# Bede, *Reckoning of Time*, 1999 > [!cite] Citation > Bede. *Bede: The Reckoning of Time*. Translated and edited by Faith Wallis. Liverpool University Press, 1999. --- ‘Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated “Paschal month”, and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance.’ [[Bede, The Reckoning of Time, trans. Wallis, 1999|(Bede, trans. Wallis 1999, 54)]] ^f98ccd ‘The first month, which the Latins call January, is Giuli; February is called Solmonath; March Hrethmonath; April, Eosturmonath; May, Thrimilchi; June, Litha; July, also Litha; August, Weodmonath; September, Halegmonath; October, Winterfilleth; November, Blodmonath; December, Giuli, the same name by which January is called. They began the year on the 8th kalends of January \[25 December], when we celebrate the birth of the Lord. That very night, which we hold so sacred, they used to call by the heathen word Modranecht, that is, “mother’s night”, because (we suspect) of the ceremonies they enacted all that night.’ [[Bede, The Reckoning of Time, trans. Wallis, 1999|(Bede, trans. Wallis 1999, 53)]] ^034b7f Bede—quoting Macrobius’ *Saturnalia*—describes Egypt as ‘the mother of the arts’. [[Bede, The Reckoning of Time, trans. Wallis, 1999|(Bede, trans. Wallis 1999, 57)]] ^03c6e5