Wheel of the Year
This is meant to be a quick reference or overview for those who are new or curious about the Pagan Holidays.
If you live in the Southern Hemisphere the dates for the Sabbats are in this colour.
Voodoo/Haitian Voodoo/Santería (Regla de Ocha-Ifá) “holidays” are known as Saint’s Days.
The Wheel of the Year, a very easy way to remember the Sabbats. I’m not sure when some said ‘Hey lets put these in a circle.’ I’m thankful that they did. If you’re new don’t worry, you’ll get these memorized in no time.
Think of it as really slow clock with no hands or arms. You’ve got the big numbers (3, 6, 9, 12. These are often referred to in regards to as the hour as; quarter past (3), half past (6), quarter until (9) & on the hour (12).
What is a sabbat?
These are eight solar occurrences that we all celebrate doesn’t matter if you’re a solitary practitioner or part of Coven you’re sharing your energy with the rest of us that are celebrating.
We have two Solstices (Summer Solstice{9} & Winter Solstice{3}) and two Equinoxes (Spring Equinox{6} & Fall Equinox {12}). Each of these mark the Quarters on the wheel. Some consider these as the big holidays. I consider all 8 Sabbats equally important.
Because these are Astronomical occurrences they may occur earlier or later, its up to the Universe.
YULE [Winter Solstice] : December 20-23.
OSTARA [Spring Equinox]: March 19-21.
LITHA [Summer Solstice]: June 20-22.
MABON [Autumnal Equinox]: September 21-24
So where do the other four come from?
These are the half-way points between the ‘Big Four’. They’re like save points in a video game. These are know as ‘cross-quarter’. I’ll break these down for you really quickly.
IMBOLC : February 1-2.
BELTANE: April 30 – March 1st.
LAMMAS: August 1-2.
SAMHAIN: October 31- November 1st.
Because most of these celebrations come from folk traditions of Western Europe before Christianity took hold. Some of these are known by their Gaelic (Celtic) names I’m going to include a pronunciation after the Sabbat.
SAMHAIN
Pronounced Saa·wn
Northern Hemisphere: October 31- November 1st
Southern Hemisphere: April 30- May 1
I usually start my “year” on Samhain [Gaelic for “End of Summer”] {Halloween}. One this is a favorite, to me its got the vibe of “New Years” celebrations and you can dress up for what you want to be in the coming year.
How you celebrate this day is up to you. I’m more of a quite contemplation type. But if you want to make it a bash go for it, don’t forget to send me an invite.
Samhain is a great time to do some Ancestor Spirit communication. This is when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest.
This is where the traditions of mumming and guising come from. Mumming is a folk play or performance done by everyday people. Guising is one we’ve all done an probably known better as “trick-or-treating“. Guising dates back to 1623 in Scotland and maybe much older. On the ” Greek island of Rhodes had a custom in which children would go from door-to-door dressed as swallows, singing a song, which demanded the owners of the house to give them food and threatened to cause mischief if the owners of the house refused.”
The point of Gusing was to preform for the homeowners and you got a reward. Typically the reward was fruit and nuts, some gave out cakes, today is chocolate.
I’ll get more in depth on Samhain this on another occasion and a page. Don’t tell the other Sabbats, but this is my favorite.
Yule
Pronounced You·el
Northern Hemisphere: December 20-23
Southern Hemisphere: June 21-23
Oh, the first ‘major” sabbat. This is the Winter Solistice, or Yule. This one varies as well, some want to get as close to the real meaning behind the celebration. Yule is traditional Germanic (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland & Faroe Islands) its often celebrated as a separate celebration.
Celebrating is again up to each individual, you can decorate, have a meal, sing along, etc. But the point of this sabbat is as the rebirth of the Great horned hunter god (a.k.a.: Sun God, Green Man, The Oak King, The Holly King), who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun.
Some refer to it as the “cold dark time of the year” and that’s a fact. The days are shorter at this point in the year, its typically cold and its a good time to encourage us to not only spend more time at home, but also to become more reflective about our lives – and often about spirituality.
Imbolc
Pronounced Im·blk
Northern Hemispehere: February 1-2
Southern Hemisphere: August 1-2
Also known to some as Saint Brigid’s Day. Its thought that was associated with lambing (time of the year that female sheep {ewes} enter a milk production period for the lambs.) and the Goddess Brigid. It is also the half way point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. This marks the beginning of spring.
Celebrating again is up to you. Often times you will see rushes or straw woven into a cross (can be 3 armed or 4 armed). These are hung over doors and windows to welcome Brigid, protect against fire, lighting, illness & evil spirits. You can also symbolically invite Brigid into your home by providing a bed and a meal. You’ll often see a corn doll that is supposed to represent Brigid. You can find tutorials on how to make the corn doll or the cross if you would like to add these to your celebrations. This is also where the modern idea of “spirng cleaning” comes from. In the past this was a time of ritual cleansing.
Ostara
Pronounced Ow·staa·ruh
Northern Hemisphere: March 19-21
Southern Hemisphere: September 21-22
The Spring Equinox is here! This is a time where light and dark are equally balanced. Yes its the time of hares/rabbits, lambs, spring flowers, Fairies, butterflies, chicks and eggs. Some pagans differ on historical sources for the Sabbat. It is believed that Ēostre (Germanic Goddess of Spring). This time of the year is often associated with renewal, rebirth from the death of winter.
Celebration is up to the individual, but this is one of the holidays that Christianity borrowed heavily from you can find a multitude of decorations, confections and treats. Did you know that Ukraine (🇺🇦) is where we get decorating eggs from? Spring cleaning also comes about this time of the year, but it doesn’t just mean your home, you can clean metaphysical or emotionally.
Beltane
Pronounced Bel·tayn
Northern Hemisphere: April 30 - May 1
Southern Hemisphere: October 31 - November 1
Supposedly named after the Celtic God of the sun Bel/Belenus. This is the beginning of summer! This is when you protect you cattle, people & crops. Bonfires were built, the smoke and ash from the bonfires were protective. All house hold fires would be doused and re-lit from the Beltane bonfires. Its also a time to appease the faires.
Its also know as May Day in Europe. This day focuses on fertility and the optimism of summer. Celebrating again is up to the individual but often there’s May Pole Dancing and flowers and May bushes were put around doors, windows. These flowers would be yellow or white in color that evoked fire. The May Bush can be decorated like a Yule tree with flowers, ribbons, painted shells/egg shells from Ostara. The May bush would remain decorated until May 31st.
Litha (Midsummer)
Pronounced Lith·a
Northern Hemisphere: June 20-22
Southern Hemisphere: December 21-22
This is the third of the major 4 Sabbats. This is the Summer Solstice. This is the longest day of the year and the battle between light and dark to take control. The Oak King who rules daylight from Yule to Beltane. The Holly King rules the darkness and his reign beings on Litha until Yuletide.
Again how you celebrate is up to the individual. This Sabbat also involves fire celebrations of bonfires and fire rituals. Its also good for celebrating the abundance of Mother Earth. This is the time of year to practice love magicks or get married.
Lammas/Lughsanda
Pronounced Laa·muhz
Northern Hemisphere: August 1-2
Southern Hemisphere: February 1 -2
This marks the beginning of harvest season. The sabbat gets its name from Celtic god Lugh/Lug. Its to celebrate the ‘first fruits’ this would typically be the 2nd harvest of crops. To commemorate this the first sheaf of wheat or flowers were buried.
Historic celebrations were along the lines of; athletic contests, horse racing, feasting, match making an trading. These were often held on top of hills and mountains. They would often bury the flowers or sheaves of wheat to signify that summer had reached its end. This is also a good time for marriage/handfasting.
Mabon
Pronounced May·bn
Northern Hemisphere: September 21-24
Southern Hemisphere: March 21-23
This is the last of the Sabbats. The Autumnal Equinox. Think of this as Wiccan Thanksgiving be thankful, reflect and give back to the community. This is also a good time to start setting intentions for the new year (Samhain). Things like; ending bad relationships, ending bad habits or any self destructive habits or beliefs. It also a great time to do a home cleansing, rituals to release negativity, watch a sunset, spend time with loved ones, spend time in nature, allow yourself time for self-care and rest.
Celebrating Mabon is easy, you’ll probably be doing some of these fall activities anyways. Roasting corn on the cob, apple picking, make an apple cinnamon confection or apple cider, pumpkin spice!, Baking bread and enjoying season fruits & veggies. Its a great time of year to go to a festival or fair and wearing fall colors (orange, red, yellow, brown) is something we can all do.
Compliance:
English .svg){kind=link}
