The ancient Celts reckoned time differently than we do today, and everything from days to seasons were calculated beginning with the end of the previous one. Thus, sunset was the beginning of a day, and the beginning of winter was the end of summer, and so on. The Celtic festival cycle was reckoned on a circular solar calendar, which followed the path of the sun as it moved through the year, and a lunar calendar, based on the cycles beginning with the new moon. The year was divided into two halves, Gam and Sam — literally, light and dark. These two overarching seasons carried other connotations — male and female, working and resting, active and dormant.