Now there's a thought...I'll ask my partner this evening if he's noticed anything odd....

Does he normally?

My own favourite is always the Baal Fire ceremony at Allendale which takes place at New Year and has always done so since pagan times and signifies the relationship and change between the light and dark parts of the year.

Actually invented locally in 1858 when tar barrels were used instead of tallow candles on the way to a watchnight service. Baal could be a mishearing of the local pronounciation of "barrel".