SPECIALS

Translate:

March 2025 - Massage Luc

March 2025

March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox on the 20 or 21 marks the astronomical beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where September is the seasonal equivalent of the Northern Hemisphere's March.

History

The name of March comes from Martius, the first month of the earliest Roman calendar. It was named after Mars, the Roman god of war, and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus. His month Martius was the beginning of the season for warfare and the festivals held in his honor during the month were mirrored by others in October, when the season for these activities came to a close.

Martius remained the first month of the Roman calendar year perhaps as late as 153 BC and several religious observances in the first half of the month were originally new year's celebrations.

Even in late antiquity, Roman mosaics picturing the months sometimes still placed March first.

March 1 began the numbered year in Russia until the end of the 15th century. Great Britain and its colonies continued to use March 25 until 1752, when they finally adopted the Gregorian calendar (the fiscal year in the UK continues to begin on 6 April, initially identical to 25 March in the former Julian calendar). Many other cultures, for example in Iran, or Ethiopia, still celebrate the beginning of the New Year in March.

March is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, Asia and part of Africa) and the first month of fall or autumn in the Southern Hemisphere (South America, part of Africa, and Oceania).

Other names

In Finnish, the month is called maaliskuu, which is believed to originate from maallinen kuu. The latter means earthy month and may refer to the first appearance of "earth" from under the winter's snow.

In Ukrainian, the month is called березень/berezenʹ, meaning birch tree, and březen in Czech.

Historical names for March include the Saxon Lentmonat, named after the March equinox and gradual lengthening of days, and the eventual namesake of Lent.

Saxons also called March Rhed-monat or Hreth-monath (deriving from their goddess Rhedam/Hreth), and Angles called it Hyld-monath, which became the English Lide.

In Slovene, the traditional name is sušec, meaning the month when the earth becomes dry enough so that it is possible to cultivate it. The name was first written in 1466 in the Škofja Loka manuscript. Other names were used too, for example brezen and breznik, "the month of birches".

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March

Roman God Mars (mythology)

In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Mars (Latin: Mārs, pronounced [maːrs]) is the God of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome.

He is the son of Jupiter and Juno, and was pre-eminent among the Roman army's military gods. Most of his festivals were held in March, the month named for him (Latin Martius), and in October, the months which traditionally began and ended the season for both military campaigning and farming.

Under the influence of Greek culture, Mars was identified with the Greek god Ares, whose myths were reinterpreted in Roman literature and art under the name of Mars. The character and dignity of Mars differs in fundamental ways from that of his Greek counterpart, who is often treated with contempt and revulsion in Greek literature.

Unlike Ares, who was viewed primarily as a destructive and destabilizing force, Mars represented military power as a way to secure peace, and was a father (pater) of the Roman people.

In Rome's mythic genealogy and founding, Mars fathered Romulus and Remus through his rape of Rhea Silvia.

His love affair with Venus symbolically reconciled two different traditions of Rome's founding; Venus was the divine mother of the hero Aeneas, celebrated as the Trojan refugee who "founded" Rome several generations before Romulus laid out the city walls.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_(mythology)

Ides of March (Ides de mars).

The Ides of March (/aɪdz/; Latin: Idus Martiae, Medieval Latin: Idus Martii)

is the day on the Roman calendar marked as the Idus, roughly the midpoint of a month, of Martius, corresponding to 15 March on the Gregorian calendar. It was marked by several major religious observances.

In 44 BC, it became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar, which made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history.

Assassination of Caesar:

In modern times, the Ides of March is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. Caesar was stabbed to death at a meeting of the Senate.

As many as 60 conspirators, led by Brutus and Cassius, were involved.

According to Plutarch, a seer had warned that harm would come to Caesar on the Ides of March.

On his way to the Theatre of Pompey, where he would be assassinated, Caesar passed the seer and joked, "Well, the Ides of March are come", implying that the prophecy had not been fulfilled.

To which the seer replied "Aye, they are come, but they are not gone."

This meeting is famously dramatized in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, when Caesar is warned by the soothsayer to "beware the Ides of March."

The Roman biographer Suetonius identifies the "seer" as a haruspex named Spurinna.

Caesar's assassination opened the final chapter in the crisis of the Roman Republic.

After his victory in Caesar's civil war, his death triggered a series of further Roman civil wars that would finally result in the rise to sole power of his adopted heir Octavian.

In 27 BC, Octavian became emperor Augustus,and thus he finally terminated the Roman Republic.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ides_of_March

Symbols of month of March:

March's birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone.

Its birth flower is the daffodil.

The zodiac signs are Pisces until approximately March 20 and Aries from approximately March 21 onward.

Aquamarine:

Aquamarine is a pale-blue to light-green variety of the beryl family, with its name relating to water and sea.

The color of aquamarine can be changed by heat, with a goal to enhance its physical appearance (though this practice is frowned upon by collectors and jewelers).

Aquamarine is the birth stone of March.

The name aquamarine comes from “aqua” (Latin for 'water'), and “marine”, deriving from marina (Latin for 'of the sea').

The word “aquamarine” was first used in the year 1677.

Famous aquamarines include the Dom Pedro, the Roosevelt Aquamarine, the Hirsch Aquamarine, Queen Elizabeth's Tiara, Meghan Markle's ring, and the Schlumberger bow.

In culture

Aquamarine is the birth stone for the month of March.

It has historically been used a symbol for youth and happiness due to its color, which has also, along with its name, made Western culture connect it with the ocean.

Ancient tales have claimed that aquamarine came from the treasure chests of mermaids; which led to sailors using this gemstone as a lucky charm to protect against shipwreck.

Additionally, ancient Romans believed this stone had healing properties, due to the stone being almost invisible when submerged in water.

The Chinese used it to make seals, and showpiece dolls.

The Japanese used it to make "netsuke".

(A netsuke (根付, [netsɯ̥ke]) is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inrō box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.)

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netsuke#:~:text=A%20netsuke%20(%E6%A0%B9%E4%BB%98%2C%20%5Bnets%C9%AF%CC%A5ke,ornately%20sculpted%20objects%20of%20craftsmanship.

The Egyptians, Greeks, Hebrews, and Sumerians all believed that aquamarine stones were worn by the High Priest of the Second Temple. It was said that these stones were engraved to represent the six tribes of Israel. Greeks also engraved designs into aquamarine 2 thousand years ago and turned them into intaglios.

In our modern era, aquamarine is mainly used for jewelry, decoration and its properties.

It can be cut and shaped into rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

Aquamarine became a state gem for Colorado in 1971.

Aquamarine, the birthstone for March, symbolizes hope, youth, and happiness.

It's also associated with tranquility, clarity, and harmony.

You may read more:

https://www.rocksandgemscanada.com/collections/aquamarine-1?srsltid=AfmBOoq8FTT4qbCHGC3TntUy2hy1EgXp-wMvV27ws-CGWcw0GGAFsNyv

Bloodstone:

Bloodstone is a dark green variety of chalcedony adorned with a spatter of bright red. It has been a popular gemstone for at least two thousand years and has served as the modern birthstone for the month of March since 1912. Bloodstone is sometimes referred to as "heliotrope" by European authors and in works of the 18th century and earlier.

Legends and superstitions:

Heliotrope was called "stone of Babylon" by Albertus Magnus and he referred to several magical properties, which were attributed to it from Late Antiquity. Pliny the Elder (1st century) mentioned first that the magicians used it as a stone of invisibility.

Damigeron (4th century) wrote about its property to make rain, solar eclipse, and its special virtue in divination and preserving health and youth. A Christian tradition states that the red spots come from blood falling upon the stone during the crucifixion of Jesus, as he was stabbed in the side by a Roman soldier.

Ancient Roman soldiers believed that the stone had the ability to slow bleeding and wore it for this reason.

In India it is held that one can staunch the bleeding by placing upon wounds and injuries after dipping it in cold water, which may have a scientific basis in the fact that iron oxide, contained in the stone, is an effective astringent.

The Gnostics wore the stone as an amulet for longevity, for wealth and courage, to strengthen the stomach, and to dispel melancholy.

In the Middle Ages it was considered useful for animal husbandry.

The ancient Greeks and Romans wore the stone to bring renown and favor, to bring endurance, and as a charm against the bite of venomous creatures.

Greek and Roman athletes favored it as talisman for success in their games.

In Scotland, the Gaels saw heliotropes as the product of an everlasting battle (seen as the aurora borealis) fought by 'the Nimble Ones,' giant faerie-folk who danced and fought in the night skies, their blood pooling into the red part of the aurora before falling in drops to the ground to form bloodstones.

Bloodstone believed to provide protection against evil spirits and bring good fortune.

You may read more:

https://tinyrituals.co/blogs/tiny-rituals/bloodstone-meaning-healing-properties-everyday-uses?srsltid=AfmBOorbPoZ0iCG3EdAmBJJYXTRrvN0CQVs4au0n0BW4RviMLAUp7M1Z

https://www.mycrystals.com/meaning/bloodstone-meaning-healing-properties-and-powers

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/bloodstone-value-price-jewelry-information/

Daffodil flower:

Daffodils symbolize rebirth, new beginnings, hope, joy, and good luck. Much of this symbolism arises from the fact that daffodils emerge each spring to light up barren landscapes with their cheerful yellow, orange, and white flowers.

Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus (plural narcissi), and jonquil, are used to describe some or all members of the genus.

Narcissi were well known in ancient civilisation, both medicinally and botanically, but were formally described by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum (1753). The genus is generally considered to have about ten sections with approximately 36 species.

The exact origin of the name Narcissus is unknown, but it is often linked to a Greek word (ancient Greek ναρκῶ narkō, "to make numb") and the myth of the youth of that name who fell in love with his own reflection. In some versions of the story, Narcissus is turned in to a flower by the Gods after his death.

The English word "daffodil" appears to be derived from "asphodel", with which it was commonly compared.

Names and etymology:

The derivation of the Latin "narcissus" is from Greek "νάρκισσος" - narkissos.

According to Plutarch narkissos has been connected because of the plant's narcotic properties, with narkē "numbness".

On the other hand, its etymology is considered to be clearly Pre-Greek by Beekes.

It is frequently linked to the myth of Narcissus, who became so obsessed with his own reflection in water that he drowned and the narcissus plant sprang from where he died. There is no evidence for the flower being named after Narcissus. Narcissus poeticus, which grows in Greece, has a fragrance that has been described as intoxicating.

Pliny wrote that the plant was named for its fragrance (ναρκάω narkao, "I grow numb" ), rather than Narcissus.

Furthermore, there were accounts of narcissi growing long before the story of Narcissus appeared (see Greek culture).

It has also been suggested that narcissi bending over streams represent the youth admiring his reflection.

Linnaeus used the Latin name "narcissus" for the plant but was preceded by others such as Matthias de l'Obel (1591)

and Clusius (1576).

The name Narcissus was not uncommon for men in Roman times.

The plural form of the common name "narcissus" has been the cause of some confusion. Dictionaries list "narcissi", "narcissuses" and "narcissus".

However, texts on usage such as Garner and Fowler state that "narcissi" is the preferred form.

Daffodil:

The name "daffodil" is derived from "affodell", a variant of asphodel.

The narcissus was frequently referred to as the asphodel (see Antiquity). Asphodel in turn appears to come from the Greek "asphodelos" (Ancient Greek: ἀσφόδελος).

The reason for the introduction of the initial "d" is not known.[90] From at least the 16th century, "daffadown dilly" and "daffydowndilly" have appeared as alternative names.

Other names include "Lent lily".

In other languages:

The Hokkien name for Narcissus, chúi-sian, can be literally translated as "water fairy", where chúi (水) refers to water and sian (仙) refers to immortals.

It is the official provincial flower of Fujian.

https://extension.psu.edu/narcissus-the-daffodil

https://www.halifaxseed.ca/tips/fall-bulbs-daffodil-types

https://www.thespruce.com/planting-and-growing-daffodils-1402136

Zodiac sign of Pisces:

Pisces is the 12th and final sign of the zodiac.

It is a water sign, represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions.

In early mythology

"Pisces" is the Latin word for "fishes".

It is one of the earliest zodiac signs on record, with the two fish appearing as far back as c. 2300 BC on an Egyptian coffin lid.

Divine associations with Pisces include Poseidon/Neptune, Aphrodite, Eros, Typhon, Vishnu and the Sumerian goddess Inanna.

In some classical interpretations, the symbol of the fish is derived from the ichthyocentaurs, who aided Aphrodite when she was born from the sea.

Ichthyocentaurs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyocentaur

Greek myth for Pisces:

In Greek mythology the supreme god Zeus won the war with the terrible Titans and became the utmost ruler of Gods and humans.

And then God Zeus, applied the "Olympian order of peace" in the sky and in the earth.

But all the "powers of darkness” - that did not want to accept the “Olympian peace and order” - created a terrible monster named Typhaon (Τυφάων, Typháōn) and sent him against Zeus.

Typhaon was a monstrous serpentine giant and one of the deadliest creatures in Greek mythology.

Typhaon was as bad as bad can be.

Everything about Typhaon was dangerous and deadly.

He was described as an “evil super giant”.

His upper body was that of a man, but his legs consisted of huge and poisonous snakes.

His head also was a collection of snake heads grown into fiery hair, which constantly released a terrible scream.

To top it all off, this monster even had wings!

This made Typhaon a very powerful adversary to the gods.

Finally, Typhaon attacked directly the gods of Mount Olympus.

(Mount Olympus is the mountain where all the Greek gods and goddesses resided.)

Typhaon threatened all the gods.

They all knew very well what Typhaon was capable of, so each and every god made a run for it.

The moment the monster Typhaon was approaching goddess Aphrodite and god Eros, (the 2 gods of love and beauty) they were near a river (or near a seashore).

The two gods were in big trouble and Typhaon was closing in on them.

At the last moment, 2 fishes appeared and they let Aphroditeand Eros jump on their backs.

This way, the two manage to avoid getting caught by the monster Typhaon.

In some other versions of the myth Aphrodite and Erostransformed themselves into fishes and swim in opposite directions to escape Typhaonand save their lives.

Typhaon attempted to overthrow Zeus for the supremacy of the cosmos.

The two fought a cataclysmic battle, which Zeusfinally won with the aid of his thunderbolts.

Defeated, Typhaon was cast into Tartarus, or buried underneath Mount Etna, or in later accounts, the island of Ischia.

God Zeus was the winner again and brought back to the world the “Olympian order”.

And the 2 fishes that helped Aphrodite and Erosto escape death, were being placed in the heavens by the Greek gods, and there they became the constellation of Pisces.

The Greek myth on the origin of the sign of Pisces has been cited by English astrologer

Richard James Morrison ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_James_Morrison)

as an example of the fables that arose from the original astrological doctrine, and that the "original intent of it, was afterwards corrupted both by poets and by priests."

In modern mythology and religion:

Purim, a Jewish holiday, falls at the full moon preceding the Passover, which was set by the full moon in Aries, which follows Pisces.

The story of the birth of Christ is said to be a result of the spring equinox entering into the Pisces, as the Savior of the World appeared as the Fisher of Men.

This parallels the entering into the Age of Pisces.

The age of Pisces began c. AD 1 and will end c. AD 2150.With the story of the birth of Christ coinciding with this date, many Christian symbols for Christ use the astrological symbol for Pisces, the fishes.

The figure Christ himself bears many of the temperaments and personality traits of a Pisces and is thus considered an archetype of the Piscean.

Moreover, the twelve apostles were called the "fishers of men", early Christians called themselves "little fishes", and a code word for Jesus was the Greek word for fish, "ΙΧΘΥΣ - ICHTHYS".

ἸΧΘΥΣ (IKhThUS), or also ἸΧΘΥϹ with a lunate sigma, is an acronym or acrostic for : "Ἰησοῦς Χρῑστός Θεοῦ Υἱός Σωτήρ", Iēsoûs Khrīstós, Theoû Huiós, Sōtḗr; contemporary Koine, which translates into English as 'Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior'.

· Iota (i), Iēsoûs (Ἰησοῦς), "Jesus"

· Chi (ch), Khrīstós (Χρῑστός), "Christ"

· Theta (th), Theoû (Θεοῦ), "of God", the genitive singular of Θεóς, Theós, "God"

· Ypsilon (y or u), (h)uiós[11] (Yἱός), "Son"

· Sigma (s), sōtḗr (Σωτήρ), "Savior"

With this, the start of the age, or the "Great Month of Pisces", is regarded as the beginning of the Christian religion.

Saint Peter is recognized as the apostle of the Piscean sign.

Pisces man personality:

Pisces men are said to be intuitive, creative, and empathetic. They are also known for being sensitive, romantic, and charming.

Empathetic

Pisces men are highly sensitive to the emotions of others and can often anticipate their needs. They are good listeners and can provide a safe space for their partners to share their feelings.

Creative

Pisces men are said to be very creative and have strong imaginations. They may come up with ideas and tactics that surprise others.

Intuitive

Pisces men are said to be intuitive, but this can sometimes lead to indecisiveness. They may struggle to make decisions because they fear making the wrong choice.

Compassionate

Pisces men are said to be compassionate and make natural caregivers. They thrive in roles that allow them to support others.

Romantic

Pisces men are said to be flirtatious, charming, and romantic. When in love, they may show their care publicly.

Pisces men sexuality:

In bed, Pisces men tend to only have satisfying experiences with those they are emotionally connected to; if he doesn’t yet have an emotional connection, sex will certainly open the doors to possibilities, but he must be careful, because this can often be confusing.

A Pisces man can intuitively connect with his sexual partner, fulfill their needs, and add a creative twist. Sex with Pisces is truly passionate and loving, and they are open to trying non-conventional things, like acting out their fantasies or acting on their kinks.

Pisces man has a tender and emotional disposition during sex.

Important and commemorative days in the month of March 2025 in Canada:

March 1st 2025 - "White Night", Montreal

All Month

Irish Heritage Month

March 8

International Women’s Day

March 20

International Francophonie Day

March 21

March 21 to 28

Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination

March 31

Analytically:

March 1st 2025 - "White Night", Montreal:

Nuit Blanche, or "White Night", is an annual arts festival in Montreal that takes place from dusk until dawn. The festival features free cultural activities, entertainment, and events throughout the city.

What does it mean?

Nuit Blanche is a French phrase that translates to "white night". The festival is a way to celebrate the city and encourage community engagement. It's also a chance to get out of the winter routine and push boundaries.

How does it work?

Nuit Blanche is the closing festival of Montreal en Lumière. It takes place in February and features a variety of activities, including:

Art installations
Performances
Themed social gatherings
Winter sports
Skating
Figure skating shows
Food and drink

History

The Nuit Blanche concept originated in Paris in 2002. Montreal was the first Canadian city to adopt the festival, starting in 2003.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuit_Blanche#:~:text=Nuit%20Blanche%20(French%20pronunciation:%20%5B,visual%20artist%20Thierry%20Dreyfus%2C%202005

https://www.citynetmagazine.com/montreal-nuit-blanche-guide/

March 2025 – Irish Heritage month:

Irish Canadian Heritage Month in 2025 will be from March 1–31.

The month is celebrated in March to coincide with St. Patrick's Day, which is on March 17.

This month is a time to recognize the contributions of Irish Canadians to Canadian history.

Irish Heritage Month is celebrated in March to coincide with St. Patrick's Day, which is celebrated on March 17.
Irish immigrants brought their customs to Canada, including Halloween, Irish Wakes, and unique Christmas traditions.
Orange parades became a common sight in Canada, and Irish expats created a new tradition of parading through the streets to mark St. Patrick's Day.
Canada and Ireland share common values and priorities, including support for human rights and gender equality.

Canadian Heritage – Statement - OTTAWA–GATINEAU, March 1, 2022:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2022/03/the-government-of-canada-marks-the-first-official-irish-heritage-month-in-canada.html

St. Patrick:

(Latin: Patricius; Irish: Pádraig [ˈpˠɑːɾˠɪɟ] or [ˈpˠaːd̪ˠɾˠəɟ]; Welsh: Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints being Brigid of Kildare and Columba.

Patrick was never formally canonised by the Catholic Church, having lived before the current laws it established for such matters. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the Church of Ireland (part of the Anglican Communion), and in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where he is regarded as equal-to-the-apostles and Enlightener of Ireland.

The dates of Patrick's life cannot be fixed with certainty, but there is general agreement that he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the fifth century. A recent biography on Patrick shows a late fourth-century date for the saint is not impossible.

According to tradition dating from the early Middle Ages, Patrick was the first bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland, and is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, converting a pagan society in the process. He has been generally so regarded ever since, despite evidence of some earlier Christian presence.

According to Patrick's autobiographical Confessio, when he was about sixteen, he was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland. He writes that he lived there for six years as an animal herder before escaping and returning to his family. After becoming a cleric, he returned to spread Christianity in northern and western Ireland. In later life, he served as a bishop, but little is known about where he worked. By the seventh century, he had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day, considered his feast day, is observed on 17 March, the supposed date of his death. It is celebrated in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora as a religious and cultural holiday. In the Catholic Church in Ireland, it is both a solemnity and a holy day of obligation.

You may read more:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-patrick/

One of us: St. Patrick’s place in gay history:

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/03/one-us-st-patricks-place-gay-history/

https://queeringthechurch.wordpress.com/gay-saints/st-patrick-a-gay-role-model/

https://goldsmithvintage.com/blogs/journal/was-st-patrick-queer

St. Patrick's Day:

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit. 'the Day of the Festival of Patrick'), is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385 – c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

St Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the nearest Monday to March 17 each year. It remembers St Patrick, a missionary who converted many of Ireland's inhabitants to Christianity in the 5th century. His feast day also celebrates Irish culture.

Patrick's Day is less of a religious festival and more of a symbol of Irish Identity.

Today, just like Christmas, people from different religions and backgrounds from all across Canada celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day

https://www.prepareforcanada.com/after-you-arrive/living-in-canada/saint-patricks-day-when-canada-goes-green/#:~:text=Patrick's%20Day%20is%20less%20of,Patrick's%20Day.

LGBTQ rights in St. Patrick's Day parades:

LGBTQ rights in St. Patrick's Day parades have been a topic of debate, with some parades welcoming LGBTQ marchers and others excluding them.

· Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston

In 1995, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of parade organizers' right to exclude gay marchers. The court's decision upheld the organizers' freedom of speech.

· Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade

In 2015, the parade welcomed gay and lesbian groups after decades of opposition. The South Boston Allied War Veterans Council invited the OutVets and Boston Pride groups to march.

· Staten Island's St. Patrick's Day parade

In 2024, the parade invited LGBTQ groups to march after a change in leadership.

St. Pat's for All:

The St. Pat's for All Parade is an annual event that honors Irish culture and promotes inclusivity. It was established on March 5, 2000, and takes place in the Sunnyside and Woodside neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, which traditionally have been home to Irish New Yorkers. The parade was initiated by Brendan Fay, a gay Irish immigrant, in response to the exclusion of LGBTQ+ groups like the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization from the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan. Fay's objective is to celebrate the diversity of New York City, guided by the motto "Cherishing All the Children of the Nation Equally," which originates from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic during the Easter Rising of 1916.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Pat%27s_for_All#:~:text=Patrick's%20Day%20Parade%20in%20Boston,LGBTQ%20groups%20from%20the%20parade.

https://www.nyclgbtsites.org/site/starting-point-of-first-st-pats-for-all-parade/

March 8 - International Women’s Day:

International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8th to recognize the achievements of women and girls, and to raise awareness of the challenges they face.

Origins

The first IWD was held in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland
The day's origins can be traced back to labor movements in Europe and North America
Early protests included women marching in New York City in 1857 and 1908 to protest unfair working conditions and child labor

United Nations involvement

The UN began celebrating IWD in 1975
The UN has worked to achieve gender equality worldwide

What's celebrated

The social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women
The progress made towards gender equality
The challenges women still face

What's done

Events are held to celebrate women's achievements
Campaigns are launched to raise awareness of the challenges women face
Advocacy work is done to support women in all fields

International Women’s Day – Canadian government:

https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/commemorations-celebrations/international-womens-day.html

International Women's Day is a public holiday in several countries. The UN observes the holiday in connection with a particular issue, campaign, or theme in women's rights.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day

March 20 - International Francophonie Day:

International Francophonie Day is celebrated on March 20th to commemorate the signing of the Niamey Convention in 1970. The convention established the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), which later became the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).

Why is it celebrated?

To celebrate the French language and Francophone culture
To promote the values of peace, democracy, and respect for human rights
To recognize the potential of language and culture to unite people

How is it celebrated?

Cultural events like concerts, exhibitions, film screenings, dance performances, or cooking workshops
Poetry, song, or eloquence competitions in French
Flag raising ceremonies
Cocktail parties
Film marathons

Who celebrates it?

The 77 member states of the International Organization of La Francophonie
People who celebrate the French language and Francophone culture.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Francophonie_Day#:~:text=International%20Francophonie%20Day%20(French%3A%20Journ%C3%A9e,million%20French%20speakers%20on%20Earth.

Government of Canada - Canada and La Francophonie:

https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/francophonie/index.aspx?lang=eng

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2023/03/happy-international-day-of-lafrancophonie.html

March 21- International Day for the Elimination of Racism and Racial Discrimination:

March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is a day to recognize the injustice of racial discrimination and work to end it. It also commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, where police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration against apartheid.

What happens on March 21?

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1966
The day is a call to action to end racial discrimination, injustice, and hate
The day serves as a reminder of rights and responsibilities under human rights codes

What does racial discrimination mean?

Racial discrimination is the practice of treating people differently or unjustly because of their race, ethnic origin, skin color, language, or religion

What can be done to end racial discrimination?

Understand the underlying causes of racism
Take steps to correct the underlying causes of racism
Work to ensure all people are respected and have equal access and opportunity

Government of Canada - International Day for the Elimination of Racism and Racial Discrimination:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/federal-anti-racism-secretariat/international-day-elimination-racial-discrimination.html

United Nations - International Day for the Elimination of Racism and Racial Discrimination:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-racism-day

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_for_the_Elimination_of_Racial_Discrimination

March 21 – world poetry day:

World Poetry Day is celebrated on 21 March, and was declared by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1999, "with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard".

Its purpose is to promote the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the original UNESCO declaration says, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional, and international poetry movements".

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Poetry_Day

https://www.unesco.org/en/days/poetry

Canadian government:

https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2011/03/government-canada-celebrates-world-poetry-day.html

March 21 to 28 - Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination:

https://refugees.org/week-of-solidarity-with-the-people-struggling-against-racism-racial-discrimination-3-21-27/

March 31 - National Indigenous Languages Day:

March 31st is recognized as "National Indigenous Languages Day" in Canada, a day to honor and celebrate the rich linguistic heritage of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across the country; it is an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of Indigenous languages in preserving culture and identity.

Key points about National Indigenous Languages Day:

· Date:

March 31st

· Focus:

Recognizing the strength and resilience of Indigenous languages and cultures

· Significance:

Indigenous languages are considered a vital part of Indigenous identity and connection to their ancestors and land

· Challenges faced:

Historical government policies, residential schools, and systemic barriers have significantly impacted Indigenous languages.

Joint statement by Ministers St-Onge, Anandasangaree, Hajdu and Vandal on National Indigenous Languages Day:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2024/03/joint-statement-by-ministers-st-onge-anandasangaree-hajdu-and-vandal-on-national-indigenous-languages-day.html

Joint Statement by Ministers Guilbeault, Bennett, Miller and Vandal on National Indigenous Languages Day:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2021/03/joint-statement-by-ministers-guilbeault-bennett-miller-and-vandal-on-national-indigenous-languages-day.html

March 31 - International Transgender Day of Visibility:

International Transgender Day of Visibility (often referred to as TDOV or Trans Day of Visibility) is an annual event occurring every March 31 since 2009 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society. The first International Transgender Day of Visibility was held on March 31, 2009. It has since been spearheaded by the U.S.-based youth advocacy organization Trans Student Educational Resources.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Transgender_Day_of_Visibility

Government of Canada - International Transgender Day of Visibility:

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2024/03/international-transgender-day-visibility-opportunity-honour-transgender-community.html

Montreal festivals and events March 2025:

http://www.go-montreal.com/attraction_events_mar.htm

Food recipes for St. Patrick’s Day:

https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/g2009/traditional-irish-food/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_del_md_pmx_hybd_mix_ca_18646002629&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7se8BhCAARIsAKnF3rzb4q2dBBDXOoOAJawmuePutTOQ6a3_XefXg9Z8Z164iSeIABvGDQYaAiQnEALw_wcB

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/meals-menus/g35325053/traditional-irish-food-dishes/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_pw_md_pmx_hybd_mix_ca_18890344267&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7se8BhCAARIsAKnF3rx4qUWmcDCTqvei1MikW1da8zsK9VjkBGNfZ7nfTgcVWZFF1ga2tYUaAhZ1EALw_wcB

https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/food/g30967951/traditional-irish-food-dishes/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_opr_md_pmx_hybd_mix_ca_18671019055&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7se8BhCAARIsAKnF3rx-y98jmX4zkz_R2vvGYresjho5qWZUc5hCCVoHwLX2CCcdtXDHsDsaAr1bEALw_wcB

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/197/holidays-and-events/st-patricks-day/

https://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/packages/st-patricks-day

Martha Stewart:

https://www.marthastewart.com/274244/saint-patricks-day-recipes

Canadian Living:

https://www.canadianliving.com/food/collections/article/7-festive-st-patrick-s-day-recipes

March quotes and sayings:

Quotes about March

"Beware the ides of March" is a warning from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar about the danger of March 15, the day Caesar was assassinated.
"In like a lion, out like a lamb" is a saying about the moody month of March.
"The stormy March has come at last, With wind, and cloud, and changing skies".
"It is the first mild day of March: Each minute sweeter than before".

Other March-related quotes

"The winds of March with beauty; violets dim, But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes".
"March, that month of wind and taxes, The wind will presently disappear, The taxes last us all the year".

March and spring

March ushers in spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Some quotes about spring include:

"In the springtime, the heart regrows hope".
"The world laughs in flowers".
"When one flower blooms, spring awakens everywhere".

You may read more:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/march

Here are some Irish quotes and blessings for St. Patrick's Day:

You're my pot of gold: A blessing that wishes someone will be blessed with a pot of gold by a leprechaun
May luck be your friend: A blessing that wishes someone will have good luck and avoid trouble
Sláinte: A toast that means "cheers" or "health" in English
May the road rise to meet you: A traditional Irish blessing that wishes someone good fortune
May the wind be always at your back: A traditional Irish blessing that wishes someone good fortune
May the sun shine warm upon your face: A traditional Irish blessing that wishes someone good fortune
May rains fall soft upon your fields: A traditional Irish blessing that wishes someone good fortune
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand: A traditional Irish blessing that wishes someone good fortune

Other Irish sayings include:

"Kiss me, I'm Irish"
"Everyone can't be Irish, somebody has to drive"
"Hunger is good sauce"
"A friend's eye is a good mirror"
"There's not a wise man without fault"

You may read more:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/688258.Patrick_of_Ireland

March 2025 in Massage Luc:

The month of February 2025 was certainly a very interesting month.

February is the month of St. Valentine.

I had many couples visiting me this month.

The actual day of St. Valentine I had 2 couples.

It was a lot of work for me - because both couples asked for picture taking also.

But my clients were so happy!

The smile on their faces was the best payment.

And I did not mind the amount of work.

Of course we had very bad weather this February.

The days of the tempest were "dead days" - financially speaking.

But got so busy after the tempest - that made it up for the “dead days".

The cold winter days might be bad for business.

But they give you the time to stay with yourself and meditate.

And sometimes we all need that.

For the month of March 2025, I will keep the same very popular special:

$ 130 for everything.

My other SPECIAL is always valid:

The client that will come 4 times in one month gets a free "Boudoir Photo Session” of actual cost $ 300.

Come to celebrate the first month of spring, the month of St. Patrick, with a nice Male Massage.

Offer yourself this inexpensive luxury because you really deserve it.

Happy St. Patrick's 2025 to all my clients!

Happy March 2025 to all my clients!

I am here waiting for you.

I am looking forward to meeting you and offering to you, my services.

February 2025 - Massage Luc

February 2025

February (Feb.) is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, coming between January and March.

It is the shortest month of the year, and is also known as the third month of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

It has 28 days in common years, and 29 days in leap years.

This was to make the calendar match to the rest of the world.

In the Southern Hemisphere, February is a summer month.

February, is named after a Roman purification festival called “februa”, which occurred around the fifteenth of this month.

“Februa” literally means “month of cleansing” – a fitting title considering that February was once the last month of the year..

Facts about February:

Name

The name comes from the Latin word februum, which means "purification".

Holidays

February is home to several popular holidays, including Groundhog Day and Valentine's Day.

Black History Month

In Canada, February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the history and legacy of Black people in Canada.

Why Are There Only 28 Days in February?

Each month in the modern Gregorian calendar consists of at least 28 days. That number would be a nicely rounded 30 were it not for February. While every month besides the second in the calendar contains at least 30 days, February falls short with 28 (and 29 on a leap year).

So why is the most widely used calendar in the world so inconsistent in the lengths of its months?

And why is February stuck with the fewest number of days?

Blame it on Roman superstition.

Explanation of a leap year:

A year in the Gregorian calendar when February has 29 days instead of 28.

An extra day is added to the calendar about every four years.

Why?

The Gregorian calendar’s oldest ancestor, the first Roman calendar, had a glaring difference in structure from its later variants: it consisted of 10 months rather than 12.

In order to fully sync the calendar with the lunar year, the Roman king Numa Pompilius (753–672 BC), added January and February to the original 10 months. The previous calendar had had 6 months of 30 days and 4 months of 31, for a total of 304 days.

However, the king Numa wanted to avoid having even numbers in his calendar, as Roman superstition at the time held that even numbers were unlucky.

He subtracted a day from each of the 30-day months to make them 29. The lunar year consists of 355 days (354.367 to be exact, but calling it 354 would have made the whole year unlucky!), which meant that he now had 56 days left to work with. In the end, at least 1 month out of the 12 needed to contain an even number of days.

This is because of simple mathematical fact: the sum of any even amount (12 months) of odd numbers will always equal an even number—and he wanted the total to be odd.

So Numa, chose February, a month that would be host to Roman rituals honoring the dead, as the unlucky month to consist of 28 days.

Despite changes in the calendar as it was altered after Numa’sadditions—alterations that include the shortening of February at certain intervals, the addition of a leap month, and eventually the modern leap day—February’s 28-day length has stuck.

February’s Symbols:

Its birth flowers are the violet (Viola), the common primrose (Primula vulgaris), and the Iris.

Its birthstone is the amethyst, which symbolizes piety, humility, spiritual wisdom, and sincerity.

The zodiac signs of February are Aquarius (until February 18) and Pisces(February 19 onward).

Violet (Viola)

Violets have many meanings, including:

· Modesty: Violets are often associated with modesty because they grow low to the ground with their heads bowed.

· Faithfulness: Violets are also symbols of faithfulness and loyalty because they return year after year.

· Spiritual wisdom: Violets are linked to spiritual wisdom and insight in many cultures.

· Innocence: Violets are often looked upon as a sign of innocence.

· Sapphic love: Violets became symbolically associated with romantic love between women.

This connection originates from fragments of a poem by Sappho about a lost love, in which she describes her as "Close by my side you put around yourself [many wreaths] of violets and roses."

In another poem, Sappho describes her lost love as wearing "violet tiaras, braided rosebuds, dill and crocus twined around" her neck.

In 1926, one of the first plays to involve a lesbian relationship, La Prisonnière by Édouard Bourdet, used a bouquet of violets to signify lesbian love

· February birth flower: Violets are the birth flower for February because they are some of the earliest spring bloomers.

· Queen Victoria's favorite flower: Queen Victoria was a big fan of violets, and the flower became very popular in Victorian England.

· Violets also have a rich history in folklore and herbal medicine.

· According to Greek mythology, violets were created when one of Goddess Artemis' nymphs, (who had all sworn to stay maidens), was being pursued by her twin brother, the God Apollo.

To "protect" her nymph from her brother's erotic advances, Artemis transformed her into a violet, which in turn led the violet to become a symbol of modesty.

· In Christianity, violets symbolize the Virgin Mary's humility.

You may read more:

https://bouqs.com/blog/violet-flower-meaning-symbolism/?srsltid=AfmBOoqB2r6jh-sOj2HM6-E29P71A6wseu6m8fRx6BUiGrMZTgLe1h-O

https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/about/blog/2021/12/21/queer-botany-the-sapphic-violet/

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/blogs/sweet-sound-breathes-upon-bank-violets-meaning-violet-shakespeares-plays/

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/february-flower-lore

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_(plant)

Iris flower

Etymology

The genus takes its name from the Greek word ἶρις îris "rainbow", which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris.

Some authors state that the name refers to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.

Iris flower meaning:

The iris flower has many meanings, including:

· Faith, hope, and wisdom: These are the most common meanings of the iris flower.

· Nobility: The iris has been associated with royalty throughout history, especially in France and Italy.

· Spring and new beginnings: The iris's petals strengthen in warmer weather, symbolizing the start of spring.

· Positive change: The iris is always changing, reflecting the transformative power of its divine namesake.

· Communication and messages: The iris's symbolic association with communication and messages comes from its role as a divine courier for Zeus and Hera in Greek mythology.

· Valor and chivalry: The iris's regal appearance and its link to the Greek gods give it associations with valor and chivalry.

· Purity, innocence, and sympathy: White irises symbolize these qualities.

· Friendship and deep relationships: Bright yellow irises symbolize these qualities.

· Protection and power: Egyptians view the iris as a symbol of these qualities.

The meaning of an iris flower can vary depending on the variety and color of the flower. For example, purple irises are associated with wisdom and compliments, while blue irises are associated with hope and faith.

You may read more:

https://www.bloomsybox.com/blog/posts/the-iris-unveiled?srsltid=AfmBOopJT2mUwQM712cAmHgMHWVbb6FHGH5sFNPSXTaI82MHoMULxaDJ

https://lovflowers.co.uk/blogs/news/blue-iris-flower?srsltid=AfmBOor8eJphJvcdehFnA_VXoIOe6ZpNlDZ5mJzJjmxubpaMKTiPs2GT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_(plant)

Amethyst

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz.

The name comes from the Koine Greek "αμέθυστος" - amethystos.

From α- a-, "not" and μεθύσκω (Ancient Greek) methysko / μεθώ metho (Modern Greek), "intoxicate".

A reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness.

Ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication.

Amethyst, a semiprecious stone, is often used in jewelry as gemstone bracelet, tumble, beads, cabochon etc.

History

Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems.

The ancient Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication, while medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle in the belief that amethysts heal people and keep them cool-headed. Beads of amethyst were found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England.

Anglican bishops wear an episcopal ring often set with an amethyst, an allusion to the description of the Apostles as "not drunk" at Pentecost in Acts 2:15.

A large geode, or "amethyst-grotto", from near Santa Cruz in southern Brazil was presented at a 1902 exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Cultural history

Ancient Greece

The Greek word amethystos may be translated as "not drunken", from Greek a-, "not" + methustos, "intoxicated". Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness.

In his poem "L'Amethyste, ou les Amours de Bacchus et d'Amethyste" (Amethyst or the loves of Bacchus and Amethyste), the French poet Rémy Belleau (1528–1577) invented a myth in which Bacchus, the god of intoxication, of wine, and grapes was pursuing a maiden named Amethyste, who refused his affections. Amethyste prayed to the gods to remain chaste, a prayer which the chaste goddess Diana answered, transforming her into a white stone. Humbled by Amethyste's desire to remain chaste, Bacchus poured wine over the stone as an offering, dyeing the crystals purple.

Variations of the story include that Dionysus had been insulted by a mortal and swore to slay the next mortal who crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wrath. The mortal turned out to be a beautiful young woman, Amethystos, who was on her way to pay tribute to Artemis. Her life was spared by Artemis, who transformed the maiden into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears then stained the quartz purple.

This myth and its variations are not found in classical sources. However, the goddess Rhea does present Dionysus with an amethyst stone to preserve the wine-drinker's sanity in historical text.

Other cultural associations

Tibetans consider amethyst sacred to the Buddha and make prayer beads from it.

Amethyst is considered the birthstone of February.

In the Middle Ages, it was considered a symbol of royalty and used to decorate English regalia.

In the Old World, amethyst was considered one of the cardinal gems, in that it was one of the five gemstones considered precious above all others, until large deposits were found in Brazil.

Amethyst has many meanings and uses, including:

· Royalty: Amethyst's deep purple color has long been associated with luxury, wealth, and power.

· Protection: Amethyst is said to protect against negative energy and open the heart to love and tolerance.

· Emotional support: Amethyst is said to provide emotional support in the form of confidence and calmness.

· Wellness: Amethyst is said to help promote strength and freedom from bad habits.

· Spiritual growth: Amethyst is associated with the Third Eye and Crown chakras, promoting spiritual growth, intuition, and higher consciousness.

· Clarity: Amethyst is known for its ability to provide clarity and insight.

· Stress relief: Amethyst is well-known for stress relief.

· Grief relief: Amethyst is known to bring relief from grief.

· Amethyst is the birthstone for February.

· Amethyst is a member of the quartz family and is often found in the form of six sided crystals

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/history-legend-amethyst-gems-yore/

Aquarius zodiac sign
Aquarius (︎) (Greek: Ὑδροχόος, romanized: Hydrokhóos, Latin for "water-bearer") is the eleventh astrological sign in the zodiac, originating from the constellation Aquarius. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun is in the Aquarius sign between about January 20 and February 18.
Aquarius is one of the three air signs, alongside Gemini and Libra.
The ruling planets of Aquarius are Saturn (In traditional astrology alongside Capricorn), and Uranus in modern astrology.
Aquarius is a fixed air sign.
The opposite sign of Aquarius is Leo.
.
History and mythology

.
Ancient Middle East
Aquarius is identified as GU.LA "The Great One" in the Babylonian star catalogues and represents the god Ea himself, who is commonly depicted holding an overflowing vase. The Babylonian star-figure appears on entitlement stones and cylinder seals from the second millennium. It contained the winter solstice in the Early Bronze Age.
In Old Babylonian astronomy, Ea was the ruler of the southernmost quarter of the Sun's path, the "Way of Ea", corresponding to the period of 45 days on either side of winter solstice. Aquarius was also associated with the destructive floods that the Babylonians regularly experienced, and thus was negatively connoted.
.
Ancient Egypt
In Ancient Egypt astronomy, Aquarius was associated with the annual flood of the Nile; the banks were said to flood when Aquarius put his jar into the river, beginning spring.
.
Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, Aquarius is sometimes associated with Deucalion, the son of Prometheus who built a ship with his wife Pyrrha to survive an imminent flood. They sailed for nine days before washing ashore on Mount Parnassus.
.
Yet another figure associated with the water bearer is Cecrops I, a king of Athens who sacrificed water instead of wine to the gods.

But the most popular myth about Aquarius is the myth of Ganymede, a youth in Greek mythology and the son of Trojan king Tros, who was taken to Mount Olympus by Zeus to act as cup-carrier to the gods.

The story:

Zeus fell in love with Ganymede and either sent an eagle to kidnap him or transformed into an eagle himself.

Ganymede was taken to Mount Olympus, where he became Zeus's cupbearer and was granted immortality.

In Homer's account of the abduction in the Iliad, the poet writes:

Ganymedes was the loveliest born of the race of mortals, and therefore

the gods caught him away to themselves, to be Zeus' wine-pourer,

for the sake of his beauty, so he might be among the immortals.

— Homer, Iliad, Book XX, lines 233–235.

The compensation:

In exchange for Ganymede, Zeus gave Ganymede's father ultra-precious “divine gifts” to compensate him.

Some poets mention immortal horses and some others golden vines and others mention more “divine gifts”.

Neighboring Aquila represents the eagle, under Zeus' command, that snatched the young boy;
some versions of the myth indicate that the eagle was in fact Zeus transformed.

Important details:

Zeus transforms himself to a swan in order to couple with the queen Leda.

Zeus transforms himself to a bull in order to couple with the princess Europe.

Zeus transforms himself to a “golden rain” to couple with the imprisoned princess Danae.

The “transformations of Zeus” is a “huge chapter” for the people that study mythology.

It is a “huge chapter” and it is also a very interesting chapter – because every “transformation” has a particular “meaning”.

BUT – when Zeus abducts Ganymede, he is “transforming himself to an eagle”.

And the eagle is the “animal – symbol” of Zeus.

I think that this is a very interesting detail.

.
In all the versions the beautiful Ganymede is the eternal "boy lover" of the great God Zeus.
The love of Zeus is "lifting" the mortal boy.
Ganymede is becoming immortal and he is even placed in the sky among the stars!

Ganymede – etymology:

The name Ganymede comes from the Ancient Greek words gánumai ("I rejoice, I am glad") and mḗdea ("thought, intention"). The name is sometimes translated as "meant to please".

.
.

Almost all the great artists presented versions of the "abduction of Ganymede".

(Examples:

Peter Paul Rubens: Painted The Kidnapping of Ganymede.

Mazza: Painted The Rape of Ganymede in the late 16th century.
Rembrandt van Rijn: Painted The Abduction of Ganymede in 1635.
Martin Ridgwell: Painted Ganymede's abduction.
.
And many more painters - even modern painters.
The "Abduction of Ganymede" is a very classic "artistic theme")
.
The story of the handsome youth who inspires love to a powerful god and is lifted to a "god – like - status", can be “seen from many different angles” and can be given many different interpretations.

I think that in conclusion the entire myth is very interesting.

Students of philosophy and psychology they have many things to analyze.

But I think that everybody can see a very obvious meaning:

The myth speaks for the love between a mature man and a younger man.

And in the myth this love is “eternal”.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_(constellation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_(astrology)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rape_of_Ganymede

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganymede_(mythology)

https://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/Ganymedes.html

https://aryaakasha.com/2023/07/25/shravana-ganymede-gayatri-shyena-and-other-points-of-syzygy-within-vedic-and-classical-myth-and-star-lore/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganymede_(mythology)

https://www.etymonline.com/word/Ganymede

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGIjYJIBGos

Aquarius man personality

Aquarius men are known for being creative, smart, and independent, and they often have quirky personalities:

Creative: Aquarius men are innovative thinkers with unique perspectives on life. They can be eclectic and offbeat, and they embrace their uniqueness.
Smart: Aquarius men are intellectual air signs.
Independent: Aquarius men are known for their innovative and independent nature.
Humanitarian: Aquarius men are known as the humanitarians of the zodiac. They can be accepting and generous, and they are passionate about social causes.
Easy-going: Aquarius men are often easy-going.
Artistic: Many Aquarius men have a strong sensibility to the arts

Aquarius man sexuality

In terms of love, Aquarius men are loyal and committed but not possessive. They treat their partners as equals and give them freedom. These people are sociable, imaginative, funny and friendly. Aquarius men like to investigate a lot in terms of love before being assured.

You may read more:

https://www.zodiacsign.com/man/aquarius/

Important and commemorative days in February in Canada

· Black History Month

· St. Valentine's Day

· National Flag of Canada: February 15

· World Day of Social Justice: February 20

· February 21

. International Mother Language Day

· Pink Shirt Day: February 22

· Groundhog Day

Important and commemorative days in February in Canada analytically

· Black History Month

Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities.

The 2024 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”. This theme celebrates the rich past and present contributions and accomplishments of Black people in Canada, while aspiring to embrace new opportunities for the future.

The theme aligns with the 10th year of the International Decade for People of African Descent and recognizes that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

No matter where you live, we invite all Canadians to learn more about Black Canadian communities, and how they continue to help shape Canada.

You may see more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np_jD0YUQrw&t=1s

· St. Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine's Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a holiday celebrated annually on February 14th. It's a day to express love and affection through gifts and greetings, and is celebrated in many regions of the world.

Here are some facts about Saint Valentine's Day:

· Origins

The holiday originated as a Christian feast day to honor a martyr named Valentine. The holiday's origins can be traced back to the Roman holiday Lupercalia, which welcomed spring.

· Saint Valentine

The holiday may be named after a priest who was martyred by the Roman emperor Claudius II Gothicus around 270 CE. Other accounts say the holiday is named after St. Valentine of Terni, a bishop. It's possible that the two saints were actually the same person.

· Traditions

People celebrate Saint Valentine's Day by exchanging cards, candy, flowers, and other tokens of affection.

· Popularity

Saint Valentine's Day is popular in the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, Argentina, France, Mexico, and South Korea. In the Philippines, it's the most common wedding anniversary.

· English poet Geoffrey Chaucer

Some say that English poet Geoffrey Chaucer may have invented Valentine's Day with his poem Parliament of Foules. In the poem, Chaucer links the celebration of St. Valentine's Day with courtly love and the tradition of birds coming together to find a mate.

Cupid

Cupid is a symbol of Valentine's Day because he is the Roman god of love, and his association with the holiday dates back to the Middle Ages:

Origin

Cupid is the Roman god of love, desire, and attraction, and the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. In Greek mythology, he is known as Eros.

Evolution

Cupid was originally depicted as a winged youth, but over time he became more commonly portrayed as a chubby cherub. The Romans also depicted Cupid as winged infants, or "putti".

Association with Valentine's Day

Cupid became associated with Valentine's Day in the Middle Ages, when the holiday was already associated with romantic love. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Cupid became even more prominent on Valentine's Day cards, and by the time Hallmark began mass-producing cards in 1913, he was ubiquitous.

Variations

Cupid's depiction has changed over time, with some versions showing him as a muscular adult, while others show him as a middle-aged man disillusioned with romance.

Valentine’s Chocolate Tradition

The tradition of giving chocolate on Valentine's Day can be traced back to the Mayans, Aztecs, and the Victorian era:

Mayans

Around 500 B.C., the Mayans used cacao beans in marriage ceremonies to symbolize the couple's future together.

Aztecs

The Aztecs considered chocolate an aphrodisiac, and European royalty would give their love interests chocolate mixed with amber.

Victorian era

In the 19th century, England saw a resurgence of interest in Valentine's Day, and the culture of gift-giving and expressing love through material objects became popular.

Richard Cadbury

In 1861, Richard Cadbury, a member of the Cadbury chocolate family, created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine's Day. The boxes were decorated with cupids and rosebuds, which were popular symbols of romance at the time.

The tradition of giving chocolate on Valentine's Day quickly caught on, and other chocolate manufacturers around the world followed suit. Today, over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold around the world each year.

In Japan, giving chocolate on Valentine's Day is not just limited to couples. It can also be a gesture of goodwill to keep up amicable relationships at work or school.

You may see more:

Valentine’s Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day

https://www.britannica.com/video/history-of-Valentines-Day/-275449

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmKQTqwPQDU&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEo74O-JNVY&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rf-fqAaTdE

Cupid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS0e2Ifxo9Y

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFmKUuXZD_0

Chocolate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibjUpk9Iagk&t=5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjyv1gRLA4s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPP9zgtG0Tk

Valentine's Day in Japan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_J_n1HXvq0

· National Flag of Canada: February 15

At the stroke of noon on February 15, 1965, Canada’s red and white maple leaf flag was raised for the very first time on Parliament Hill. On the same day in 1996, National Flag of Canada Day was declared.

Our national flag is a symbol that unites Canadians and reflects the common values we take pride in — democracy, inclusion and equity.

On February 15, let’s celebrate 60 years of our Canadian flag!

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-flag-canada-day/teachers-corner.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-flag-canada-day/about.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-history.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-flag-canada-day/toolkit.html

· World Day of Social Justice: February 20

World Day of Social Justice (Social Justice Equality Day) is an international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections. Many organizations, including the UN, American Library Association (ALA), and the International Labour Organization, make statements on the importance of social and present plans for greater social justice by tackling poverty, social and economic exclusion and unemployment. The United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February annually, approved on 26 November 2007 and starting in 2009, as the World Day of Social Justice.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Day_of_Social_Justice

https://www.un.org/en/observances/social-justice-day

· February 21

International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day is celebrated on February 21st every year to promote multilingualism and linguistic diversity:

· Purpose

The day recognizes the importance of languages and multilingualism in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It also aims to raise awareness of the loss of languages and cultural heritage.

· History

The day was established in 1999 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to honor the efforts of the Bangladeshi people to protect their language. The day was inspired by the 1952 protest at the University of Dhaka, where four students were killed by police.

· In Canada

In Canada, International Mother Language Day is recognized by the International Mother Language Day Act, which designates February 21st as the day. However, it is not a legal holiday.

· Related initiatives

The United Nations International Day of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) focuses on multilingualism as a central part of Indigenous people's development. UNESCO has also declared the decade from 2022-2032 as the decade of Indigenous Languages.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mother_Language_Day

https://www.unesco.org/en/days/mother-language

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-19.7/page-1.html?txthl=as

· Pink Shirt Day: February 22

Pink Shirt Day is an annual event against bullying held in Canada and New Zealand. Participants wear pink shirts and attend or host informative events to raise awareness about bullying, particularly in schools.

Pink Shirt Day was started in 2007 in Canada, where it is held on the last Wednesday of February each year.

It was adopted in New Zealand in 2009 and is observed annually on the third Friday of May.

Purpose

Anti-Bullying Day was instituted to prevent further bullying. The United States Department of Justice showed that one out of four kids will be bullied during their adolescence.

History

The original event was organized in 2007 by two grade 12 students named David Shepherd and Travis Price of Berwick, Nova Scotia, who bought and distributed 50 pink shirts after a ninth-grade student Chuck McNeill was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt during the first day of school at Central Kings Rural High School in Cambridge, Nova Scotia.

That year, Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald proclaimed the second Thursday of September (aligning with the start of each school year) as "Stand Up Against Bullying Day" in recognition of these events.

In 2008, then-Premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell proclaimed February 27 to be the provincial Anti-Bullying Day.

In 2009, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada worked on pink t-shirts that say "Bullying Stops Here." and "Pink Shirt Day" for Anti-Bullying Day.

In May 2009, New Zealand celebrated its first Pink Shirt Day.

In 2012, the United Nations declared May 4 as U.N. Anti-Bullying Day.

Similarly, UNESCO declared the first Thursday of November as the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School Including Cyberbullying.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Shirt_Day

https://pinkshirtdaycanada.ca/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjp-7BhBZEiwAmh9rBejuaECzgx74YcDTqbnTjF4OKe1c5jFrqFKbP4iZTp7vgY8PxRynUBoChrsQAvD_BwE

Groundhog Day:

Groundhog Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States every year on the 2nd of February.

Legend has it that watching a groundhog emerge from its burrow can determine the weather forecast for the coming weeks.

You may read more:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day

Festivals and Events in Montreal in February 2025:

https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events

Valentine’s food recipes

https://www.epicurious.com/holidays-events/valentines-day-dinner-recipes-to-show-youre-serious-gallery

https://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/packages/valentine-s-day

https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/valentines-day/

https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/valentines-dinner-ideas?srsltid=AfmBOopQrkBxoKSsTc-J3fQEWzkNgk2gDOWk6fYqWb0xXJ8RjEkYS9FG

https://www.howsweeteats.com/2024/02/valentines-recipes/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYP3WkyBhxY&t=14s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4kv3Lpfr-w

February month quotes and sayings

· “February is the border between winter and spring.”

― Terri Guillemets

· “While it is February, one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch.”

― Patience Strong

· “No one’s ever achieved financial fitness with a January resolution that’s abandoned by February.”

― Suze Orman

· “While reflecting on past relationships and learning from them can be helpful, February isn’t the best time to try and gain insight.”

― Amy Morin

· “In February there is everything to hope for and nothing to regret.”

― Patience Strong

· “Though February is short, it is filled with lots of love and sweet surprises.”

― Charmaine J. Forde

· “February, a form pale-vestured, wildly fair. One of the North Wind’s daughters with icicles in her hair.”

― Edgar Fawcett

· “February is even better, though, because it lets us study why so many of those resolutions are broken.”

– Sendhil Mullainathan

You may read more:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?page=77&q=february

Quotes and sayings for St. Valentine’s

· "You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly."

- Sam Keen

· "Where there is love there is life."

- Gandhi

· "Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold."

- Zelda Fitzgerald

· "Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."

- Albert Einstein

· "Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

- Franklin P. Jones

· "There isn't any formula or method. You learn to love by loving."

- Aldous Huxley

· "Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."

- Robert Frost

· "Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart."

- Author Unknown

· "Love is the poetry of the senses."

- Honore de Balzac

· "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

· "One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter."

- James Earl Jones

· "The love that flows through your heart purifies not only your own spirit, but the love you share with others."

- Caroline Myss

· "You are precious in my eyes. I honor you and love you."valentine-2-1.jpg

- Isaiah 43:4

· "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

- Lao Tzu

· "In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony."

- Eva Burrows

· "Charity, a word that comprises love and justice, may well be the most sublime of all Christian virtues."

- Diana Butler Bass

· "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

- Galatians 5:22-23a

· "In the garden of the soul, the virtues of faith, hope, and love form the centerpiece. Traditionally called theological virtues, they come as free gifts from God and draw us to God. We cannot earn these virtues; God has already freely planted them in our soul."

- Bishop Robert F. Morneau (Humility: 31 Reflections on Christian Virtue (1997). St. Mary's Press: Winona, MN, p. 10)

· "Love a friend, a wife, whatever you like. Then, you will know there is a God."

- Vincent van Gogh

You may read more:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/love

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?commit=Search&page=5&q=love+and+romance&utf8=%E2%9C%93

Valentin’s messages

You are the song that my heart loves to sing.
All that you are is all that I’ll ever need.
Take my hand, take my whole life too, but I can't help falling in love with you.
I love you, not just because of who you are, but for who I have become when I am with you.
Life is better when I have you by my side.
It’s been a journey … one I’d do all over again.
You're my Wonder Woman/Superman.
Every scar. Every flaw. Every imperfection. I love you.
Every love song is about you. Happy Valentine's Day!
I love that we've never lost the magic that makes us us.
You're in all of my best memories.
You give my heart peace. I love you so much.
You’re my happily ever after.

You may read more:

https://ideas.hallmark.com/articles/valentines-day-ideas/valentine-messages/

Quotes and saying for chocolate

Chocolate Captions

· My life is like a box of chocolates full of sweet indulgences and surprises.

· Chocolate is cheaper than therapy.

· I believe in love at first bite.

· Chocolate is my love language.

· Money can't buy happiness but it can buy chocolates. Same thing, right?

· Whoever said chocolates are better than sex, was absolutely right.

· Loco for cocoa.

· Spread chocolates like you spread smiles.

· Stress out and eat chocolate.

· Edible Happiness.

Chocolate Quotes

· “Nothing is as alluring as a piece of chocolate you can't have.” - Nina Sandmann

· “Exercise is a dirty word… Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth with chocolate.” - Charles M. Schultz

· “If it were easy to resist, it would not be called chocolate cake.”- Maryrose Wood

· “Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, eat chocolate. Now, you’ll get at least one thing done today.” - Gina Hayes

· “Chocolate is a gift of love to yourself.” - Sonja Blumenthal

· “After eating chocolate you feel godlike, as though you can conquer enemies, lead armies, and entice lovers.” - Emily Luchetti

· “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” - Charles M. Schulz

· “Don't think that chocolate is a substitute for love! Love is a substitute for chocolate.” - Miranda Ingram

· “The way to a woman’s heart is through truth and trust. Well, all except mine. Mine is through chocolate.” - Taylor E. Bennet

· “Nothing is more romantic than chocolate.” - Ted Allen

· “The 12-step Chocoholics program: Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate!” - Terry Moore

· “Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first but keeps you warm for a long time.” - Henri Frederic Amiel

· “Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands and then eat just one of the pieces.” - Judith Viorst

· “Reminiscent of childhood memories, luxury, sweetness and sensuality, chocolate is more than just a food–it is therapy.” - Christelle Le Ru

· “Chocolate: the poor man’s champagne. - Daniel Worona

· “Chocolate says “I’m sorry” so much better than words.” - Rachel Vincent

· “Chocolate is ground from the beans of happiness.” - Terri Guillemets

· “Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing.” - Milton Snavely Hershey

· “Look, there’s no metaphysics on earth like chocolates.” - Fernando Pessoa

· “You brought chocolate as far as I’m concerned, you’re my new favourite person.” - Sarah J. Maas

FUNNY:

· My superpower is to make your chocolate disappear.

· Enough talking, let's eat some chocolate now!

· Had I been alive during the time of Captain Jack Sparrow, I would have become the renowned leader of the Chocolate Pirates.

· Being a certified chocolate taster.

You may read more:

https://www.lechocolatier.com/blogs/blog/memorable-chocolate-quotes

February 2025 in “Massage Luc”:

The month of January 2025 – unexpectedly – was really a good month for “Massage Luc”.

And I say “unexpectedly” because usually we all spend money during the Holidays and the rest of the month of January, we all try to save some money.

So, business do suffer during January.

Plus, here in Montreal we have the very cold winter.

Many wealthy Montrealers, leaving the city during the winter.

“January, month of empty pockets!” is a well-known quote by Sidonie Gabrielle Colette.

On top of that I had been sick for an entire week.

I had only a minor flu.

But I could not accept clients of course.

But despite all that – my little business (one -man – business) went well.

I have seen many of my regular clients.

And I have seen many new clients from Montreal and tourists – that was really unexpected this time of the year.

The good thing is that all the New Clients they said that will come back.

So, I can stay in business.

And hopefully I can see you again and massage you again, my dear reader!

For the month of February 2025, I will keep the same popular Special:

Just $ 130 for everything.

My other Special is always valid:

The client that will come 3 times in a month (paying the regular price) wins a free "Boudoir Photography session" worth $ 300.

Come to celebrate the month of Romantic Love, the month of St. Valentine with a nice Male Massage.

Offer yourself this inexpensive luxury - because you really deserve it!

Come to "Massage Luc".

Happy Valentine’s 2025 to all my clients.

And may all your romantic dreams come true!

I am always here waiting for YOU!

January 2025

January 2025 – Happy New Year

January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendars and has 31 days.

It is named after God Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, endings, gates, and doorways.

Janus is depicted with two faces, one looking into the past, the other into the future.

In ancient Roman times, the gates of the temple of Janus were open in times of war and closed in times of peace.

January is often the coldest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest in the Southern Hemisphere.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January

Roman God Janus

The Roman God Janus, according to Roman mythology, was the "custodian of the universe".

To all Romans, Janus was the god of the beginnings and the ends, presiding over every entrance and departure, and because every door and passageway looks in two directions, Janus was seen as two-faced or “Janus bifront” — the God who looked both ways.

He was the gatekeeper; his symbols were a porter's staff or virga and a set of keys.

To illustrate his importance, his name was even mentioned before Jupiter in prayers.

He protected the start of all activities.

He inaugurated the seasons.

The first day of each month was considered sacred to him and the first month of the year, January, is named in his honor as it is the gateway to a New Year.

Early Romans coins featured his image, showing him as two-faced, one bearded and one clean-shaven.

Later, during the Renaissance, this image of two faces would represent not only the past and future but also wisdom.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janus

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Janus-Roman-god

https://www.andersonlock.com/blog/god-doors/

https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Roman/Janus/janus.html

https://www.worldhistory.org/Janus/

Janus Etymology:

The name Janus (Ianus in Latin, as the alphabet had no j) is etymologically related to ianua, the Latin word for door.

Janus himself was the “ianitor”, or doorkeeper, of the heavens.

From Ianus derived ianua ("door") and hence the English word "janitor" (Latin, ianitor).

You may read more:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/Janus

Calendar etymology:

The word is derived from the Latin calendarium, meaning “interest register” or “account book,”

itself a derivation from calendae (or kalendae), the first day of the month in the Roman republican calendar, the day on which future market days, feasts, and other occasions were proclaimed.

Why Does the New Year Start on January 1?

In the dark days of winter, a new year begins.

But January wasn't always the start of the New Year.

Humans have been marking time on calendars for at least 10,000 years, but the methods they used varied from the start.

The Mesolithic people of Britain tracked the phases of the moon.

Ancient Egyptians looked to the sun.

And the Chinese combined both methods into a lunisolar calendar that’s still used today.

The modern calendar used in most of the world, though, evolved during the Roman Republic.

The first Roman calendar was a lunar calendar – and was far from perfect.

In the beginning the Roman calendar had only 10 months.

The old Roman calendar was starting in Spring Equinox in the month of March – and finishing with the winter solstice in the month of December.

With the finishing of the year in December, the all the Roman public officers that were using public money were giving back the accounting books to be checked and the new elected people were taking office.

The period that we now call January and February – that period was just a “month-less period” for the old Romans.

After December the Romans were having the celebration of God Janus - the Roman god of beginnings and endings, entrances and exits.

And around the time we now call February the Romans were having the celebration of “Februus” - an ancient Italic God of purifications.

And after that “purification” time, the Romans were ready to celebrate the coming of Spring – and the coming of the New Year, that was celebrated in the middle of March with the Spring Equinox.

As Romans' scientific knowledge and social structures changed over time, so did their calendar.

Around 700s BC one of the original kings of Rome, Numa Pompilius, (one of the guys you haven't heard of), added two new months to the beginning of the year - January and February.

But that was just to “close the gap” between December and March.

The Roman year kept finishing in December.

The public officers keep giving their books back by the end of December.

And the New Years’ celebrations kept been renowned in the month of March with the coming of Spring.

When later Rome became an “empire” they had to deal with a very serious problem:

Every province of the vast Roman Empire was using a different system of time-keeping.

Therefore, the need to find a time-keeping-system to which everyone would agree, was really pressing for the Romans.

Finally, in 45 B.C., Julius Caesar demanded a reformed version of the calendar that could be used all over the Roman empire.

This calendar became known as the Julian calendar.

The new calendar was designed by Sosigenes of Alexandria, an astronomer and mathematician who proposed a 365-day calendar with a leap year every four years.

Though he had overestimated the length of the year by about 11 minutes, the calendar was now mostly in sync with the sun.

Caesar’s new calendar had another innovation: a new year beginning on January 1st.

(So, the “Julian calendar” was corresponding with the Roman public accounting system:

as above mentioned, they were giving the public books back the end of December – so the new books were starting January 1st. And the newly elected officials were taking office January 1st.)

But though the Julian calendar would stick around for centuries, the date of its new year wasn’t always honored by its adopters.

For long time people kept celebrating the coming of the New Year with the coming of Spring.

Christians celebrated the New Year on various feast days.

Aside from a few tweaks by other Roman rulers, the Julian calendar remained largely the same until 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII adjusted the calendar to more accurately reflect the amount of time it takes for the Earth to travel around the sun.

Pope Gregory the 13th consulted the Italian astronomer. Aloysius Lilius, (a guy you haven't heard of).

He proposed to Pope Gregory a solution for these drifting days- slight modification of the Leap Year schedule having only 97 leap years every 400 years instead of 100 every 400 years.

Pope Gregory then instituted and mandated this new calendar, which we call the Gregorian calendar, and we still basically use today.

The old calendar had been 365.25 days long; the new calendar was 365.2425 days long.

The new calendar also shifted the dates, which had drifted by about two weeks, back in sync with seasonal shifts.

Only with Gregory’s 1582 reform did January 1st really stick as the beginning of the New Year—for many.

Today most countries are using the Gregorian Calendar.

While the modern world mainly syncs to the Gregorian calendar, other calendars and other traditions have lived on.

As a result, different cultures acknowledge different dates as the start of the New Year—and have festivals, rituals and holidays, like Nowruz, Rosh Hashanah, and Chinese New Year—to celebrate.

And many sectors of the Eastern Orthodox churches are still using the Julian calendar.

You may read more:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-new-year-once-started-in-march-heres-why?loggedin=true&rnd=1731949293480

https://www.britannica.com/story/why-does-the-new-year-start-on-january-1#:~:text=According%20to%20tradition%2C%20during%20his,Mars%2C%20the%20god%20of%20war.

https://time.com/6550127/new-year-celebration-january-calendar-date-history/

https://www.calendarr.com/canada/january-why-is-the-1st-month-of-the-year/

https://nerdfighteria.info/v/Hm5E1v6Svls/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm5E1v6Svls&t=1s

Symbols of January

January's birthstone is the garnet, which represents constancy.

Its birth flower is the cottage pink Dianthus caryophyllus, galanthus or traditional carnation.

The zodiac signs are Capricorn (until January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 onward).

More analytically:

Garnet stone

The garnet is so durable, remnants of garnet jewelry have been found dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Other references go back to 3100 BC when the Egyptians used garnet as inlays in their jewelry and carvings. The Egyptians even referred to it as the symbol of life. The garnet gemstone was very popular with the Romans in the third and fourth centuries.

This gemstone was used as a talisman for protection both by warriors going into battle and those who wanted to ward off pestilence and plague. Some ancient healers and wise men even placed garnets in wounds and praised its healing powers.

Garnet jewelry has been a fixture throughout the ages. Garnet gems were often used as signet rings in ancient Rome, and the nobility favored garnets in the Middle Ages.

The Victorians made garnets very popular during that time period. Some of the loveliest garnet gemstone jewelry from that era mimics its pomegranate namesake, with clusters of tiny red gems forming a larger statement piece.

Today, the garnet can be found in a range of jewelry pieces and styles, from beautiful rings to stunning tiaras. Since garnet gemstones can come in a range of colors, rare garnets in green or blue make breathtaking pieces, especially in pendants or drop earrings.

Garnets are a gemstone with a rich history and many meanings, including:

o Symbol of life: The Egyptians called garnets the symbol of life and used them in jewelry and carvings as early as 3100 BC.

o Protection: Garnets were used as talismans for protection by warriors and to ward off pestilence and plague. Travelers also carried garnets to protect against misfortune.

o Healing: Ancient healers and wise men placed garnets in wounds and believed they had healing powers.

o Promise of a safe return: In Greek mythology, Hades gave Persephone pomegranate seeds to ensure her return to the underworld, and garnets are associated with the promise of a safe return.

o Symbol of Christ's blood: In Europe during the Middle Ages, the clergy valued garnets as symbols of Christ's blood and sacrifice.

o Birthstone: Garnets are the official birthstone for January.

o Symbol of love: Garnets are a symbol of love and continued happiness.

o Symbol of friendship, trust, and commitment: Garnets signify friendship, trust, and commitment.

o Gem of exuberance and passion: Red garnets are celebrated for bestowing vitality, life, and happiness to the wearer.

o `Geobarometers and geothermometers: Garnets can record the pressures and temperatures of peak metamorphism and are used to study geothermobarometry.

The name garnet comes from the Greek word granatum, which reminded the ancients of the ruby pearls of the pomegranate.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garnet

https://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones/january-birthstone/garnet-history/#:~:text=This%20gemstone%20was%20used%20as,a%20fixture%20throughout%20the%20ages.

Dianthus caryophyllus

Also known as the carnation, this flower is known for its sweet fragrance, ruffled petals, and long-lasting blooms.

Carnations come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, red, purple, and green.

They are a popular choice for bouquets and boutonnieres, and are often used in weddings and other formal events.

Symbolism

For the most part, carnations express love, fascination, and distinction, though there are many variations dependent on color.

· Along with the red rose, the red carnation can be used as a symbol of socialism and the labour movement, and historically has often been used in demonstrations on International Workers' Day (May Day).

· In China, the carnation flower is the most frequently used flower in weddings.

· In Portugal, bright red carnations were used when in 1974 the authoritarian Estado Novo regime was overthrown; therefore, this transition (brought about by a combination of a coup d'état with civil resistance) is known as the Carnation Revolution.

· Light red carnations represent admiration, while dark red denote deep love and affection.

· White carnations represent pure love and good luck, while striped (variegated) carnations symbolise regret that a love cannot be shared.

· In the Netherlands, white carnations are associated with Prince Bernhard. He wore one during World War II and in a gesture of defiance some of the Dutch population took up this gesture. After the war the white carnation became a sign of the Prince, veterans and remembrance of the resistance.

· Purple carnations indicate capriciousness. In France, it is a traditional funeral flower, given in condolence for the death of a loved one.

· Carnation is the birth flower for those born in the month of January.

· Since Ottoman times, red carnations and tulips are used in the interior wall paintings of mosques in Turkey. It is often said that while tulips represent God, carnations is the symbol for Muhammad. However these flower designs are not unique to mosques but also used in many other Ottoman traditional art forms.

· In Azerbaijan, red carnations has turned into a symbol of mourning after the usage of the flower during Black January events of 1990, a violent crackdown on the civilian population of the country by USSR troops.

· In the United States, former U.S. President William McKinley considered the red carnation to be his lucky flower and often wore one on his lapel. Following his assassination in 1901, the State of Ohio adopted the red carnation as its state flower to honor McKinley.

The formal name for carnation, dianthus, comes from Greek for "heavenly flower", or the flower of Jove.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianthus_caryophyllus

Galanthus

Also known as the snowdrop, this flower has small, white, bell-shaped blooms that appear in late winter or early spring. Snowdrops are usually 3–6 inches tall and grow in clusters. They can naturalize easily and spread over time.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galanthus

Capricorn zodiac sign:

Capricorn is the 10th sign of the zodiac, falling after Sagittarius and before Aquarius.

Out of the four elements (earth, fire, water and air), it is categorized as an earth sign.

Earth signs are usually associated with more “grounded” character traits, such as being stable, logical and pragmatic.

Capricorn – the “Goat of Fear”:

A goat with the tail of a fish is created to face fear and create panic.

It is the sign of decisions made to be protected from monsters in our minds, lives, and immediate physical surrounding.

Always ready to transform into something that scares those scary things off, Capricorn speaks of each natural chain reaction of fear, where one scary thing leads to many others, rising up as defensive mechanisms that only make things worse. Immersed in their secrecy, they face the world just as they are – brave enough to never run away, but constantly afraid of their inner monsters.

Capricornus was listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolomy, but prior to this listing, it was one of the constellations oldest known to men, despite its faintness. It was represented as a hybrid of a goat and a fish since the Middle Bronze Age, with the first attested depictions dated around the 21st century BC.

Astrology

The zodiac sign Capricorn is associated with the period from around December 22 to January 19. Capricorn is an earth sign with a cardinal modality, which means it's associated with action in the material world.

Festivals

In India, the Makara Sankranti festival celebrates the sun entering the Capricorn sign. The festival is celebrated on either January 14 or 15 each year.

Mythology

The constellation Capricornus has been associated with a variety of mythological figures, including:

· Pan: The Greek god of nature, who was half goat and half fish. In one myth, Pan jumped into the Nile to escape the monster Typhon, and only part of his body transformed.

· Amalthea: The goat who nursed Zeus as an infant. In Greek mythology, Amalthea's broken horn was transformed into the cornucopia, or "horn of plenty".

· Ea: The Babylonian god who was half-man and half-fish, and brought knowledge to early humans.

Thew Greek Myth for Capricorn:

· In Greek mythology, the constellation is sometimes identified as Amalthea, the goat that suckled the infant Zeus after his mother, Rhea, saved him from being devoured by his father, Cronos. Amalthea's broken horn was transformed into the cornucopia or "horn of plenty".

· In another version, Capricornus represents the Greek God Pan who was often represented as partially being a goat:

"In order to escape the horrible monster Typhon that attacked all the Olympians, the God Pan dived into a river and attempted to change himself into a fish.

But only part of him transformed – maybe because of his state of panic.

So, he had the head and body of a goat and the rear section of a fish.

But even so, he was able to swim fast and save himself.

Afterwards, when the entire story finished and the Olympians won over the atrocious Typhon and re-establish the “Olympian world order”, the God Zeus put the image of "half goat and half fish" among the stars as the constellation Capricornus to commemorate the event.”

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capricornus

Capricorn man personality:

Capricorn men are emotionally reserved, calm, serious, hardworking, ambitious, driven, take charge, and career-orientated individuals. Still, they have a surprisingly soft side..

Capricorn man sexuality:

As a Capricorn, you are sensitive and sensual in bed. You tend to see sex as another task to be completed to the best of your ability -- which means you are always willing to put in the time and effort needed to satisfy your partner!

You may read more over Capricorn:

https://www.zodiacsign.com/zodiac-signs/capricorn/

The Year 2025 in Chinese Astrology:

According to the Chinese calendar the year 2025 will slither its way into the spotlight as the Year of the Snake. Representing wisdom, elegance, and mystery, the snake is often seen as a symbol of transformation and adaptability.

Snakes are a symbol of transformation because they shed their skin, which can represent the need to release the past and embrace change.

In many cultures and mythologies, snakes are associated with rebirth, healing, and transformation.

Important international dates in the month of January

· January 1: New Year's Day, International Domain Day, World Day of Peace, First Foot Day (Hogmanay), and Euro Day

· January 2: World Introvert Day

· January 4: World Hypnotism Day and World Braille Day

· January 8: Earth's Rotation Day and World Typing Day

· January 9: International Choreographers Day and one of the ancient Roman Agonalia observances

· January 11: Heritage Treasures Day and another ancient Roman observance, Carmentalia

· January 14: World Logic Day

· January 16: International Hot and Spicy Food Day

· January 17: International Mentoring Day

· January 19: World Quark Day

· January 20: International Day of Acceptance

· January 21: International Sweatpants Day

· January 24: Global Belly Laugh Day and International Day of Education

· January 25: Burns Supper

· January 26: Australia Day, International Customs Day, and International Day of Clean Energy

· January 27: World Breast Pumping Day and International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

· January 31: National Backward Day

Important Canada dates in the month of January

· January 1: New Year's Day

· January - Tamil Heritage Month

· January 11: Sir John A. Macdonald Day

· January 17: Raoul Wallenberg Day

· January 21: Lincoln Alexander Day

· January 24: World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture and International Day for Education

· January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day

· January 29: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia

More analytically Important dates in Canada in January;

January 1st - New Year's Day in 2025.

Canadian Statutory Holiday.

You may read more:

https://www.statutoryholidays.com/newyears.php

https://www.calendarr.com/canada/new-year-s-day/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKzuo0S3EBg&t=1s

January - Tamil Heritage Month.

Tamil Heritage Month is celebrated in January to recognize the history and contributions of the Tamil community in Canada:

History

The month was launched in 2010. The Tamil Heritage Month Act, 2014 was implemented in Ontario in March 2004.

Purpose

The month is a time to:

Celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of the Tamil community

Acknowledge the contributions of Tamil Canadians to Canada's social, cultural, political, and economic strength

Educate future generations about the role of Tamil Canadians in communities

Events

Tamil Heritage Month includes events such as:

The Tamil Harvest Festival, Thai Pongal, which is a festival that gives thanks to nature and the sun

Other Tamil artistic and cultural events

Virtual talent shows that celebrate the arts of Tamil seniors.

You may read more:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2021/12/statement-by-minister-hussen-on-tamil-heritage-month.html

January 11

Sir John A. Macdonald Day.

Macdonald was the first prime minister of the new nation, and served 19 years; only William Lyon Mackenzie King has served longer. In his first term, he established the North-West Mounted Police and expanded Canada by annexing the North-Western Territory, Rupert's Land, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island.

You may read more:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/important-commemorative-days/sir-john-macdonald-day.html.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Macdonald#:~:text=Macdonald%20was%20the%20first%20prime,Columbia%2C%20and%20Prince%20Edward%20Island.

January 17

Raoul Wallenberg Day.

Raoul Wallenberg was a man of outstanding individual courage, humanity and decisiveness. By the end of the Second World War, the young architect and businessman Raoul Wallenberg saved the lives of tens and thousands Hungarian Jews. Some estimates suggest that he saved as many as 100 000 people.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Wallenberg

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2023/01/statement-by-minister-hussen-on-raoul-wallenberg-day.html

January 21

Lincoln Alexander Day

Lincoln MacCauley Alexander PC CC OOnt CD QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician who became the first Black Canadian to be a member of Parliament in the House of Commons, a federal Cabinet Minister, a Chair of the Worker's Compensation Board of Ontario, and the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1985 to 1991.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Alexander

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2022/01/minister-hussen-marks-lincoln-alexander-day-and-announces-the-theme-for-black-history-month.html

January 24

World Day for African and Afro - descendant Culture

Established by UNESCO in 2019 and held every year on 24 January, the World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture aims to celebrate the many vibrant cultures of the African continent and African Diasporas around the world, and promotes them as an effective lever for sustainable development, dialogue and peace. As a rich source of the world’s shared heritage, promoting African and Afrodescendant culture is crucial for the development of the continent, and for humanity as a whole.

You may read more:

https://nsgeu.ca/home_page/january-24-is-world-day-for-african-and-afrodescendant-culture/27628/

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2021/01/statement-by-ministerchagger-on-world-day-for-african-and-afrodescendant-culture.html

January 27

International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, is an international memorial day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945, an attempt to implement its "final solution" to the Jewish question. 27 January was chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Holocaust_Remembrance_Day

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2022/01/statement-by-minister-hussen-on-international-holocaust-remembrance-day.html

January 29

National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia

The National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia is observed on January 29th. The day commemorates the six people who were killed and the 19 others who were seriously injured in a shooting at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City on January 29, 2017:

· Ibrahima Barry,

· Mamadou Tanou Barry,

· Khaled Belkacemi,

· Abdelkrim Hassane,

· Azzedine Soufiane,

· Aboubaker Thabti.

You may read more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City_mosque_shooting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamophobia_in_Canada

https://crrf-fcrr.ca/2024/01/ntl-day-remembrance-quebec-city-mosque-attack-action-against-islamophobia/

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SI-2021-17/page-1.html

Food recipes for new year

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes-menus/new-years-eve-dinner-gallery

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/193/holidays-and-events/new-year/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hylGp75b4Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWqNpNEzryM

New Year's Food Traditions That Bring Good Luck

https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/traditional-new-years-day-food

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/new-years-food-traditions/index.html

https://www.seriouseats.com/good-luck-food-new-year-pork-sauerkraut-lentil-herring-collards-hoppin-john

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/meals-menus/g38331983/new-years-good-luck-foods/

https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/lucky-foods-to-eat-on-new-years-day/

https://www.cozymeal.com/magazine/new-years-good-luck-food

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g1960/good-luck-foods/

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/new-years-day-food-good-luck/?srsltid=AfmBOorHZwo6cxBWNlI4fYvrqAs5ZJU0j_V0Eh-kx045RFQEH23QpzaQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhmFigFg87o&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLT_S0JxeEE

VASILOPITA:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasilopita

Greek Vasilopita Cake for New Years (No Yeast)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiIt1oCYCvg

Montreal Festivals and events January 2025

http://www.go-montreal.com/attraction_events_jan.htm

January & New Year quotes and sayings

· “I like starting projects in January. That’s the best time to start something. It’s so inward.”

— Carolyn Chute

· “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.”

– Brad Paisley

· “Make January the month of meaningful resolutions and the successful beginning of achieving your goals.”

– Remez Sasson

· “January is a time of awakening and new beginnings.”

– Charmaine J Forde

· “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

— Oprah Winfrey

· “Welcome, winter. Your late dawns and chilled breath make me lazy, but I love you nonetheless.”

— Terri Guillemets

· “January is my favorite month when the light is plainest, least colored. And I like the feeling of beginnings.”

— Anne Truitt

· “January is the perfect month for wishing yourself the highest good in whatever you do.”

– Remez Sasson

· “New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter waiting to be written.”

— Sarah Ban Breathnach

· “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”

– William E. Vaughan

· “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on.”

— Hal Borland

· “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”

— Vern McLellan

· “December is letting go of all the past years fails, and starting anew in January as time again chases its tail.”

— Stewart Stafford

· “Every man should be born again on January first. Start with a fresh page.”

— Henry Ward Beecher

· “Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change.”

— Jim Rohn

· “January is the calendar’s Janus, looking both backward and forward with hope and anticipation.”

– Bernard Kelvin Clive

· “January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow.”

– Sara Coleridge

· “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

– Seneca

· “January is the quietest month in the garden. But just because it looks quiet doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.”

– Rosalie Muller Wright

· “January is the key to a year of wonder.”

– Unknown

· “January is the month for dreaming big and setting audacious goals.”

– Unknown

· “January is the month to start fresh, erase mistakes, and create new goals.”

· “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

– C.S. Lewis

· “January is the month to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul for the challenges ahead.”

– Unknown

· “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

· “January is the perfect time to start afresh and set new goals.”

– Unknown

· “January is a time for bold new beginnings, a time to dream big and achieve bigger.”

· “The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.”

– Josiyah Martin

· “This is the month to renew your commitment to your dreams and goals.”

– Unknown

· “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”

– Plato

· “January is the time for plans and projects, a time to set the course of the year.”

– Leo Tolstoy

· “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”

– J.P. Morgan

· “January is the month of new beginnings, new hope, and new opportunities.”

– Chitra Garg

· “New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.”

– Lao Tzu

· “In every new beginning, there lies a magic that helps us reach our dreams.”

– Lailah Gifty Akita

· “A new year is like a blank book, and the pen is in your hands.”

– Catherine Pulsifer

· “January is the time for new beginnings and endless possibilities.”

· “The magic of January is in the promise of a fresh start.”

· “New year, new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately, we write it. The choice is ours.”

– Alex Morritt

· “January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow.”

– Sara Coleridge

· “January is a time of reflection and resolution.”

· “In January, you start the book. In December, you finish it.”

– T.S. Eliot

· “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

– Lao Tzu

· “January is a clean slate waiting for your story to be written.”

· “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

· “January is the doorway to the year ahead.”

· “Every day is a chance to begin again.”

– Unknown

· “January is the month of new beginnings, fresh starts, and unlimited possibilities.”“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.”

– Nido Qubein

· “January is the time to redefine your limits and push beyond them.”

· “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

· “January is a time to reflect on the past and set intentions for the future.”

· “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

– Peter Drucker

· “January is not just a month; it’s a journey into the possibilities of the year ahead.”

· “New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.”

– Lao Tzu

· “January is the time to plant the seeds of your dreams.”

· “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

– Mark Twain

· “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”

– Sam Levenson

· “The first month of the year is a month of resolution and resilience, where dreams become plans.”“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

– Steve Jobs

· “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

– Winston Churchill

· “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

· “January is the month to embrace change and welcome the unknown.”

· “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

– C.S. Lewis

· “January is the time to turn the page and start a new chapter.”

· “Dreams and goals are the heartbeat of January.”

· “January is not about perfection; it’s about progress and growth.”

· “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

– Wayne Gretzky

· “January is the month to plant seeds of intention for the year ahead.”

· “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

· “January is a canvas painted with the colors of hope and determination.”

· “January is the time to start living your dreams instead of just dreaming them.”

· “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”

– Roy T. Bennett

· “January is the month for setting goals that challenge and inspire you.”

· “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

· “This is the month to renew your energy, focus, and dreams for a brighter future.”

· “January is the month to let go of what was and embrace what can be.”

· “The first month is the month to commit to your goals with unwavering determination.”

· “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”

– Jordan Belfort

· “Success is not in what you have, but who you are.”

– Bo Bennett

· “The first month of the year is the time to believe in the magic within you.”

· “The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.”

– Unknown

· “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

· “January is the month to ignite the flame of determination within you.”

· “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”

– Jordan Belfort

· “This is the month to renew your energy, focus, and dreams for a brighter future.”

· “January is the doorway to the year ahead, offering us a chance to leave the past behind and embrace the future.”

· “In January, you can’t see the sunshine, but you can feel the warmth.”

· “January is the month to turn resolutions into habits.”

· “January is the bridge between a year of memories and a future of dreams.”

· “The month of January is the start of something new and the end of something old.”

· “January is the month to set intentions that align with your deepest desires.”

· “January is the month to plant seeds of positivity and watch them bloom.”

You may red more:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/new-year

January 2025 in Massage Luc

The month of December 2024 was a good month for "Massage Luc".

I did have clients this month.

I have been busy to the point that sometimes I was obliged to refuse clients.

I really feel very bad about that.

"Massage Luc" is a very small business (one man business) and my clients are actually my friends.

Is very hard to refuse the visit of a friend.

One interesting fact:

Last month I posted one "Massage Luc - Story".

Many people read this story - and many clients that came here were asking me for details.

So, for this month I will post another story from "Massage Luc" - because the visitors of my site like to read my stories.

This story happened a few years ago.

I remember that it was wintertime - a little after the Holidays.

The temperature outside was about "minus - 14 Celsius" or "6.8 Fahrenheit".

I remember that it was Monday morning.

I was working on my computer and suddenly the telephone rang.

A client asked me to go to offer him a massage in his home.

Because he was playing Hockey the previous day and he did fall and harm himself.

I explained that I sold my car a long time ago.

And I also explained that I cannot carry the massage table - because I travel by BUS and METRO.

The client agreed to pay my UBER to go to him right away - but he asked for a discount because he was a poor student.

He explained that he had some "promotion from UBER" and he wanted to use it.

Because the promotion would expire if not used.

Up to this point, everything seemed logical.

He needed me to go to his place right away because:

1. He was feeling in pain.

2. He was living in his mother's house.

He said that his mother did not approve of his "Hockey activities" - and he did not even tell her that was in pain because of the Hockey game.

His mother took the car and went shopping.

He wanted to finish the massage before his mother returned home.

PLUS - the client explained that he did not need any sort of "personal services".

He just needed a Professional Massage because he was in pain.

The entire story seemed a little funny to me at the time.

The boy that does not say to the mother that harmed himself playing – this seemed to me like an "old movie".

Anyway, finally I decided to go.

In my mind I was going to help a poor student that was in pain and happened to have an "UBER promotion".

I am a professional Massage Therapist - and someone needed me.

His relationship with his mother was not my business.

The UBER drove me to a faraway area up the mountain.

I remember that I did enjoy the view during the trip.

Finally, we arrived in an upscale district with classy "Victorian Style" houses.

I remember that when I crossed the front garden in my client's house, I noticed that the garden - even if it was winter and the snow covered everything - seemed to have a very nice "geometric plan".

The client was waiting for me behind the door.

The house was very big and quite impressive inside.

I remember that the one entire wall in the entrance was covered by a mosaic - like an ancient Roman mosaic.

The entire house was lavishly decorated with a "touch of exotic taste".

BUT:

The most “exotic” of all was my client.

He was just a little shorter than me.

With beautiful big dark eyes and dark skin.

His body was proportional, lean and athletic.

And he was looking very - very young.

I remembered that I asked him if he was at least 21 years old.

He said "of course" laughing.

He also said that he was from Jewish and Irish descent and that all the people in his family were looking younger.

I left my winter coat on a chair near the entrance and after that, I followed him to his room.

His room was in harmony with the rest of the house – everywhere the furniture seemed high-quality.

But despite that, his bedroom gave me the impression of a "teenager style".

So, I really suspect that he did not say the truth about his age.

Maybe he was younger.

And I was not at all sure that he was deserving a discount – his house was luxurious.

But he said that was the house of his mother – so, you never know.

I was massaging him for more than an hour and a half.

He was really in pain - he needed the massage.

I did not stop until he told me that he finally was feeling better.

I understood that he was in pain - and I did my best to help him with my massage.

BUT - the guy from the beginning to the very end, he gave me the impression that he was "playing" with me.

It was as if he was "provoking me" to offer him the "personal services" that he excluded when he spoke to me by phone.

Anyway - I pretended that I did not understand anything - I "played it stupid".

(Because I did not want any problems.

And he did not even want to pay for "extra services".)

After finishing the massage, he told me that he will take a shower.

He disappeared - I do not know where the bathroom was in that huge house.

I picked up all my things - my oil and whatever else I brought - and I found by myself the way to the entrance where I had left my winter coat.

I wore my winter coat - but I left it unbuttoned.

I was just waiting to say goodbye to him and give him my card.

Suddenly I heard a noise - something like a door opening.

I turned.

And then I have seen my young & good-looking client at the open door, in a small distance from me, wearing only a bathrobe.

He was smiling.

Playfully, he opened his bathrobe completely.

And after he left his bathrobe to fall on the floor.

I was taken by surprise - surprise and admiration.

He was very handsome.

He was like a living "dark skin statue of a Greek God" staying in front of me.

Just one small difference with a stone statue:

He was in erection.

All of a sudden, he jumped on me.

That happened very - very fast.

I didn't even have time to react.

I fell on the floor.

It was like a big exotic feline jumped on me.

Thank God for my heavy winter coat and their soft carpet - otherwise I would have been seriously traumatised.

The scene I remember:

I am down on the floor wearing my coat - open - but I wear my clothes.

He is all naked on top of me.

He embraces me with passion and he is rubbing his naked body and his hard manhood against me.

Momentarily I had the impression that a beautiful huge cat was rubbing and purring all over me...

And the tail of this cat was hard...

How long did this go on?

I do not know - maybe not long.

But there are some moments where "time stops".

That was how I felt at the time.

All I remember is that I finally heard him breathing heavily.

And after, we both heard some other noises.

We heard the noise of a car outside and another noise from inside the house.

Probably that was the noise of the automatic garage door that was opening – the garage was connected with the house.

And in this moment, I heard my voice saying to him:

"This must be your mother!"

And then the "naked statue" disappeared from my view with the "speed of light".

I was all alone lying on the carpet of a stranger's house.

And the lady of the house was coming – and she should not find me there.

I got back on my senses.

I stood up.

I wore my boots fast without tying them and with my coat still open, I ran out as fast as I could.

The cold helped me wake up and take control of all my faculties.

Thank God I found a BUS – STOP in a small distance from the house.

Another funny memory:
When I tried to button my coat in the BUS - STOP, I felt my clothes wet in a certain point.

The "dark skin Greek God " left me his "divine semen" as a souvenir on my clothes.

I think that this is really a funny story - and this is why I share it with you.

I REALLY HOPE YOU LIKED IT!

For the month of January 2025, I will keep the same popular Special:

Just $ 130 for everything.

My other Special is always valid:

The client that will come 3 times in a month (paying the regular price) wins a free "Boudoir Photography session" worth $ 300.

Come to celebrate the first month of the 2025 year of our Lord with a nice Male Massage.

Offer yourself this inexpensive luxury - because you really deserve it!

Come to "Massage Luc".

Happy New Year to all my clients.

I am wishing you the year 2025 to make all your dreams a reality.

Always here waiting for YOU!

Discover Massage Luc's Signature Massages

Thai Massage

Our Thai massage services are a unique blend of acupressure, stretching, and rhythmic compression techniques. The therapist uses their hands, feet, elbows, and knees to apply pressure to specific points on the body, promoting relaxation and healing.

Aromatherapy Massage

Our aromatherapy massage services use essential oils to enhance the massage experience and promote relaxation and healing. We offer a variety of oils to choose from, each with their own unique benefits.

Reflexology Massage

Our reflexology massage services are based on the ancient Chinese practise of applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, and ears that correspond to different organs and systems in the body. This technique promotes relaxation and balance throughout the body.

Hot Stone Massage

Our hot stone massage services use smooth, heated stones to apply pressure and heat to the body, promoting relaxation and healing. This technique is perfect for those looking to relieve tension and reduce stress.

Swedish Massage

Our Swedish massage services are a classic technique designed to promote relaxation and ease muscle tension. This technique involves long, flowing strokes and kneading of the muscles.

Deep Tissue Massage

Our deep tissue massage services are designed to target chronic muscle tension and knots. This technique involves slow, deep pressure on the muscles and connective tissues.

My Blog

March 2025

March 2025 - 1st Photo Gallery

March 2025 - Massage Luc

March 2025 - 2nd Photo Gallery

March 2025 - 3nd Photo Gallery

February 2025 - Massage Luc

February 2025 - 1st Photo Gallery

February 2025 - Massage Luc

February 2025 - 2nd Picture Gallery

January 2025 - Massage Luc

January 2025 - 1st Photo Gallery

January 2025

January 2025 - 2nd Photo Gallery

December - 3rd Photo Gallery

October 2024 - 3rd Photo Gallery

Discover Massage Luc's Signature Massages

Thai Massage

Aromatherapy Massage

Reflexology Massage

Hot Stone Massage

Swedish Massage

Deep Tissue Massage

Menu / Price List

First Category

First Item

Second Item

Third Item