Unlike the Gregorian calendar that was established by christianism with its arbitrary designations and mathematical assumptions, the Irminic calendar is a lunisolar reckoning that accurately reflects both natural and spiritual phenomena. The names of the months are Old High German ones preserved in the writings of Karl der Gross (Charlemagne). Further details explaining how this calendar works may be found in Germanic Heathenry: A Practical Guide (2003) or in Heathen Timekeeping: An Examination of the Germanic Lunar Reckoning (2004) both written by James Hjuka Coulter.
For Reasons of convenience, though, a summary of the current calendar as used by Irminen is presented here alongside Gregorian equivalents (note: months begin on the appearance of the new moon, the dates of which may vary slightly by location).
Irminic months as they Correspond to Gregorian Months in 2020
Hartmânôd (harsh moon): 24 January – 22 February
Hêrmânôd (rime moon) 23 February – 23 March
Lenzomânôd (Lent month) 24 March – 21 April
Ôstarmânôd (Ôstara’s month) 22 April – 21 May
Wunnîmânôd (blissful month) 22 May – 20 June
Brachmânôd (fallow month) 21 June – 19 July
Anderbrachmânôd not observed this year*
Hewîmânôd (hay month) 20 July – 17 August
Aranmânôd (harvest month) 18 August – 16 September
Skeidentimânôd (summer’s end month) 17 September – 15 October
Gelomânôd (yellow month) 16 October – 13 November
Nebulmânôd (mist month) 14 November – 13 December
Iulmânôd (Yule month) 14 December – 11 January
*Anderbrachmânôd (after-fallow month) is an intercalary month used to adjust for the fact that a lunar year does not precisely line up with a solar year. Its function is similar to the “leap year” appearing once every 4 years in the Gregorian calendar.
Heilagmâl (Holy Tides)
Irminic Heilagmâl, like the holy tides of other Heathen traditions, generally begin at the rising of the full moon. The exceptions to these are the specifically solar festivals of Iulzît and Sunnawendî which, of course, correspond with the solstices.
Landsegen: 17 Hartmânôd (9 February)
Ôstarûn: 15 Lenzomânôd (7 April)
Walburganaht: 16 Ôstarmânôd (7 May)
Sunnawendî: 30 Wunnîmânôd – 12 Brachmânôd (20 June – 1 July)
Hleibmessa: 16 Aranmânôd (2 September)
Wintarnaht: 15 – 17 Gelomânôd (30 October – 1 November)
Iulzît 7 – 18 Iulmânôd (20 – 31 December)
Minna (Days of Remembrance)
It is customary in all Heathen traditions to remember both our loved ones and those we find inspirational on the anniversary of their deaths (often denoted in writing by placing the symbol for the Yr Rune prior to the date). Some exceptions do exist in the case that the date of an individual’s death is unknown. In such instances the date of birth is used instead. Of course, each sippâ or liut will celebrate its ouwn unique minna. However, there are those that are generally accepted among all Irminen. The commonly accepted minna are listed below.
9 Iulmânôd (3 January)- Karl Maria Wiligut
10 Hartmânôd (2 February)- Siegfried Adolf Kummer
1 Hêrmânôd (23 February)- Fidus
14 Ôstarmânôd (5 May)- Else Christensen
19 Wunnîmânôd (9 June)- Sîvrit (Siegfried; SigurðR; Béowulf)
6 Aranmânôd (23 August)- Rudolf John Gorsleben
23 Aranmânôd (9 September)- Hermann (Arminius)
24 Aranmânôd (10 September)- Stubba (John Yeowell)
5 Skeidentimânôd (21 September)- Viktor Rydberg
12 Gelomânôd (27 October)- Jakob Grimm
11 Iulmânôd (24 December)- AllsherjargoðI Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
For Reasons of convenience, though, a summary of the current calendar as used by Irminen is presented here alongside Gregorian equivalents (note: months begin on the appearance of the new moon, the dates of which may vary slightly by location).
Irminic months as they Correspond to Gregorian Months in 2020
Hartmânôd (harsh moon): 24 January – 22 February
Hêrmânôd (rime moon) 23 February – 23 March
Lenzomânôd (Lent month) 24 March – 21 April
Ôstarmânôd (Ôstara’s month) 22 April – 21 May
Wunnîmânôd (blissful month) 22 May – 20 June
Brachmânôd (fallow month) 21 June – 19 July
Anderbrachmânôd not observed this year*
Hewîmânôd (hay month) 20 July – 17 August
Aranmânôd (harvest month) 18 August – 16 September
Skeidentimânôd (summer’s end month) 17 September – 15 October
Gelomânôd (yellow month) 16 October – 13 November
Nebulmânôd (mist month) 14 November – 13 December
Iulmânôd (Yule month) 14 December – 11 January
*Anderbrachmânôd (after-fallow month) is an intercalary month used to adjust for the fact that a lunar year does not precisely line up with a solar year. Its function is similar to the “leap year” appearing once every 4 years in the Gregorian calendar.
Heilagmâl (Holy Tides)
Irminic Heilagmâl, like the holy tides of other Heathen traditions, generally begin at the rising of the full moon. The exceptions to these are the specifically solar festivals of Iulzît and Sunnawendî which, of course, correspond with the solstices.
Landsegen: 17 Hartmânôd (9 February)
Ôstarûn: 15 Lenzomânôd (7 April)
Walburganaht: 16 Ôstarmânôd (7 May)
Sunnawendî: 30 Wunnîmânôd – 12 Brachmânôd (20 June – 1 July)
Hleibmessa: 16 Aranmânôd (2 September)
Wintarnaht: 15 – 17 Gelomânôd (30 October – 1 November)
Iulzît 7 – 18 Iulmânôd (20 – 31 December)
Minna (Days of Remembrance)
It is customary in all Heathen traditions to remember both our loved ones and those we find inspirational on the anniversary of their deaths (often denoted in writing by placing the symbol for the Yr Rune prior to the date). Some exceptions do exist in the case that the date of an individual’s death is unknown. In such instances the date of birth is used instead. Of course, each sippâ or liut will celebrate its ouwn unique minna. However, there are those that are generally accepted among all Irminen. The commonly accepted minna are listed below.
9 Iulmânôd (3 January)- Karl Maria Wiligut
10 Hartmânôd (2 February)- Siegfried Adolf Kummer
1 Hêrmânôd (23 February)- Fidus
14 Ôstarmânôd (5 May)- Else Christensen
19 Wunnîmânôd (9 June)- Sîvrit (Siegfried; SigurðR; Béowulf)
6 Aranmânôd (23 August)- Rudolf John Gorsleben
23 Aranmânôd (9 September)- Hermann (Arminius)
24 Aranmânôd (10 September)- Stubba (John Yeowell)
5 Skeidentimânôd (21 September)- Viktor Rydberg
12 Gelomânôd (27 October)- Jakob Grimm
11 Iulmânôd (24 December)- AllsherjargoðI Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson