We are at the start of the lunar new year! Here's a list of weird, wonderful and witchy events over the next week or so with a mixture of online and in-person things to do, including Chinese New Year celebrations in London. I mainly include in-person things in or near London, because that's where I'm based, as well as online talks and workshops you can do anywhere and a few big events further afield.
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Magical Online & London Events in the Next Weeks
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Folklore: Shrove Tuesday & Pancake Day Customs
Today is Pancake Day, celebrated in England on Shrove Tuesday, which is the day before the Christian priod of Lent. The idea was that people would have a bit of fun and enjoy fat, eggs and dairy products, which they weren't supposed to eat in the 40-days of abstinence before Easter.
It raises the perennial question among pagans as to whether they should celebrate anything that hints of Christianity. My personal view is that pancakes are delicious, you don't actually have to go to a church to have them, and most of the folkloric customs around Pancake Day are secular rather than religious.
In London, where I live, pancake races are an annual tradition. Here are two that you can go to watch:
- The Inter-Livery Pancake Races in Guildhall Yard is a contest organised by London guilds including the Poulters, Gunmakers, and Fruiterers. It starts at noon and proceeds got to charity. Details: www.thecityofldn.com/event/inter-livery-pancake-day-race/
- Greenwich Market Pancake Races, hosted by a Pearly Queen, are held in aid of Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. This also starts at noon. Tickets are free, but you have to reserve a place. https://greenwichmarket.london/events/detail/pancake-race/
Football matches are a tradtional part of Shrove Tuesday activities in parts of England. The Alnwick Shrovetide football match, at Alnwick in Northumberland, is played between the residents of the two parishes of Alnwick in the pastures below Alnwick Castle. Hundreds of people take part in this free-for-all scrum with few rules except to get the ball away from the opposing side. This custom dates back to at least the 18th century, possibly earlier.
Magic, Divination and Pagan Festivals
If you want a little magic today, I've blogged in the past that you should eat pancakes to be wealthy. I've also written about how you can use a pancake for scrying!
It's also worth notiing that in some countries there are remnants of ancient pagan celebrations at this time of year. The festival of Maslenitsa, which takes place in many Eastern Slavic countries, is called Butter Lady, Butter Week, Crepe Week or Cheese Week in Ukraine. The festival takes place in the last week before Great Lent in the Orthodox calender, but is believed to have origins that date back to pre-Christian pagan times and marked the end of winter. Pancakes are, of course, round like the sun.
Here's a link to a Ukranian recipes site with more about the traditions: https://ukrainian-recipes.com/traditional-celebrations-of-cheese-week-in-ukraine-why-pancakes-are-the-symbol-of-masliana.html
You can find out more about annual folklore, traditions, and seasonal magic in my book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year, published by Moon Books.
Other Previous related Posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/eat-drink-and-be-merry-for-tomorrow-we.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/lent-and-clutter-clearing-choices.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/03/march-1-pancake-day-st-davids-day-crepe.html
Monday, 16 February 2026
Book Review: Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner
Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner is the new title from British author Thea Prothero. It's in Moon Books' Pagan Portals series, which offers brilliant introductions to esoteric topics and spiritual paths. As the subtitle suggests, this book offers advice and guidance for those who want to start practicing heathenry but are on their own.
Here's the synopsis from publisher Moon Books:
"Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner offers solid, well-researched basic information to help you begin your Heathen journey - including key texts, historical context, rituals, the Gods, Runes, and everything else you'll need for building your practice. This book is intended for solitary wanderers. Whereas most books tend to focus on building strong kin and working in groups for worship and relationship-building, often leaving out those who wish to practice as individuals, this book aims to restore the balance, offering practical advice and guidance to those who work alone."
It's a really easy read and perfect for those just setting out on a heathen path. What I particularly like about it is that it offers case studies and interviews with different solitary practitioners, showing diversity in belief and activity. I also loved the fact that the book begins with a chapter called Heathen Women, explaining that this spiritual path isn't as patriarchal as popular history suggested in the past.
Other chapters cover the essentials of cosmology, gods and goddesses, the vaettir (or spirits), thoughts about ancestors, rituals, annual celebrations, and runes. At the end is a section on heathenry in the 21st century and lists of organisations you can join if you prefer to be a little less solitary.
If you are a novice Pagan who is interested in heathenry and wants to learn the basics, this book is recommended.
You can view Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner on Amazon
Please note: I earn commission from some links
Previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/11/review-pagan-portals-pilgrimage.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/12/author-interview-festive-reads.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/11/divination-ehwaz-as-rune-for-world.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/04/earth-day-our-roots-reach-by-imelda.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/04/review-just-add-blood-runelore-anglo.html
Friday, 13 February 2026
A Double Dose of Friday 13th - Are You Scared?
What are your thoughts about Friday 13ths? With today being one, and another next month, are you worried or taking extra precautions?
I used to be skeptical about suggestions that Friday 13 is an unlucky date. Statistically, nasty things are no more likely to happen then than on any other day. Then I had a series of four Friday 13ths in which disasters struck. The first two involved rushing people to hospital in the middle of storms, then I broke my expensive camera on another, and on Friday 13 May, 2011 something disastrous happened to Blogger and everyone who used that system, including me, lost posts and found earlier ones had corrupted.
For several years after that I was extremely cautious when that date appeared on the calendar. However, you'll probably notice the run of bad luck I mentioned was a good 15 years ago. Nothing seriously awful has happened to me on any tradtional day of ill omen since, although I've taken extra care. This year, I've allowed myself to relax a bit. I've booked things to be delivered today, and next month I've arranged my annual boiler service on Friday 13. Let's see if I get my stuff and the engineer doesn't tell me my boiler needs replacing.
I'm not being totally complacent though. I'm wearing a protective amulet and drinking coffee from my favourite lucky mug. Are you doing anything similar?
Please leave a comment with your thoughts about Friday 13.
The photo is from the 2026 We'Moon datebook.
Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/friday-13th-lore-luck-and-superstitions.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/08/friday-13-spell-for-luck.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/03/folklore-friday-13-and-flying-penis-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/03/friday-13-solar-eclipse-death-tower-and.html
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Customs, Galentine's Day and a Tarot Manifesting Spell
Galentine's Day isn't on February 14th. In fact it's more associated with the 13th, so you can have a girls' night out then enjoy romance with your lover the next day. Apparently the event started in 2010 in an eponomous episode of the American sitcom Parks and Recreation - which I also admit I've never watched - but has grown in popularity.
It might be a recent annual event, but I think it could show how traditional folk customs can change and adapt with the times. What do you think? Is this just another way companies commercialise something or a genuine tradition in the making?
Tarot Three of Cups Manifestation Spell: Girls Having Fun
Galentine's Day reminded me of the Three of Cups in Tarot. It's the only card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck that shows multiple women and no male figures - and they are having fun. It's one of my favourite cards. The description in the booklet says: "Maidens in a garden ground with cups uplifted as if pledging one another." The divinatory meaning is merriment, happiness, victory and fulfilment.
On Galentine's Day - or any time really - you could find this card from your tarot deck and put it n your altar or somewhere you will see it. Visualise having fun with your female friends and celebrating your achievements together. Pour a chalice of your favourite drink, then raise a toast to all the women who enrich your life. Make a pledge to help and support other women, and perhaps to enjoy a girls' night out.
You could also do this manifestation for International Women's Day on March 8th.
Previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2021/02/craft-heart-shaped-vision-board-for.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/02/london-folklore-love-locks-walbrook.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/02/a-reading-balance-v-inbalance-in-lovers.html
badwitch.co.uk/2023/02/candle-divinations-and-little-magic-for.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/02/valentines-day-birds-and-folklore.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/02/valentines-day-spell-scented-love-heart.html


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