The calendar system of ancient Egypt is unique to both the cosmology of the Egyptians and their religion. Unlike the modern Julian calendar system, with it's 365 days to a year, the Egyptians followed a calendar system of 360 days, with three seasons, each made up of 4 months, with thirty days in each month. The seasons of the Egyptians corresponded with the cycles of the Nile, and were known as Inundation (pronounced akhet which lasted from June 21st to October 21st), Emergence (pronounced proyet which lasted from October 21st to February 21st), and Summer (pronounced shomu which lasted from February 21st to June 21st).
The beginning of the year, also called "the opening of the year", was marked by the emergence of the star Sirius, in the constellation of Canis Major. The constellation emerged roughly on June 21st., and was called "the going up of the goddess Sothis". The star was visible just before sunrise, and is still one of the brightest stars in the sky, located to the lower left of Orion and taking the form of the dogs nose in the constellation Canis Major.
Though the Egyptians did have a 360 day calendar, in a literal sense they did have a 365 day calendar system. The beginning of the year was marked by the addition of five additional days, known as "the yearly five days". These additional five days, were times of great feasting and celebration for the Egyptians, and it was not uncommon for the Egyptians to rituals, and other celebratory dealings on these days. The Egyptian calendar also took on other important functions within Egyptian life specifically in dealing with the astrology of the people.
Offerings: Honey, raw grains, prepared meats (Goose was a favorite, as was beef. However, avoid pork. It was considered unclean because of its connection to Sutekh. Also, avoid fish if you honor Osiris.) other offerings were fruit, flowers, oils (scented and olive) bees wax, bread (all kinds, plain or fruit filled, often in special shapes: pyramids or sacred objects) and incense, along with scented candles.
Beer was an important offering. Unlike modern beer, it was, to the Egyptians, a food group. Their beer was thicker in character, and cloudy, since filtering was used only to remove larger grains. The yeast to ferment it was the same yeast used in bread. The wild yeasts in sourdough bread are close relatives.
Month: Thuthi
Netjer of the Month:Thoth Akhet (winter)
Season: Innundation
Netjer of the Season: Hapi
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | July 19 | Month of Thuthi begins. Feast of Thoth; Also Opet Festival: marriage of Wasir & Aset (Isis & Osiris) |
| 3 | July 21 | Birthday of Aten |
| 7 | July 25 | Feast of Anket: welcoming the rising of the Nile |
| 9 | July 27 | Queen Hatshepsut's Birthday |
| 10 | July 28 | Festival of the Goddess of Weaving (Hedjihotep) |
| 17 | August 4 | Festival of the Dead: Sunset Ceremony |
| 19 | August 6 | Festival of Nut & Ra; Chief Festival of Thoth |
| 25 | August 12 | Day of Sekhmet's repulsion of Set; Also Wasirian (Osirian) Mysteries: Feast of Lights of Aset (Isis) |
| 26 | August 13 | Day of battle between Heru (Horus) and Set; Aset gains the Horns of Het-Hert (Hathor) |
| 27 | August 14 | Day of Peace between Heru and Set |
| 30 | August 17 | Rituals in the Temples of Ra Heru (Horus) and Wasir (Osiris) |
There is evidence that indicates that this Festival is the true "Festival of Intoxication." The possible mistaken belief that it honors Thoth not Hathor/Sekhmet stems from the fact that the feast falls in the month of Thoth. Strong evidence points to the myth recounting the destruction of mankind as the basis for this festival. According to this story, in order to end Hathor’s bloody rampage, Re tricked her into drinking beer laced with mandrake and red ocher. He flooded Egypt with this drugged beer. Hathor/Sekhmet, thinking it was blood, consumed so much of it that she became drunk and passed out, and she lost interest in destroying humanity. The yearly Innundation by the Nile, with its rich, red silt, is the earthly re-enactment of this flood of beer. This feast of intoxication is the ancient Egyptian's "October fest."
Month: Paopi
Netjer of the Month:Ptah
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | August 18 | Month of Paopi Begins |
| 2 | August 19 | Procession of Heru to Neith |
| 3 | August 20 | Tehuti(Thoth) orders the healing of the eye of Heru (Horus) |
| 5 | August 22 | Feast of Montu |
| 6 | August 23 | Great Feast of the Netjeru (Gods & Goddesses) |
| 9 | August 26 | Day of Jubilation in the heart of Ra |
| 10 | August 27 | Procession of Bast; Birthday of Nut |
| 12 | August 29 | Bithtday of Het-Hert (Hathor) |
| 13 | August 30 | Day of Satisfying the Hearts of the Ennead |
| 14 | August 31 | Day Heru receives the White Crown |
| 16 | September 2 | Feast of Wasir (Osiris) |
| 18 | September 4 | Ceremony of Transformation through Anpu (Anubis) |
| 19 | September 5 | Ceremony of Raising the Djed Pillar |
| 21 | September 7 | Neith Goes forth to Atum |
| 27 | September 13 | Festival of lighting the fires of Nieth |
| 30 | September 16 | Land in Festival for Ra, Wasir, and Heru |
Month: Hethara
Netjer of the Month:Het-Hert (Hathor)
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | September 17 | Motnh of Hethara begins; Feast of Het-hert (Hathor) |
| 5 | September 21 | Autum Equinox; Honors to Het-hert |
| 6 | September 22 | Ritual of the Netjers of the Two Lands |
| 7 | September 23 | Honors offered to Atum |
| 8 | September 24 | The going forth of Aset (Isis) |
| 12 | September 28 | Wasir (Osiris) goes forth to Abydos; Purification of the hearts of the Netjers; Feast of Hapi: Creatiing of the Nile |
| 15 | October 1 | Contemplation of the Fertility of Min |
| 16 | October 2 | Day of the appearance of the eight Great Netjers (Primordials) |
| 17 | October 3 | Landing of the Great Netjers in Abydos; Lamentations of Aset (Isis)and Nebet-Het (Nephthys) for Wasir (Osiris). |
| 18 | October 4 | Festival of Het-Hert (Hathor). |
| 20 | October 6 | Bast appears to Ra. |
| 21 | October 7 | Feast Day of Ma'at . |
| 23 | October 9 | Ra judges the dispute of Set and Heru (Horus). |
| 24 | October 10 | Aset (Isis) goes forth |
| 26 | October 12 | The Black Land is given to Heru (Horus); The Red Land is given to Set |
| 28 | October 14 | Festival of establishing Heru as King;The appearance before Ptah |
| 29 | October 15 | Feast of the Three Noble Ladies |
Month: Koiak
Netjer of the Month: Sekhmet
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | October 17 | Month of Koiak Begins; The Feast of Sekhmet |
| 2 | October 18 | The Netjeru in festivity |
| 4 | October 20 | Festivals for Sebek |
| 5 | October 21 | Het-Hert (Hathor) goes forth to Her people |
| 7 | October 23 | Festival for Serquet (Selket); Ceremony of Thehuti (Thoth) |
| 11 | October 27 | Feast of Wasir (Osiris) in Abydos |
| 12 | October 28 | Day of Transformation into the Bennu Bird (Phoenix) |
| 13 | October 29 | Going forth of Het-Hert (Hathor) and the Ennead |
| 14 | October 30 | Celebration of the Netjert of Weaving and Fate; Coming forth of the Bennu transformed. |
| 15 | October 31 | Feast of Sekhmet Bast Ra |
| 17 | November 2 | Festival of Het-Hert (Hathor). The people and the Netjeru judge the speeches of the crew of the Solar Barge in Heliopolis |
| 21 | November 6 | Raising the Djed Pillar |
| 22 | November 7 | Ploughing the Earth |
| 27 | November 12 | Aset (Isis) seeks the body of Wasir (Osiris) |
| 28 | Nov. 13 | Aset (Isis) grieves the loss of Wasir (Osiris) |
| 29 | November 14 | Aset (Isis) rejoices as She finds Wasir (Osiris) |
| 30 | November 15 | Ennead feast in the House of Ra, Heru (Horus) and Wasir (Osiris); Invocation and offering to the Spirits (khu) |
Month: Tybi
Netjer of the Month:Min Peret (Spring)
Netjer of the Season:Khepri
Season: Sowing
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | November 16 | Month of Tybi begins; Heb Sed Festival; Festival of Bast |
| 5 | November 20 | Day of Sekhmet and the Purifying Flame |
| 9 | November 24 | Day of Offerings to Sekhmet |
| 13 | November 28 | Feast of Het-Hert (Hathor) and Sekhmet; Day of prolonging life and the goodness of Ma'at |
| 18 | December 3 | Going forth of the Netjeru of Abydos |
| 20 | December 5 | Bast goes forth from Bubastis |
| 21 | Dec. 6 | Bast guards the Two Lands; Day of offerings to the Shemsu (followers) of Ra |
| 23 | December 8 | Feast of Neith |
| 28 | December 13 | The Day of Tehuti's taking the oath |
| 29 | December 14 | The appearance of the Hu and Sia; Tehuti (Thoth) sends Bast and Sekhmet to guide Egypt |
| 30 | December 15 | Day of crossing before Nun in the Temple of Hapi |
Month: Mechir
Netjer of the Month:Rekhur
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | December 16 | Month of Mechir begins; Festival of the Little Heat; Day of Ptah lifting up Ra with His hands |
| 2 | December 17 | Day the Netjers of Heaven receive Ra |
| 3 | December 18 | Set goes forth |
| 6 | December 21 | Winter Solstice; Feast of Aset (Isis) |
| 8 | December 23 | Festival of the Great Heat; Feast Day of Het-Hert (Hathor) |
| 10 | December 25 | Birth of Heru (Horus) the child of Aset (Isis) ; Going forth of Wadjet singing in Heliopolis;Day of Elevating the Great Netjert (Goddess) in all Her names & manifestations |
| 11 | December 26 | Feast of Neith; Birth of Sebek (Sobek) |
| 13 | December 28 | Day of Sekhmet going forth to Letopolis |
| 16 | December 31 | Feast of Sekhmet |
| 17 | January 1 | Day of keeping the things of Wasir (Osiris) in the hands of Anpu (Anubis) |
| 20 | January 4 | Day of Nut and Raet proceeding southward |
| 22 | January 6 | Feast of Ptah and Heru (Horus) 23 January 7 Festival of Aset (Isis) |
| 24 | January 8 | Festival of Aset (Isis); Birth of Aion |
| 26 | January 10 | Going forth of Min to Coptus; Aset sees Wasir's face |
| 27 | January 11 | Feast of Sokar |
Month: Pamenot
Netjer of the Month:Amun-Ra
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | January 15 | Month of Pamenot begins; Feast of entering Heaven and the Two Lands |
| 5 | January 19 | The brilliant festival of lights as Neith goes forth from Sais |
| 6 | January 20 | Going forth of Yinepu (Anubis); Festival of jubilation for Wasir (Osiris) in Busiris |
| 8 | January 22 | Day of making way for Khnum |
| 9 | January 23 | Day of Het-Hert (Hathor) |
| 10 | January 24 | Day of coming of Tehuti (Thoth) |
| 13 | January 27 | Tehuti and and the khu go forth |
| 16 | January 30 | Day of opening the doors and courts at Karnak |
| 18 | Feb. 1 | Feast of Nut |
| 19 | February 2 | Birthday of Nut |
| 22 | February 5 | Birthday of Apep (Apophis) |
| 23 | February 6 | Feast of Heru |
| 26 | February 9 | Day of unseen in the Underworld |
| 28 | February 11 | Feast of Wasir (Osiris) in Abydos |
| 30 | February13 | Feast of Wasir (Osiris) in Busiris; The Doorways of the Horizon are opened |
Month: Parmutit
Netjer of the Month:Renenutet
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | February 14 | Month of Parmuti Begins |
| 2 | February 15 | Geb proceeds to Busiris to see Anpu (Anubis) |
| 7 | February 20 | Min goes forth in festivity |
| 8 | February 21 | Day of counting the parts of the Eye of Heru |
| 13 | February 26 | Day of Nut |
| 16 | March 1 | Going forth of Khepri |
| 17 | March 2 | Going forth of Set, Son of Nut |
| 19 | March 4 | Feast of Ra in His Barge at Heliopolis |
| 27 | March 12 | End of the World by Sekhmet |
| 29 | March 14 | Adoration of Uneffer |
| 30 | March 15 | Offerings to Ra, Wasir, Heru, Ptah, Sokar and Atum |
| | | |
Month: Pachons
Netjer of the Month:Khonsu Shemu (Summer)
Season:Harvest
Netjer of the Season: Khonsu-Ra
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | March 16 | Month of Pachons begins; Feast of Heru and His Companions |
| 5 | March 20 | Feast of the good soul for sexual fertility |
| 6 | March 21 | Spring Equinox; Harvest Festival; Festival of restructuring the Heavens; Coming forth of the Great Ones from the House of Ra |
| 8 | March 23 | Festival of Aset (Isis) |
| 10 | March 25 | Day the Shining Ones of Heaven move upstream |
| 14 | March 29 | Day of the cutting out of the tongue of Sobek |
| 17 | April 1 | Day of Het-Hert (Hathor) |
| 18 | April 2 | Day of Joy of the Ennead and crew of Ra |
| 19 | April 3 | Day of the counting of Tehuti (Thoth) who heard Ma'at |
| 20 | Apr. 4 | Ma'at judges the souls before the Netjeru |
| 30 | April 14 | Celebrations in the House of Ra, Wasir (Osiris) , and Heru (Horus) |
Month:Payni
Netjer of the Month:Heru (Horus)
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | April 15 | Month of Payni Begins; Festival of Heru; Festival of Bast |
| 2 | April 16 | Holiday of Ra and his Shemsu (followers) |
| 7 | April 21 | Feast of Wadjet (Udjet or Buto) |
| 13 | April 27 | The Ennead sails throughout the land |
| 18 | May 2 | Wasir (Osiris) goes forth from His mountain |
| 21 | May 5 | Day of the living children of Nut |
| 25 | May 9 | The Akhet eye pleases Ra |
| 26 | May 10 | Going forth of Neith along the river |
| 28 | May 12 | Day of purification of all things. |
| 30 | May14 | Tehuti (Thoth) appears with Shu to bring back Tefnut |
Month:Epipi
Netjer of the Month:Wadjet
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | May 15 | Month of Epipi begins; Festivals of Het-Hert and Bast; Great feast of the Southern heavens |
| 2 | May 16 | The Netjerts (Goddesses) feast in their temples |
| 5 | May 19 | Het-Hert (Hathor) returns to Punt: the Netjers are saddened |
| 7 | May 21 | Sailing of the Netjers after Het-Hert (Hathor) |
| 12 | May 26 | Holiday of the receiving of Ra |
| 15 | May 29 | Heru hears prayer in the presence of the Netjers |
| 16 | May 30 | Ma'at is taken to Ra in Heliopolis |
| 18 | June 1 | Ma'at and Ra go forth in secret |
| 29 | June 12 | Festival of Mut: feeding of the Netjers |
| 30 | June 13 | Ceremony of Heru the Beloved |
Feast of the "Beautiful Reunion." Hathor’s barque was called the "Mistress of Love." During this festival, it was believed that Hathor left her temple in Dendera and sailed south to visit Horus in the city of Edfu. During her trip she stopped to visit Mut’s temple, the second day she visits Anukis, (A form of Nephthys, "Lady Of The House.") On the third day, she is joined by the Local God of Nehan (a form of Horus) before ending her travels in Edfu at the great Temple of Horus there. Horus would set out in his barque and meet Anukis outside Edfu. At this time, the two statues were enshrined together for fourteen days, and then the statues were taken to the temple roof to greet the sun god Ra.
Month:Mesore
Netjer of the Month:Heru-Khuiti
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | June 14 | Month of Mesore begins |
| 2 | June 15 | Ma'at unites as one with all the Netjeru of the heavens |
| 3 | June 16 | Feast of Raet; Feast of Het-Hert as Sirius |
| 4 | June 17 | Day of the procession of Sopdu, the Warrior |
| 5 | June 18 | Day of appearance of Min |
| 7 | June 20 | Anpu travels to every necropolis |
| 8 | June 21 | Summer Solstice; Wadjet ceremony |
| 10 | June 23 | Anpu (Anubis) Ceremony |
| 13 | June 26 | Holiday for the Shemsu of Heru (Shemsu-Hor) |
| 15 | June 28 | Ra goes forth to propitiate the Nun |
| 19 | July 2 | the Wadjet eye has returned complete |
| 22 | July 5 | Feast of Anpu (Anubis) with the Children of Nut and Geb |
| 28 | July 11 | Feast of Min 29 July 12 Holiday in the Temple of Sokar; Festival of the Estate of Ptah |
| 30 | July 13 | Birthday of Ra |
THE EPAGOMENAL DAYS
| Egyptian Calendar | Gregorian Calendar | Festival/Celebration |
| 1 | July 14 | Birthday of Wasir (Osiris) |
| 2 | July 15 | Birthday of Heru-Dunawhy |
| 3 | July 16 | Birthday of Set |
| 4 | July 17 | Birthday of Aset (Isis) |
| 5 | July 18 | Birthday of Nebet-Het (Nephthys) |
Here are some interesting notes
on the Festivals of Opet and The New Year:
on the Festivals of Opet and The New Year:
Opet or Ipet means "Harem," and the true name of the festival is "The Beautiful Feast." On this day the barque of Ammon-Re would be removed from its temple shrine, and, along with the image of Ammon-Ra, would journey up the Nile to the temple of his wife Ammonet. This was a serious party festival, lasting for twenty days, with a special ritual held at every stop of Ammon-Ra’s barque.
After nine months had passed Ammonet-Mut would ceremonially be taken into the Temple birthing chamber to give birth to Ammon-Ra’s son, Khonsu. Even today, remnants of this festival are still observed.
Today Opet has been renamed; it is now "The Festival of Saints," and is celebrated by Moslems. During the festival, a small boat is carried out of the Mosque of Abu El Haggag and paraded through the streets Luxor.
"The Feast of Sothis" (the heliacle rising of the star Sirius) was celebrated in every Temple in Egypt with a special ritual. Most temples housed more than one God or Goddess, and the normally secluded images of the temple’s Gods would be removed from their shrines, and taken to the roof of the temple so that the first light of the first day of the New Year would fall upon them.
The star Sothis (Sirius) is fundamental to the Egyptian religion. This importance is demonstrated in several ways. Both the star and the constellation Orion rise at the same time. The star is known as "The soul of Isis," and the constellation of Orion is the body of her husband Osiris, in heaven. The reappearance of both objects heralds the resurrection of the dead Osiris. Seventy days earlier, both the star and the constellation had disappeared from the sky, hidden by the sun’s light. All ancient Egyptians wanted to be "Osirified," and the seventy days of the mummification process reflected this time of the constellation's disappearance. The calendar and the mythology were intimately tied to the heavens.
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