THIS CALENDAR is the working calendar of Hellenion, a diverse group of Hellenic

polytheists sharing the common goal of living a life of piety and proper respect for

the Gods of Olympos and ancient Hellenic tradition.

The calendar is based on the monthly and annual observances and festivals of the

ancient Athenians from about 800 BCE to 323 BCE. This version was created using

information derived from two astronomical associations,

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL.html?cal=2020#skycal and from

www.timeanddate.com/calendar/moonphases.html, as well as these sources:

Greek Religion by Walter Burkert (Harvard University Press, 1977, English translation:

Basil Blackwell Publisher and Harvard University Press, 1985),

Old Stones, New Temples; ancient Greek paganism reborn, by Drew Campbell (Xlibris

Corporation, 2000),

Festivals of the Athenians, by H. W. Parke (London, Thames and Hudson, 1977)

Hellenic Month Established Per Athens (HMEPA). See the relevant pages at

http://www.numachi.com/~ccount/hmepa/calendars/699.html for the 699th

Olympiad.

One of our associated projects, the online version of this calendar, is now available

at the Hellenion web site: http://www.hellenion.org . That version contains links to

descriptions of all the special days noted on this calendar and suggestions about how

to observe them in the 21st century. You are under no obligation to observe all the

occasions and days mentioned here; in fact, that would be all but impossible at

present, since none of us live in a wholly polytheistic city. Every observance is

optional. This calendar is made available to you as a learning tool, and as a framework

to begin or extend your practice of ancient Hellenic religious tradition. Needless to

say, ancient Hellenic religion involved many more practices than are implied by this

calendar, which is adapted to the modern secular calendar.

The calendar outlines ancient monthly practices, such as Hekate’s Deipnon,

Noumenia (the visible crescent moon) and the Agathos Daimon. It also lists ancient

Athenian festivals on the exact dates where these are known. Where the exact date

has not been revealed by research, a question mark follows the name of the festival.

Information about the specific observance can be found in the references mentioned

above and on the online version.

In addition to ancient festivals and observances, certain modern occasions are listed

as well. This includes the Hellenion monthly libation (ensuring that at least one day a

month is shared by the community, albeit scattered, at the same time, and also

ensuring that each of the twelve Olympians is honored at least once during the year).

Note that this libation is not an official practice of Hellenion but a voluntary activity

endorsed by many Hellenion members. Some modern festivals are also listed, such

as Heliogenna in December, and Prometheia, held in Greece near the summer

solstice near Mt. Olympos. At the time of creating this calendar, the exact 2019 dates

were not available. (More information about this festival is found at

https://prometheia.wordpress.com ).

Remember that, among the ancient Greeks, the day begins at sundown of the

previous day. Days in gray indicate the new moon/beginning of Greek month and the

Hellenion monthly libation date. The dark of the moon is an approximation based on

the Eastern Time Zone (based in Toronto, Ontario) and the exact time of dark of moon

and Noumenia varies in other locations depending on your time zone, where in the

time zone you live and your latitude.

Transliteration of Greek month names and festivals below used “y” to represent the

short “u” of Greek, “kh” is used to represent “chi” (χ), a sound which does not exist

in English, and “e” represents both epsilon (ε) and eta (η). Έρρωσο!

About the cover: Kylix of Apollo recovered from a burial in Delphoi, made about 480-

470 BCE in an Attic workshop. Apollo is shown with an elaborate hair style and a

wreath, a red cloak and his seven-string lyre. In his right hand, he holds a phiale

(libation vessel) and he’s attended by a black crow or raven, both associated with the

god in myth. The photographer of this piece, Hellenion member Spyros Parashis,

wonders, “If it is Apollo who is depicted, why is he pouring a libation? To whom does

a god need to pour a libation?” What do you think? Why would a god need to pour a

libation? Photo by Spyros Parashis, October 2019. Graphic design by K.M. Wehrstein.

January 2020

Gamelion - Anthesterion Γαμηλιών - Ανθεστηριών Year 3 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 5 Gamelion 2 6 Gamelion

Artemis 3 7 Gamelion

Apollon 4 8 Gamelion

Poseidon and Theseus

5 9 Gamelion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

6 10 Gamelion 7 11 Gamelion 8 12 Gamelion

Lenaia

9 13 Gamelion

Lenaia 10 14 Gamelion

Lenaia FULL MOON 2:21 pm EST

11 15 Gamelion

Libation to Hera

12 16 Gamelion 13 17 Gamelion 14 18 Gamelion 15 19 Gamelion 16 20 Gamelion 17 21 Gamelion 18 22 Gamelion

19 23 Gamelion 20 24 Gamelion

21 25 Gamelion

22 26 Gamelion 23 27 Gamelion

Theogamia 24 28 Gamelion 25 29 Gamelion

Hekate’s Deipnon

26 1 Anthesterion

Noumenia 27 2 Anthesterion

Agathos Daimon 28 3 Anthesterion

Athena 29 4 Anthesterion

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

30 5 Anthesterion 31 6 Anthesterion

Artemis

Dark of the moon: Jan 24 – 4:42 pm EST; 3:42 pm CST; 2:42 pm MST; 1:42 pm PST, at 43.7°N

February 2020 Anthesterion - Elaphebolion Ανθεστηριών - Ελαφηβολιών Year 3 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 7 Anthesterion

Apollon

2 8 Anthesterion

Poseidon and Theseus 3 9 Anthesterion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

4 10 Anthesterion 5 11 Anthesterion

Anthesteria - Pithoigia

6 12 Anthesterion

Anthesteria - Khoes

7 13 Anthesterion

Anthesteria - Khytrai

8 14 Anthesterion

Libation to Aphrodite

9 15 Anthesterion

FULL MOON 2:33 am EST

10 16 Anthesterion 11 17 Anthesterion

12 18 Anthesterion

13 19 Anthesterion

14 20 Anthesterion

Lesser Mysteries

15 21 Anthesterion

Lesser Mysteries Anniversary of the Death of Socratēs

16 22 Anthesterion

Lesser Mysteries 17 23 Anthesterion

Lesser Mysteries & Diasia Family Day (Canada) Presidents Day (US)

18 24 Anthesterion

Lesser Mysteries

19 25 Anthesterion

Lesser Mysteries 20 26 Anthesterion

Lesser Mysteries 21 27 Anthesterion 22 28 Anthesterion

23 29 Anthesterion 24 30 Anthesterion

Hekate’s Deipnon

25 1 Elaphebolion

Noumenia

26 2 Elaphebolion

Agathos Daimon

27 3 Elaphebolion

Athena 28 4 Elaphebolion

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

29 5 Elaphebolion

Dark of the moon: Feb 23 – 10:32 am EST; 9:32 am CST; 8:32 am MST; 7:32 am PST, at 43.7°N.

March 2020 Elaphebolion - Mounykhion Ελαφηβολιών - Μουνυχιών Year 3 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 6 Elaphebolion

Elaphebolia Artemis

2 7 Elaphebolion

Apollon 3 8 Elaphebolion

Asklepia Poseidon and Theseus

4 9 Elaphebolion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

5 10 Elaphebolion

Dionysia ta astika

6 11 Elaphebolion

Dionysia ta astika 7 12 Elaphebolion

Dionysia ta astika

8 13 Elaphebolion

Dionysia ta astika

9 14 Elaphebolion

Dionysia ta astika FULL MOON 1:47 pm EDT

10 15 Elaphebolion

Dionysia ta astika

11 16 Elaphebolion

Dionysia ta astika

12 17 Elaphebolion

Dionysia ta astika & Pandia

13 18 Elaphebolion 14 19 Elaphebolion

Libation to Hephaistos

15 20 Elaphebolion 16 21 Elaphebolion 17 22 Elaphebolion 18 23 Elaphebolion 19 24 Elaphebolion 20 25 Elaphebolion

Anniversary of the martyrdom of Hypatia Equinox

21 26 Elaphebolion

22 27 Elaphebolion 23 28 Elaphebolion 24 29 Elaphebolion 25 30 Elaphebolion

Hekate’s Deipnon

26 1 Mounykhion

Noumenia 27 2 Mounykhion

Agathos Daimon

28 3 Mounykhion

Athena

29 4 Mounykhion n

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

30 5 Mounykhion 31 6 Mounykhion

Delphinia Artemis

Dark of the moon: Mar 24 – 5:28 am EST; 4:28 am CST; 3:28 am MST; 2:28 am PST, at 43.7°N.

Daylight Savings Time begins March 8 at 2:00 am in Canada and USA.

April 2020 Mounykhion - Thargelion Μουνυχιών - Θαργηλιών Year 3 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 7 Mounykhion

Apollon 2 8 Mounykhion

Poseidon and Theseus

3 9 Mounykhion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

4 10 Mounykhion

5 11 Mounykhion

6 12 Mounykhion 7 13 Mounykhion

FULL MOON 10:35 pm EDT

8 14 Mounykhion 9 15 Mounykhion 10 16 Mounykhion

Mounykhia

11 17 Mounykhion Libation to Artemis

12 18 Mounykhion 13 19 Mounykhion

Olympeia 14 20 Mounykhion

15 21 Mounykhion 16 22 Mounykhion 1723 Mounykhion

18 24 Mounykhion

19 25 Mounykhion 20 26 Mounykhion 21 27 Mounykhion 22 28 Mounykhion

Earth Day

23 29 Mounykhion

Hekate’s Deipnon

24 1 Thargelion

Noumenia Anniversary of the Foundation of Hellenion

25 2 Thargelion

Agathos Daimon

26 3 Thargelion

Athena

27 4 Thargelion

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

28 5 Thargelion 29 6 Thargelion

Artemis Thargelia

30 7 Thargelion

Apollon Thargelia

Dark of the moon: Apr 22 – 10:25 pm EDT; 9:25 pm CDT; 8:25 pm MDT; 7:25 pm PDT, at 43.7°N.

May 2020 Thargelion - Skirophorion Θαργηλιών - Σκιροφοριών Year 3 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 8 Thargelion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

2 9 Thargelion

3 10 Thargelion 4 11 Thargelion 5 12 Thargelion 6 13 Thargelion 7 14 Thargelion FULL MOON 6:45 am EDT

8 15 Thargelion 9 16 Thargelion

Libation to Apollon

10 17 Thargelion

Mother’s Day 11 18 Thargelion 12 19 Thargelion

Bendideia

13 20 Thargelion 14 21 Thargelion 15 22 Thargelion 16 23 Thargelion

17 24 Thargelion

18 25 Thargelion

Kallynteria Victoria Day (Canada)

19 26 Thargelion

Plynteria 20 27 Thargelion 21 28 Thargelion

22 29 Thargelion 23 30 Thargelion

Hekate’s Deipnon

24 1 Skirophorion Noumenia

25 2 Skirophorion

Agathos Daimon Memorial Day (US)

26 3 Skirophorion

Arrephoria Athena

27 4 Skirophorion

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

28 5 Skirophorion

29 6 Skirophorion

Artemis 30 7 Skirophorion

Apollon

31 8 Skirophorion

Poseidon and Theseus

Dark of the moon: May 22 – 1:38 pm EDT; 12:38 pm CDT; 11:38 am MDT; 10:38 am PDT, at 43.7°N.

June 2020 Skirophorion - Hekatombaion Σκιροφοριών - Εκατομβαιών Year 3 of the 699th Olympiad – Year 4 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 9 Skirophorion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

2 10 Skirophorion 3 11 Skirophorion 4 12 Skirophorion

Skira

5 13 Skirophorion

FULL MOON 3:12 pm EDT

6 14 Skirophorion

Bouphonia & Dipolieia

7 15 Skirophorion 8 16 Skirophorion 9 17 Skirophorion 10 18 Skirophorion 11 19 Skirophorion

Anniversary of the Death of Alexander the Great

12 20 Skirophorion

13 21 Skirophorion Libation to Zeus

14 22 Skirophorion 15 23 Skirophorion 16 24 Skirophorion 17 25 Skirophorion 18 26 Skirophorion

18 27 Skirophorion 20 28 Skirophorion

Solstice

21 29 Skirophorion

Fathers’ Day 22 30 Skirophorion

Hekate’s Deipnon

23 1 Hekatombaion

Noumenia Athenian New Year

24 2 Hekatombaion

Agathos Daimon

25 3 Hekatombaion

Athena

26 4 Hekatombaion

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros Anniversary of the death of Roman Emperor Julian

27 5 Hekatombaion

28 6 Hekatombaion

Artemis 28 7 Hekatombaion

Apollon 30 8 Hekatombaion

Poseidon and Theseus

Dark of the moon: Jun 21 – 2:41 am EDT; 1:41 am CDT; 12:41 am MDT; Jun 20 – 11:41 pm PDT, at 43.7°N.

July 2020 Hekatombaion - Metageitnion Εκατομβαιών - Μεταγειτνιών Year 4 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9 Hekatombaion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea Canada Day

2 10 Hekatombaion 3 11 Hekatombaion

4 12 Hekatombaion

Kronia US Independence Day

5 13 Hekatombaion FULL MOON 12:44 am EDT

6 14 Hekatombaion 7 15 Hekatombaion

Synoikia 8 16 Hekatombaion 9 17 Hekatombaion 10 18 Hekatombaion

11 19 Hekatombaion

Libation to Athena

12 20 Hekatombaion

13 21 Hekatombaion 14 22 Hekatombaion

15 23 Hekatombaion

Panathenaia ta mikra

16 24 Hekatombaion

Panathenaia ta mikra 17 25 Hekatombaion

Panathenaia ta mikra

18 26 Hekatombaion

Panathenaia ta mikra

19 27 Hekatombaion

Panathenaia ta mikra

20 28 Hekatombaion

Panathenaia ta mikra 21 29 Hekatombaion

Panathenaia ta mikra Hekate’s Deipnon

22 1 Metageitnion

Noumenia

23 2 Metageitnion

Agathos Daimon Herakleia?

24 3 Metageitnion

Athena

25 4 Metageitnion

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

26 5 Metageitnion 27 6 Metageitnion

Artemis 28 7 Metageitnion

Apollon 29 8 Metageitnion

Poseidon and Theseus 30 9 Metageitnion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

31 10 Metageitnion

Dark of the moon: Jul 20 – 1:32 pm EDT; 12:32 pm CDT; 11:32 am MDT; 10:32 am PDT, at 43.7°N.

August 2020 Metageitnion - Boedromion Μεταγειτνιών - Βοηδρομιών Year 4 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 11 Metageitnion

2 12 Metageitnion 3 13 Metageitnion

Civic Holiday (Canada)

FULL MOON 11:58 am EDT

4 14 Metageitnion 5 15 Metageitnion

Eleusinia

6 16 Metageitnion

Kourotrophos, Hekate and Artemis Eleusinia

7 17 Metageitnion

Eleusinia

8 18 Metageitnion

Libation to Hermes Eleusinia

9 19 Metageitnion

The Heroines 10 20 Metageitnion

Hera Telkhinia 11 21 Metageitnion 12 22 Metageitnion 13 23 Metageitnion

14 24 Metageitnion

15 25 Metageitnion

Zeus Epoptes

16 26 Metageitnion

17 27 Metageitnion 18 28 Metageitnion 19 29 Metageitnion

Hekate’s Deipnon

20 1 Boedromion

Noumenia

21 2 Boedromion

Agathos Daimon Niketeria

22 3 Boedromion

Athena

23 4 Boedromion

Basile Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

24 5 Boedromion

Genesios

25 6 Boedromion

Artemis Agrotera Artemis

26 7 Boedromion Apollon

27 8 Boedromion

Poseidon and Theseus 28 9 Boedromion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

29 10 Boedromion

30 11 Boedromion

31 12 Boedromion

Demokratia

Dark of the moon: Aug 18 – 10:41 pm EDT; 9:41 pm CDT; 8:41 pm MDT; 7:41 pm PDT, at 43.7°N.

September 2019 Boedromion - Pyanepsion Βοηδρομιών - Πυανεψιών Year 3 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 13 Boedromion 2 14 Boedromion FULL MOON 1:22 am EDT

3 15 Boedromion

Eleusinia ta megala 4 16 Boedromion

Eleusinia ta megala 5 17 Boedromion

Eleusinia ta megala Epidauria?

6 18 Boedromion

Eleusinia ta megala

7 19 Boedromion

Eleusinia ta megala Labor Day (US) Labour Day (Canada)

8 20 Boedromion

Eleusinia ta megala 9 21 Boedromion

Eleusinia ta megala

10 22 Boedromion 11 23 Boedromion 12 24 Boedromion

Libation to Demeter & Persephone

13 25 Boedromion

14 26 Boedromion

15 27 Boedromion

Sacrifices to Nymphs, Akheloös, others Hellenion membership renewals due

16 28 Boedromion

17 29 Boedromion

18 30 Boedromion

Hekate’s Deipnon

19 1 Pyanepsion

Noumenia

20 2 Pyanepsion

Agathos Daimon

21 3 Pyanepsion

Athena

22 4 Pyanepsion

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros Equinox

23 5 Pyanepsion

24 6 Pyanepsion

Proerosia Artemis

25 7 Pyanepsion

Pyanepsia & Oskhophoria Apollon

26 8 Pyanepsion

Poseidon and Theseus Theseia

27 9 Pyanepsion

Stenia Helios, the Muses and Rhea

28 10 Pyanepsion

29 11 Pyanepsion

Thesmophoria

30 12 Pyanepsion

Thesmophoria

Dark of the moon: Sep 17 – 7:00 am EDT; 6:00 am CDT; 5:00 am MDT; 4:00 am PDT, at 43.7°N.

October 2020 Pyanepsion - Maimakterion Πυανεψιών - Μαιμακτηριών Year 4 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 13 Pyanepsion

Thesmophoria FULL MOON 5:05 pm EDT

2 14 Pyanepsion The Heroines

3 15 Pyanepsion

Libation to Hades

4 16 Pyanepsion

Season of Apatouria begins

5 17 Pyanepsion 6 18 Pyanepsion

7 19 Pyanepsion 8 20 Pyanepsion 9 21 Pyanepsion 10 22 Pyanepsion

Libation to Poseidon

11 23 Pyanepsion

12 24 Pyanepsion

Thanksgiving (Canada)

13 25 Pyanepsion 14 26 Pyanepsion 15 27 Pyanepsion 16 28 Pyanepsion

17 29 Pyanepsion

Hekate’s Deipnon Khalkeia

18 1 Maimakterion Noumenia

19 2 Maimakterion

Agathos Daimon 20 3 Maimakterion

Athena

21 4 Maimakterion

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

22 5 Maimakterion

23 6 Maimakterion

Artemis 24 7 Maimakterion

Apollon

25 8 Maimakterion

Poseidon and Theseus

26 9 Maimakterion

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

27 10 Maimakterion

Pompaia?

28 11 Maimakterion

29 12 Maimakterion

30 13 Maimakterion 31 14 Maimakterion FULL MOON 10:49 am EDT

Dark of the moon: Oct 16 – 3:31 pm EDT; 2:31 pm CDT; 1:31 pm MDT; 12:31 pm PDT, at 43.7°N.

November 2020 Maimakterion - Poseideon Μαιμακτηριών - Ποσειδεών Year 4 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 15 Maimakterion 2 16 Maimakterion 3 17 Maimakterion 4 18 Maimakterion 5 19 Maimakterion 6 20 Maimakterion 7 21 Maimakterion

8 22 Maimakterion 9 23 Maimakterion 10 24 Maimakterion 11 25 Maimakterion

Remembrance Day (Canada) Veterans Day (US)

12 26 Maimakterion 13 27 Maimakterion

14 28 Maimakterion Libation to Ares

15 29 Maimakterion

Hekate’s Deipnon 16 1 Poseideon

Noumenia

17 2 Poseideon

Agathos Daimon

18 3 Poseideon

Athena 19 4 Poseideon

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

20 5 Poseideon 21 6 Poseideon

Artemis

22 7 Poseideon

Apollon 23 8 Poseideon

Poseidon and Theseus

24 9 Poseideon

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

25 10 Poseideon 26 11 Poseideon

Thanksgiving (US) 27 12 Poseideon

28 13 Poseideon

29 14 Poseideon 30 15 Poseideon FULL MOON 4:29 am EST

Dark of the moon: Nov 15 – 12:07 am EST; Nov 14 – 11:07 pm CST; 10:07 pm MST; 9:07 pm PST, at 43.7°N. Daylight savings time ends November 1 in Canada and USA at 2:00 am.

December 2020 Poseideon – Poseideon 2 Ποσειδεών – Ποσειδεών Β Year 4 of the 699th Olympiad

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 16 Poseideon 2 17 Poseideon 3 18 Poseideon 4 19 Poseideon 5 20 Poseideon

6 21 Poseideon 7 32 Poseideon 8 23 Poseideon

9 24 Poseideon 10 25 Poseideon

11 26 Poseideon 12 27 Poseideon

Libation to Dionysos

13 28 Poseideon

Poseidea 14 29 Poseideon 15 30 Poseideon

Hekate’s Deipnon

16 1 Poseideon 2

Noumenia

17 2 Poseideon 2

Agathos Daimon

18 3 Poseideon 2

Athena

19 4 Poseideon 2

Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

20 5 Poseideon 2

Plerosia 21 6 Poseideon 2

Heliogenna Artemis Solstice

22 7 Poseideon 2

Heliogenna Apollon

23 8 Poseideon 2

Poseidon and Theseus

24 9 Poseideon 2

Helios, the Muses and Rhea

25 10 Poseideon 2

Country Dionysia? 26 11 Poseideon 2

27 12 Poseideon 2

28 13 Poseideon 2

29 14 Poseideon 2

FULL MOON 10:28 pm EST

30 15 Poseideon 2 31 16 Poseideon 2

New Year’s Eve

Haloa will take place in January 2021

Dark of the moon: Dec 14 – 11:16 am EST; 10:16 am CST; 9:16 am MST; 8:16 am PST, at 43.7°N.