January 2025 edition of Anglo&Celtic magazine

Welcome to the January 2025 edition of Anglo&Celtic magazine. You can read or download the magazine free of charge at the link above. If you’d like to make a one-time donation towards the costs associated with producing the magazine, or buy a cup of coffee for the hardworking staff, you can do so below.

Happy New Year to all our readers. 

In this edition, we proudly shine a spotlight on the remarkable women celebrated in the Celtic calendar early in the year.

We explore Women’s Little Christmas, an Irish tradition on January 6th, where women take a well-deserved day off at the end of the Christmas season, gathering to celebrate their contributions in style. It’s a day for relaxation and camaraderie, often featuring tea, music, and storytelling. Events marking the day are planned in Sydney and Brisbane. 

Wales’s own Saint Dwynwen’s Day, on January 25th, brings the spirit of love and devotion, akin to Valentine’s Day, with its unique Welsh flair. 

St Brigid’s Day follows on February 1st, honouring Ireland’s patroness with celebrations of creativity, renewal, and women’s leadership. Brigid is associated with fertility, healing, and poetry. Celebrations in Australia include a documentary screening by Queensland Irish Association on the women who helped bring peace to Northern Ireland. 

Our cover story is Mary Kiani’s Scottish Weekender in Glenworth Valley, blending traditional Burns Night festivities, ceilidhs, and live music with vibrant Scottish heritage. From addressing the haggis to lively ceilidh dances, this event sets the tone for January’s cultural offerings​. All done with Mary Kiani’s flair. Vivacious Mary, known as the ‘Scottish Songbird’, shot to fame for her contributions to dance and pop music during the 1990s. She first gained prominence as the lead vocalist for The Time Frequency. She also pursued a successful solo career, releasing several international hits. 

Here’s to a great start to 2025 inspired by the indomitable spirit of women!

All the best, Mary. 

If you have a story you’d like to share, email editor@angloandceltic.com.

Enjoy the magazine!
Editor Mary Allen.