January Mural – A new piece inspired by the ancient history and mythology of January, a collision of Celtic and Roman traditions and folklore.
The first piece in a twelve month project.
The Gaelic word for ‘year,’ Bliadhna, originates from the concept of time’s division, reflecting the rhythms of agriculture. The passage of time was marked by celestial events—solstices and equinoxes—that guided the seasons, ensuring the right moments for planting and harvest.
January Mural
Central to Gaelic winter mythology is Cailleach, the divine hag. She powerfully shapes the landscape, commanding the storms and frost of winter. As a seasonal deity, she rules the colder months, her name derived from the Old Irish Caillech, meaning “veiled one”. Evoking both mysteryand power. The cold wasn’t just tolerated it was welcomed. Seen as a necessary force to cleanse the land and prepare it for renewal. The Gaelic term for winter, An Geamhrachd, stems from an ancient Celtic root meaning “cold,” which in turn traces back to an even older linguistic source signifying “stiff and rigid”. A fitting description of the frost-hardened earth.
This season, often called the “wolf month,” brings scarcity during January and early February. As food grows scarce, wolves descend from the hills, desperately searching for sustenance.
Meanwhile, in Roman mythology, January takes its name from Janus, the god of beginnings, transitions, and time. With two faces gazing forward and backward, he symbolizes both endings and fresh starts, making him a fitting guardian of doorways and thresholds.
Similarly, the Birch (Irish Beith) holds symbolic significance as the first tree in the ancient Ogham alphabet, representing renewal and new beginnings.
