2^nd sacred Month is April 21^st – May 19^th 2012

A JOYFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL, AS THE SACRED NEW YEAR CONTINUES

By divine instruction, the month Abib began the Jewish sacred calendar year (Ex 12:2; Deut 16:1); subsequent  months for the rest of the year are determined from one new moon to another (Isa 66:23) . “Abib” is a collective noun signifying “green ears of corn” referring to the time when the ears of corn turn green which indicates the time frame in which the earth receives water (rain).

For the year 2012, the first sacred calendar month Abib began on the day of the new moon 22^nd March – 20^th April by the reckoning of the Gregorian calendar. The disparity between the Gregorian and the Jewish calendar is because the Jewish calendar is strictly a lunar calendar, each lunar month is determined when the first silver streak of the moon becomes visible in the sky after the occurrence of the new moon which is usually dark, while the Gregorian calendar is based on the solar year. What is common to both Gregorian and Jewish calendars is the date of the occurrence of the new moon.

The second sacred calendar month called Zif began on the following new moon which is 21^st April – 19^th May 2012.

May is approximately equivalent to the third (3^rd) Jewish sacred calendar month called SIVAN which begins on the day of the new moon, 20^th of May – 18^th of June 2012 by the reckoning of the Gregorian calendar. One of the most important Jewish festivals – The feast of Pentecost, is celebrated at this time (Lev. 23:15-21), a festival that was a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.

The month of May was named after the Roman goddess, MAIA.

The Romans believed that MERCURY was the god of merchandise and merchants, and is commonly identified with the Greek HERMES who is believed to be the fleet-footed messenger of the gods.

The worship of Mercury (to whom the planet is dedicated) was associated with the worship of the Roman goddess Maia who is identified as his mother by her association with the Greek goddess Maia believed to be the mother of Hermes.

Both Mercury and Maia were honoured in pagan festivals on May l5^th the dedication day of the Temple of Mercury on the Aventine (built around 500 BC)

In classical mythology, Maia is considered the mother of Pleiades (a cluster of 7 stars). The helical (near dawn) rising of Pleiades in spring in the Northern Hemisphere, marked from ancient times the opening of sea faring and farming seasons.

In medieval and modern Europe, 1^st May was a day of traditional springtime celebration which starts off with agricultural rituals. Such rites were intended to ensure fertility to the crops, cattle and human beings.