There are a number of versions of this calendar, most with set solar dates. Since Robert Graves came up with the whole thing, I'll list his first:
Beth | Luis | Nion | Fearn | Saille |
24 Dec-20 Jan | 21 Jan-17 Feb | 18 Feb-17 Mar | 18 Mar-14 Apr | 15 Apr-12 May |
Huath | Duir | Tinne | Coll | Quert |
13 May-9 Jun | 10 Jun-7 Jul | 8 Jul-4 Aug | 5 Aug-1 Sep | 5 Aug-1 Sep |
Muin | Gort | Ngetel | Straif | Ruis |
2Sep-29 Sep | 30 Sep-27 Oct | 28 Oct-24 Nov | 15 Apr-12 May | 25 Nov-22 Dec |
December 23rd is the "Unnamed Day", the Midwinter Solstice and the "and a day" of Celtic tradition. Most of the calendars seem to follow this pattern, though many simply ignore the doubled trees (Quert and Straif).
John King, however, takes a different twist on things, believing the Midsummer Solstice is of greater importance than the Midwinter:
Beth | Luis | Nion | Fearn | Saille |
7 Dec-3 Jan | 4 Jan-31 Jan | 1 Feb-28 Feb | 1 Mar-25 Apr | 29 Mar-25 Apr |
Huath | Duir | Tinne | Coll | Quert |
26 Apr-23 May | 24 May-20 Jun | 22 Jun-19 Jul | 20 Jul-16 Aug | ? |
Muin | Gort | Ngetel | Straif | Ruis |
17 Aug-13 Sep | 14 Sep-11 Oct | 12 Oct-8 Nov | ? | 9 Nov-6 Dec |
King's "and a day" is 21 June. He feels this makes more sense--putting the liminal day between the months of Oak and Holly, making it the time of changeover between Light King and Dark King.
There is a third group that prefer to simply count the months by moons--Beth being the first full or new moon after Winter Solstice, and so on. It makes sense--after all, the Celts certainly didn't use a Gregorian calendar! Shekinah Mountainwater has a brief section on this in her book, Ariadne's Thread.
If any of this intrigues you, read more!
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