Tonight we're going to see a rather unusual occurrence, and that's the lunar phenomenon called a Blue Moon. Because the lunar calendar and the one we use on paper don't match up exactly, every once in a while we end up with two full moons falling within a calendar month. That second moon is traditionally known as a blue moon, and in some magical traditions, it's considered a sort of spiritual bonus round. It's a time of new beginnings, and of getting things right that you messed up or missed the first time through. Some groups use it as a period of initiation and re-dedication, so if there's something new you need to start, now's a good opportunity to do so: What is a Blue Moon?

Also of note, if you're one of our readers in Northern Africa, Europe, Asia, or Australia, you should be able to see a partial lunar eclipse tonight as well.

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In Scotland, there's a fascinating custom called Hogmanay. Celebrated on December 31, and running over into the early days of January, Hogmanay hearkens back to the days of mid-winter sun and fire worship. These early Pagan practices were eventually absorbed into the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, which eventually was replaced by the Saxon Yule celebration. Around the time of the Reformation, Pagan worship went underground, but then re-emerged around the end of the 17th century.

All About Hogmanay

Nowadays, Hogmanay is not only out in the open, it's a huge public spectacle. Big festivals are held in a number of Scottish towns and villages, and all of them involve setting something on fire. Honestly, it sounds like the best possible way to celebrate!

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A lot of people had things to say about some of the stories here on About Pagan/Wiccan in 2009. Many people thought that the group boycotting the Gap because of an inclusive ad was being pretty Grinchy, but a few folks called for a boycott of Bath and Body Works when a Wiccan employee was fired. Finally, I wrote a number of blog entries following the case of Rifqa Bary -- despite the fact that the story concerned Muslims and Christians, lots of Pagans and Wiccans had comments and concerns.

Then there was the case of a couple in a condo association that didn't allow gargoyles as outdoor décor, and many readers thought they should probably have read the COA's rules before moving in. Likewise, people had plenty to say about a group protesting statues of Ganesh at a zoo in Canada, and a group of witches who were upset when they got banned from a church social club.

Not all of the most-commented on stories had to do with news - many were in response to reader questions posted here on the blog. For example, the notion of whether or not to emerge from the broom closet was a popular topic. One of the biggest collection of comments came when a reader wrote in that she was offended by the notion of "warrior Pagans." Likewise, hundreds of readers took the poll about whether it's appropriate to have kids at Pagan events.

Also, readers stepped up and offered advice on a lot of questions, such as when a reader had questions about sexuality and purity rings, and when another one asked why her spell wasn't working. Many empathized with someone whose sister wouldn't stop preaching at her.

After all of these stories -- and a thousand or so blog entries later -- I can honestly look back at this year and say it's been an amazing one. No matter what the story is, I've found that this place has become a great little corner of the Pagan community, and I'm honored to be part of it, and more honored to be able to share it with all of you. I hope you'll all continue to participate as you've done this past year. May all of you have a wonderful and blessed 2010.

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This year was an interesting one for the changing ways that people view religion. A number of surveys and studies revealed some results that were significant to people in minority faiths.

One survey indicated that a lot of people have never even heard of Wicca -- although since the survey is from the Barna Group, it may have been a bit skewed. Meanwhile, the ARIS study was released, and indicated that a lot of the mainstream religious groups are losing members, and a lot of formerly religious people now self-identify as having no religion at all.

In a few cases, religious groups came under fire because people around them really just didn't get was going on. An Odinist group celebrated a rite in a public park, and the next thing you know, the rangers are showing up and asking people to leave. Also, Santeria made headlines in the case of Jose Merced, who was arrested and charged with animal cruelty following ritual sacrifice of a goat. Merced sued the city and won, and his attorney called the decision a victory for religious liberty.

In a disturbing trend, it appears that religious persecution continues to exist globally. The plight of Tanzania's albinos is heartbreaking, when you consider that they are murdered regularly to provide body parts for local healers. In Nigeria, extremist groups continue to prey on children, accusing them of being possessed by demons and charging families a fortune for "exorcisms."

It's not all bad news, though. Some places really are trying to help out those who are not one of the Really Big Religious Groups. Airports in particular are trying to be more accommodating when it comes to spiritual needs. Even the Air Force Academy -- once a notorious bastion of Christian fundamentalism -- has come around, and it appears that the religious climate has improved by leaps and bounds.

In an epic step at increasing the awareness of Paganism in the world today, the Pagan community had significant representation at the recent Parliament of World Religions. It was a chance for people from a variety of Pagan paths to not only network with each other, but establish dialogues with folks from non-Pagan religions.

In our next recap, we'll take a look at some of the most commented-on stories of the year 2009.

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