Good MID-WINTER from the TORNADO TAVERN GALLERY!!

We have just about recovered from the weeks of frigid temperatures. Most of the people in the country use propane for heating and are going through the supply like crazy. One Door County propane supplier started to ration propane to 100 gallons per delivery. The last few days have really helped in that recovery. The average one foot of snow preceding the January thaw is greatly diminished. During the winter months life is much different from the “season” months. There are fewer cars around although people are finding out about our winter activities. I see more ice fishing shanties on the bay. The numbers of ATV/snowmobile trails seem to be more numerous, as are the “pedestrian” trails. I see the big ships coming into Sturgeon Bay, looks like there is ten or twelve getting repaired in the ship yards.

The TORNADO TAVERN GALLERY is planning for our next season; we start our season in February. Our first show will be the Mid-Winter Art show on February 10 & 11. The show is in a new location at the Crystal Falls Banquet Facility in New London, Wisconsin. The show is a fund raiser for the Wolf River Art League.

The next few weeks have many historical events and celebrations;

February 1 - IMBOLIC - Imbolc, Oimelc (Feast of Torches), Brigid`s Day (Irish), Candlemas (Christian) and others celebrated on February 2 and the preceding eve. The festival falls on the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox, Celts use full moon nearest midpoint. It recognizes the “return” or “birth” of the sun, the first signs of spring. It is celebrated as a fire festival.

Imbolic is one of 8 neopagan sabbats, or holidays, that make up the Wheel of the Year. We celebrate the cycles of time to honor that which is beyond our control and, perhaps, beyond our understanding.

The 8 neopagan sabbats, or holidays that many Wiccans and neopagans observe are; Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain.

January 31 – DISFEST - Disfest or Disablot which is a day of sacrifice honoring the Disir. The Disir are all the female relatives from the eons of time that have passed over. They over see as well as protect their living family members. In some homes every candle and light is lit in the house to honor them. It is a day of remembrance and honoring the females that passed over and to thank them for their loving protection.

This is a time for giving thanks for other unseen protectors. A sacrifice of the very best food and drink in the house is given to the Land Wights (Landvættir). Land Wights are spirits of the land. They protect and promote the flourishing of the specific places where they live.

January 21 2010 - In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rules in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that the government cannot restrict the spending of corporations for political campaigns

January 22 1371 - Robert II of Scotland is crowned - First King of the House of Stewart

January 22 1973 - The Supreme Court legalized some abortions in Roe v. Wade.

January 25 - BURNS DAY - Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) was a poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best-known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a 'light' Scots dialect which would have been accessible to a wider audience than simply Scottish people. At various times in his career, he wrote in English, and in these pieces, his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.

January 26 – Australia Day - 1788, the first European settlers landed in Sydney, Australia.

January 26 1837 - Michigan became the 26th state in the United States.

January 27 1932 - 1st State Unemployment Insurance Act enacted (Wisconsin)

January 28 1986 - The Lego brick is patented

January 29 1834 - President Jackson orders 1st use of Federal troops to suppress a labor dispute

January 30 1876 - Battle of the Little Big Horn

February 1 1789 - Chinese troops driven out of the Vietnam capital of Thang Long

February 2 - Groundhog's Day - 1887 - The first gathering at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. to wait for the groundhog's shadow occurred.

February 2 - Frank Sinatra’s singing debut in Indianapolis with Tommy Dorsey Band

February 3 1959 - Rock singers, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and Big Bopper died in a plane crash. The "Daty that the Music Died"

February 4 1789 - George Washington and John Adams are elected the president and vice president of the United States.

February 4 2004 - The Massachusetts Supreme Court declared that "gays" had the right to marry.