition. The name itself serves as a reminder of the ancient Roman roots of our modern calendar and the enduring influence of history on our daily lives.

The Linguistic Roots of December

Beyond Latin, the linguistic origins of December can be found in various other languages. For example, in Spanish, December is called ‘diciembre’, while in French, it is known as ‘décembre’. These linguistic connections demonstrate how the name has permeated different cultures and languages throughout history.

As we delve deeper into the linguistic roots of December, we discover fascinating connections that span across continents and centuries. The name ‘December’ finds its origins in the Latin word ‘decem’, meaning ‘ten’. This is because December was originally the tenth month in the ancient Roman calendar.

Interestingly, the shift from December being the tenth month to the twelfth month in our modern calendar can be traced back to the reforms made by Julius Caesar. In 45 BCE, he introduced the Julian calendar, which added two additional months, January and February, at the beginning of the year. This adjustment pushed December to its current position as the twelfth month.

As the Roman Empire expanded its influence, so did the Latin language. Latin became the lingua franca of the Western world, and with it, the name ‘December’ spread to various regions. The Roman conquest of Gaul, for instance, brought Latin to what is now modern-day France. This is why in French, December is known as ‘décembre’, a direct reflection of its Latin roots.

Similarly, the Roman Empire’s conquest of Hispania, which comprises present-day Spain and Portugal, introduced Latin to the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish name for December, ‘diciembre’, is a testament to the lasting impact of Latin on the Spanish language.

It is fascinating to observe how the name ‘December’ has evolved and adapted as it traveled across different cultures and languages. In each region, it took on a unique phonetic form while still retaining its essence. This linguistic phenomenon highlights the interconnectedness of human history and the enduring influence of ancient civilizations.

Furthermore, the significance of December extends beyond its linguistic origins. It is a month that holds great cultural and religious significance for many communities around the world. In the Northern Hemisphere, December marks the beginning of winter, a season associated with festivities, traditions, and celebrations.

One of the most widely recognized celebrations in December is Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Christian tradition. Christmas is celebrated by millions of people worldwide, with various customs and rituals that vary from country to country. From decorating Christmas trees to exchanging gifts, the holiday season in December brings joy and togetherness.

In addition to Christmas, December is also home to other important holidays and observances. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that usually falls in December. During this time, families light the menorah, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional foods.

Moreover, December is a month of reflection and anticipation as the year draws to a close. It is a time for setting goals, making resolutions, and looking forward to the possibilities that the coming year holds.

So, as we explore the linguistic roots of December, we uncover a rich tapestry of history, culture, and tradition. From its Latin origins to its diverse manifestations in different languages, December is a month that bridges the past and the present, connecting us to our shared human heritage.

December in the Roman Calendar

The Roman calendar, as mentioned earlier, positioned December as the tenth month. However, understanding December’s place in this calendar requires a closer examination of its historical context.

The Early Roman Calendar and December

In the early period of the Roman calendar, which had ten months, December was considered the final month of the year. However, it only consisted of 30 days, highlighting the need for the calendar’s later modifications.

December’s Position in the Julian Calendar

With the introduction of the Julian calendar by Julius Caesar, December retained its position as the twelfth month. It was given 31 days to align the calendar more closely with the solar year. The Julian calendar laid the foundation for the calendar system used by many Western societies today.

December in Different Cultures

December’s significance extends beyond the Roman calendar. This month holds cultural importance in various societies worldwide. 

December in the Gregorian Calendar

In the Gregorian calendar, December maintains its place as the twelfth and final month of the year. This calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, sought to correct the inaccuracies of the Julian calendar in relation to the solar year. As a result, December 31st marks the end of the year and is often celebrated with festivities and reflection.

December in Non-Western Cultures

While December holds prominence in Western cultures, it is essential to acknowledge that non-Western cultures have their own unique ways of marking this month. For example, in many East Asian countries, December is associated with the celebration of the Winter Solstice, a time when families gather to honor ancestors and eat traditional foods.

The Significance of December in History

The historical events that have occurred during December have shaped the course of human history and left lasting impressions on society.

Historical Events in December

December is often marked by significant historical milestones. From the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 to the Wright brothers’ first powered flight in 1903, December has been a witness to various groundbreaking achievements.

December in Religious Traditions

December holds profound religious significance in many traditions. For instance, Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th, marking the birth of Jesus Christ. Additionally, Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, typically falls in December, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness.

Modern Interpretations of December

Beyond historical context, December has found its place in contemporary culture and is subject to modern interpretations.

December in Popular Culture

December is often depicted in popular culture as a month of joy and festivities. It is associated with holiday decorations, family gatherings, and reflections on the past year. Movies, songs, and literature often capture the essence of December, further contributing to its cultural significance.

Symbolism and Associations of December

December is often associated with themes such as winter, snow, and holiday cheer. It symbolizes the transition from one year to the next and offers a time for introspection and planning for the future. The symbolism attached to December varies across cultures, but common themes of renewal and hope prevail.

As we explore the origin of the name December and its complete history, we uncover a tapestry woven with cultural, historical, and linguistic threads. Whether it’s marked by winter solstice celebrations, historical milestones, or contemporary festivities, December continues to hold a special place in our hearts and calendars. It serves as a reminder of the passage of time, the significance of tradition, and the potential for new beginnings.

December’s Birthstones

The winter blues have nothing on December’s birthstones: tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise.

All three of December’s birthstones are best known for their beautiful shades of blue. These gemstones range from the oldest on Earth to one of the first mined and used in jewelry, to one of the most recently discovered.

December’s birthstones are relatively inexpensive, but their beauty rivals even precious gemstones. Colorless zircon is a convincing replacement for diamond, tanzanite often substitutes sapphire, and turquoise is unmatched in its hue of robin’s egg blue.

So there you have it my friends……December! 

Warning! Do Not Take This Ride Share On or Near Halloween!

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow resurfaces every year around Halloween. Washington Irving’s 1820 tale of a headless horseman who terrorizes the real-life village of Sleepy Hollow is considered one of America’s first ghost stories—and one of its scariest. But Irving didn’t invent the idea of a headless rider.

But Irving didn’t invent the idea of a headless rider. Tales of headless horsemen can be traced to the Middle Ages, including stories from the Brothers Grimm and the Dutch and Irish legend of the “Dullahan” or “Gan Ceann,” a Grim Reaper-like rider who carries his head.

A likely source for Irving’s horseman can be found in Sir Walter Scott’s 1796 The Chase, which is a translation of the German poem The Wild Huntsman by Gottfried Bürger and likely based on Norse mythology.

Irving had just met and become friends with Scott in 1817 so it’s very likely he was influenced by his new mentor’s work. The poem is about a wicked hunter who is doomed to be hunted forever by the devil and the ‘dogs of hell’ as punishment for his crimes.

Irving’s story takes place in the New York village of Sleepy Hollow, in Westchester County. In it, lanky newcomer and schoolmaster Ichabod Crane courts Katrina van Tassel, a young heiress who is also being pursued by the Dutchman Brom Bones. After being rebuffed by Katrina at a party at the van Tassel farm where ghost stories are shared, Ichabod is chased by a headless horseman (who may or may not be his rival) who hurls a pumpkin at the man, throwing Ichabod from his horse. The schoolmaster vanishes.

Irving may have drawn inspiration for his story while a teenager in the Tarrytown region. He moved to the area in 1798 to flee a yellow fever outbreak in New York City, according to the New York Historical Society.

He “would have been introduced to local ghost stories and lore at an impressionable age,” Bradley says. “He cleverly weaves together factual locations—the Old Dutch Church and churchyard, ‘Major Andre’s Tree,’ some actual family names, including van Tassel and Ichabod Crane—and a little bit of Revolutionary War history with pure imagination and fantasy,” Bradley says. “It’s a melting pot of a story, and thus totally American.”

Franz Potter, a professor at National University who specializes in Gothic studies, says the headless horseman, as a supernatural entity, represents a past that never dies, but always haunts the living.

“The headless horseman supposedly seeks revenge—and a head—which he thinks was unfairly taken from him,” Potter says. “This injustice demands that he continually search for a substitute. The horseman, like the past, still seeks answers, still seeks retribution, and can’t rest. We are haunted by the past which stalks us so that we never forget it.”

As for folklore mixing with history when it comes to the character of Ichabod Crane, The New York Times reports an actual Col. Ichabod B. Crane was a contemporary of Irving who enlisted in the Marines in 1809, serving 45 years. But there’s no evidence that the two ever met, according to the newspaper.

America’s first ghost story, Bradley says, has endured because it accommodates the changing American imagination.

“It inspires people because it reminds them that there are still some American mysteries, some half-truths that may never be fully known—and that’s the whole point,” she says. “The ‘Legend’ lends itself to any interpretation, and it continues to fascinate and terrify us in the best possible way.”

Forgotten History:

Largely forgotten today, Washington Irving has an odd historical legacy that dips deep into the families and lands of Westchester County.

The tale of Rip Van Winkle, the man who famously fell asleep for years and years and awoke to a changed, unfamiliar world, is about as familiar as it gets when it comes to American folklore. Likewise is the famously tall and gaunt Ichabod Crane (“one might have mistaken him for … some scarecrow eloped from a cornfield”), scared out of his wits in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by the terrifying, blood-curdling sight of the Headless Horseman.

As rooted in folklore as “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” are, they are not, in fact, popular legends and myths that sprang up during the early years of the United States — they are works of fiction penned by Washington Irving.

Largely forgotten today, Washington Irving has an odd historical legacy. His literary output has long been a part of the American vernacular, yet the actual source of these writings — the author himself — has basically fallen into obscurity. If this were not influence enough, the word “knickerbocker” — a denizen of New York City — also springs from Irving’s pen. (Hence the nickname of the storied NYC NBA franchise.)

The year 2019 marked the bicentennial of the publication of The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., which was serialized between 1819 and 1820. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was published as part of The Sketch Book in March 1820. Because of the serialization, the anniversary of the Sleepy Hollow-based short story was celebrated in 2019–2020, and with that comes an opportunity to restore Washington Irving to his rightful stature.

The physical and psychological landscape of the Hudson Valley are part and parcel of Irving’s most famous fictional creations. “Sleepy Hollow” transpires near “Tarry Town” (as Irving styled it), “a retreat whither I might steal from the world and its distractions and dream quietly away…”

Washington Irving lived and worked here in the Hudson Valley, and the region’s beauty and mystery remain forever linked to his writing output. Sleepy Hollow is a real place, of course, as is Tarrytown. Irving is the namesake of the village of Irvington. Local drivers can avail themselves of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. It doesn’t take much to ascertain his regional influence.

As a town, “the legacy of Sleepy Hollow and that of Washington Irving are closely shared,” according to Henry Steiner, official historian for the Village of Sleepy Hollow. “Sleepy Hollow has been influenced by Irving, and Irving by Sleepy Hollow. One legacy would not be the same without the other. Irving was a prolific writer, but his two most famous, iconic works are ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ and ‘Rip Van Winkle.’ Sleepy Hollow is the real place that inspired Irving’s best work, and the reception of this short masterpiece was instrumental in establishing Irving’s great fame. He returned the favor by making Sleepy Hollow, the place, world-famous.”

Irving’s expansive estate, Sunnyside, is located in Tarrytown and is an active historical and educational site that hosts a wide range of visitors. Sunnyside, according to Historic Hudson Valley’s Karen Clark, celebrates Washington Irving “and his impact on the region and on literature in general. He had a lasting impact on our culture.” This makes his general unfamiliarity today all the more puzzling. The young United States of the early 19th century, flush with independence, nevertheless struggled with a deep-seated inferiority complex. Europe was the fount of culture and knowledge. “Writing in New York at the beginning of the 19th century,” according to scholar William L. Hedges, “meant writing for an audience bent on viewing itself as sophisticated.”

Irving did not disappoint. “Sleepy Hollow,” with its innovative mixture of the American colloquial inflected with a good dose of spooky German folklore, pushed him into the rank of literary celebrity, one of the first hugely acclaimed writers to come out of the United States. Other writers of the time — like Edgar Allan Poe — were eager for his approval. The public clamored for his autograph. He broke bread with President Martin Van Buren. Irving’s friendly letter to Charles Dickens thrilled the British writer to no end — such was the international renown of Washington Irving.

The beautiful Sunnyside offers tours from May through November. Irving, according to Clark, “actually designed his home and designed the landscape, as well, creating ponds, vistas, a garden.” Besides being a place of striking visual attractiveness, Sunnyside also functions as a student-friendly educational resource, with school group tours and events specifically geared toward the younger set.

Irving spent many, many years in Europe (duly noted and criticized in some quarters) and, in the 1840s, served as American minister to Spain. Sunnyside, though, was eventually his permanent home, where he wrangled with publishers, lived amid his large extended family, and over a lifetime produced an astonishingly varied, prodigious output that ran the gamut from fiction, essays, biographies, travelogue, and — perhaps most surprisingly — a work on the Prophet Muhammad.

The Headless Horseman is a true staple of the fantastic. Not surprisingly, interest in “Sleepy Hollow” spikes during the Halloween season, and with that are added visitors to the village and the Historic Hudson Valley properties. Popular events “Horseman’s Hollow” and “Irving’s Legend” celebrated their 10th year in 2019, thanks to their popularity among locals.

“Visitation has doubled in this time frame, now approaching 50,000 just for these events alone,” says Clark of the 2019 season. “In all, we’ll welcome well more than 250,000 people from all 50 states and several countries to greater Sleepy Hollow country this fall. We are proud to help drive this tremendous economic engine for the area.

in 2019, Historic Hudson Valley launched a brand-new event. “The Sleepy Hollow Experience” was “an outdoor, immersive theatrical experience [that is] a retelling of ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.’ There’s music, and you can follow the characters from scene to scene around the grounds,” according to Clark. Historic Hudson Valley also had experts on hand during another event, named “Home of the ‘Legend,’” at Sunnyside for those who sought some historical context amid the spookiness.

That context does not negate the role of Washington Irving as a writer. In April 2020, Historic Hudson Valley planned to participate in an academic conference — open to the general public — that was set to convene to discuss Irving’s enduring importance.

More than two hundred years ago, the world read the jolting words that “Ichabod was horror-struck on perceiving that [the horseman] was headless! But his horror was still more increased on observing that the head, which should have rested on his shoulders, was carried before him…” And generation upon generation has collectively shivered. Washington Irving’s considerable legacy endures and should be only deepened since the bicentennial year.

So if the Uber Driver shows up on or near Halloween night on a horse or with a detached head (which might or might not be a pumpkin), do not take that ride!

Happy Halloween!

Quote The Raven  “Nevermore, Nevermore”

 

Edgar Allan Poe (né Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, and of American literature. He was one of the country’s earliest practitioners of the short story, and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre, as well as a significant contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction. He is the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

Poe was born in Boston, the second child of actors David and Elizabeth “Eliza” Poe.  His father abandoned the family in 1810, and when his mother died the following year, Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia. They never formally adopted him, but he was with them well into young adulthood. He attended the University of Virginia but left after a year due to lack of money. He quarreled with John Allan over the funds for his education, and his gambling debts. In 1827, having enlisted in the United States Army under an assumed name, he published his first collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, credited only to “a Bostonian”. Poe and Allan reached a temporary rapprochement after the death of Allan’s wife in 1829. Poe later failed as an officer cadet at West Point, declared a firm wish to be a poet and writer, and parted ways with Allan. Poe switched his focus to prose, and spent the next several years working for literary journals and periodicals, becoming known for his own style of literary criticism. His work forced him to move among several cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. In 1836, he married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm, but she died of tuberculosis in 1847. In January 1845, he published his poem “The Raven” to instant success. He planned for years to produce his own journal The Penn (later renamed The Stylus), but before it could be produced, he died in Baltimore on October 7, 1849, aged 40, under mysterious circumstances. The cause of his death remains unknown, and has been variously attributed to many causes including disease, alcoholism, substance abuse, and suicide.

Poe and his works influenced literature around the world, as well as specialized fields such as cosmology and cryptography. He and his work appear throughout popular culture in literature, music, films, and television. A number of his homes are dedicated museums. The Mystery Writers of America present an annual Edgar Award for distinguished work in the mystery genre.

Edgar Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809, the second child of American actor David Poe Jr. and English-born actress Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe. He had an elder brother, Henry, and a younger sister, Rosalie. Their grandfather, David Poe, had emigrated from County Cavan, Ireland, around 1750.

His father abandoned the family in 1810, and his mother died a year later from consumption (pulmonary tuberculosis). Poe was then taken into the home of John Allan, a successful merchant in Richmond, Virginia, who dealt in a variety of goods, including cloth, wheat, tombstones, tobacco, and human trade. The Allans served as a foster family and gave him the name “Edgar Allan Poe”, although they never formally adopted him.

The Allan family had Poe baptized into the Episcopal Church in 1812. John Allan alternately spoiled and aggressively disciplined his foster son. The family sailed to the United Kingdom in 1815, and Poe attended the grammar school for a short period in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland (where Allan was born) before rejoining the family in London in 1816. There he studied at a boarding school in Chelsea until summer 1817. He was subsequently entered at the Reverend John Bransby’s Manor House School at Stoke Newington, then a suburb 4 miles (6 km) north of London.

Poe moved with the Allans back to Richmond in 1820. In 1824, he served as the lieutenant of the Richmond youth honor guard as the city celebrated the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette.  In March 1825, Allan’s uncle and business benefactor William Galt died, who was said to be one of the wealthiest men in Richmond, leaving Allan several acres of real estate. The inheritance was estimated at $750,000 (equivalent to $19,000,000 in 2023).  By summer 1825, Allan celebrated his expansive wealth by purchasing a two-story brick house called Moldavia.

Poe may have become engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster before he registered at the University of Virginia in February 1826 to study ancient and modern languages. The university was in its infancy, established on the ideals of its founder Thomas Jefferson. It had strict rules against gambling, horses, guns, tobacco, and alcohol, but these rules were mostly ignored. Jefferson enacted a system of student self-government, allowing students to choose their own studies, make their own arrangements for boarding, and report all wrongdoing to the faculty. The unique system was still in chaos, and there was a high dropout rate. During his time there, Poe lost touch with Royster and also became estranged from his foster father over gambling debts. He claimed that Allan had not given him sufficient money to register for classes, purchase texts, and procure and furnish a dormitory. Allan did send additional money and clothes, but Poe’s debts increased. Poe gave up on the university after a year but did not feel welcome returning to Richmond, especially when he learned that his sweetheart Royster had married another man, Alexander Shelton. He traveled to Boston in April 1827, sustaining himself with odd jobs as a clerk and newspaper writer, and started using the pseudonym Henri Le Rennet during this period.

 

On October 3, 1849, Poe was found semiconscious in Baltimore, “in great distress, and… in need of immediate assistance”, according to Joseph W. Walker, who found him.  He was taken to the Washington Medical College, where he died on Sunday, October 7, 1849, at 5:00 in the morning. Poe was not coherent long enough to explain how he came to be in his dire condition and why he was wearing clothes that were not his own. He is said to have repeatedly called out the name “Reynolds” on the night before his death, though it is unclear to whom he was referring. His attending physician said that Poe’s final words were, “Lord help my poor soul”. All of the relevant medical records have been lost, including Poe’s death certificate.

It was raining in Baltimore on October 3, 1849, but that didn’t stop Joseph W. Walker, a compositor for the Baltimore Sun, from heading out to Gunner’s Hall, a public house bustling with activity. It was Election Day, and Gunner’s Hall served as a pop-up polling location for the 4th Ward polls. When Walker arrived at Gunner’s Hall, he found a man, delirious and dressed in shabby secondhand clothes, lying in the gutter. The man was semi-conscious and unable to move, but as Walker approached him, he discovered something unexpected: The man was Edgar Allan Poe. Worried about the health of the addled poet, Walker stopped and asked Poe if he had any acquaintances in Baltimore who might be able to help him. Poe gave Walker the name of Joseph E. Snodgrass, a magazine editor with some medical training. Immediately, Walker wrote Snodgrass a letter asking for help: magazine editor with some medical training. Immediately, Walker wrote Snodgrass a letter asking for help:

Baltimore City, Oct. 3, 1849

Dear Sir,

There is a gentleman, rather the worse for wear, at Ryan’s 4th ward polls, who goes under the cognomen of Edgar A. Poe, and who appears in great distress, & he says he is acquainted with you, he is in need of immediate assistance.

Yours, in haste,

JOS. W. WALKER

To Dr. J.E. Snodgrass.

 

On September 27—almost a week earlier—Poe had left Richmond, Virginia, bound for Philadelphia to edit a collection of poems for Marguerite St. Leon Loud, a minor figure in American poetry at the time. When Walker found Poe in delirious disarray outside of the polling place, it was the first anyone had heard or seen of the poet since his departure from Richmond. Poe never made it to Philadelphia to attend to his editing business. Nor did he ever make it back to New York, where he had been living, to escort his aunt back to Richmond for his impending wedding. Poe was never to leave Baltimore, where he launched his career in the early 19th century, again—and in the four days between Walker finding Poe outside the public house and Poe’s death on October 7, he never regained enough consciousness to explain how he had come to be found, in soiled clothes not his own, incoherent on the streets. Instead, Poe spent his final days wavering between fits of delirium, gripped by visual hallucinations. The night before his death, according to his attending physician John J. Moran, Poe repeatedly called out for “Reynolds”—a figure who, to this day, remains a mystery.

Poe’s death—shrouded in mystery—seems ripped directly from the pages of one of his own works. He had spent years crafting a careful image of a man inspired by adventure and fascinated with enigmas—a poet, a detective, an author, a world traveler who fought in the Greek War of Independence and was held prisoner in Russia. But though his death certificate listed the cause of death as phrenitis, or swelling of the brain, the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death have led many to speculate about the true cause of Poe’s demise. “Maybe it’s fitting that since he invented the detective story,” says Chris Semtner, curator of the Poe Museum in Richmond, “he left us with a real-life mystery.”

 

Newspapers at the time reported Poe’s death as “congestion of the brain” or “cerebral inflammation”, common euphemisms for death from disreputable causes such as alcoholism. The actual cause of death remains a mystery. Speculation has included delirium tremens, heart disease, epilepsy, syphilis, meningeal inflammation, cholera, carbon monoxide poisoning, and rabies. One theory dating from 1872 suggests that Poe’s death resulted from cooping, a form of electoral fraud in which citizens were forced to vote for a particular candidate, sometimes leading to violence and even murder.

The historical Edgar Allan Poe has appeared as a fictionalized character, often in order to represent the “mad genius” or “tormented artist” and in order to exploit his personal struggles. Many such depictions also blend in with characters from his stories, suggesting that Poe and his characters share identities. Often, fictional depictions of Poe use his mystery-solving skills in such novels as The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl.

No childhood home of Poe is still standing, including the Allan family’s Moldavia estate. The oldest standing home in Richmond, the Old Stone House, is in use as the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, though Poe never lived there. The collection includes many items that Poe used during his time with the Allan family, and also features several rare first printings of Poe works. 13 West Range is the dorm room that Poe is believed to have used while studying at the University of Virginia in 1826; it is preserved and available for visits. Its upkeep is overseen by a group of students and staff known as the Raven Society.

 

Edgar Allan Poe: Odd and interesting facts about the dark and mysterious poet behind ‘The Raven’

1. How old was Poe when he became an orphan?

Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on Jan. 19, 1809, but he was immediately abandoned by his father in 1810.

A year later on Dec. 8, 1811, at age 24, Poe’s mother, Eliza, died of tuberculosis, according to The Poe Museum.

Poe and his two siblings were then taken in by their godparents, John and Frances Allan, a wealthy family from Richmond, Virginia.

 

2. How much was Poe paid for ‘The Raven’ when it was published?

Poe’s best-known work is the descriptive, dark poem entitled “The Raven.”

He sold the now-iconic poem to a literary magazine, The American Review, for its February 1845 issue, — for a grand total of $9. It printed the poem with the pseudonym “Quarles.”

However, that same year in January, a New York magazine — The Evening Mirror — released an advanced copy of the poem under Poe’s name.

3. How old was Poe’s wife, Virginia Clemm, when they wed?

Poe married his cousin, Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, when he was 27 years old.

When Poe and Virginia wed, she was only 13 years old, wrote The Poe Museum.

The two met a year before, when Poe invited his cousin and his aunt, Maria, to stay with him in Richmond, The Poe Museum says.

 

4. How many theories exist about the death of Edgar Allan Poe?

There are as many as 26 theories about Poe’s cause of death, reports The Poe Museum.

Some of the possibilities noted include dipsomania, heart disease, tuberculosis, toxic disorder, hypoglycemia, diabetes, alcohol dehydrogenase, porphryia, Delerium tremens, rabies, murder, flu, heavy metal poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

5. How long does it take to recite ‘The Raven’?

Poe’s well-known poem consists of 18 stanzas, with six lines in each stanza — 108 lines in total.

The poem can take 24 minutes to recite if spoken at a rate of 250 words per minute, according to readinglength.com.

 

6. How many pets did Poe and his wife have?

Poe had one tortoiseshell cat named “Cattarina,” which is rumored to have perched on the poet’s shoulders when he was writing short stories.

“Cats were a source of much solace to the writer whose life was as tormented as his tales,” the same source also said.

 

It has been rumored Poe had a Siamese cat as well — and a film adaption of the poet’s life depicted the writer with a pet raccoon. However, there’s no conclusive evidence for these claims.

7. For how many years did the mysterious ‘Poe Toaster’ leave Cognac and three roses at Poe’s grave site?

For over 70 years, a mysterious person called the “Poe Toaster” — dressed in black and wearing a white scarf and large hat — left a bottle of Cognac and three red roses on Poe’s grave every year on January 19, Poe’s birthday.

The tradition came to a mysterious end in 2009 — and the identity of the person or persons has not been discovered, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

8. How many sports teams did Poe inspire with his work?

Edgar Allan Poe is the inspiration behind one NFL team, the Baltimore Ravens.

In 1996, the pro football team took a new name inspired by Poe’s most famous work.

“Named after a mythical bird in a famous poem, the new NFL team in Baltimore became the Ravens ‘evermore’ team on Friday, March 29, 1996,” shared the Baltimore Ravens history page.

 

The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—

Only this, and nothing more.”

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, “

“’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—

This it is, and nothing more.”

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;—

Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore!”

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”—

Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice,

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—

‘Tis the wind and nothing more.”

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.

“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore—

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door—

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

With such name as “Nevermore.”

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing further then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—

Till I scarcely more than muttered, “other friends have flown before—

On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.”

Then the bird said, “Nevermore.”

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store,

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore,

Of ‘Never—nevermore’.”

But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o’er,

But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o’er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, me thought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.

“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee

Respite—respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore;

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—

On this home by horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—

Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

“Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting—

“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,

And the lamplight o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted—nevermore!

 

REST IN PEACE EDGAR ALLEN POE!