| There are 8 sabbats, or Wiccan holy days. They | | | | of Spring, new life, and fertility. Babies, animals and |
| are spread through out the year, and many fall on | | | | human were being born after the darkness of the |
| or close to Christian holy days. They are divided | | | | winter, trees were in leaf. And the fields were |
| into two groups, Greater Sabbats, fall on dates of | | | | ready to be planted. This is the closest we as |
| high energy. And Lessor Sabbats, which fall on the | | | | Wiccans come to celebrating Easter. |
| equinox and solstice days. These divide the year | | | | Beltane, a Greater Sabbat, is the last of the |
| into eight more or less equal parts, like the | | | | spring celebations. It was the day that people |
| spokes of a wheel. And are generally though of in | | | | could slow down, since the planting was done, and |
| that concept. The Wheel of the Year. | | | | all the livestock had been born. It was a day to |
| Samhain, is the first of the Greater Sabbats, it | | | | rejoice in love, it was the day for handfasting. |
| falls on what the rest of the United States calls | | | | Beltane, is also known as May Day, it falls on May |
| Halloween (All hallows eve, in the past). It marks | | | | 1st. |
| the beginning of the Wiccan year. It is a time to | | | | Litha, is the summer Lessor Sabbat, falling on the |
| connect with our departed ancestors, as the veil | | | | Summer Solstice or Midsummer, it is celebrated |
| between the world of the living and the world of | | | | on June 21st this year. It is also a celebration of |
| the dead is at its thinest on this day. It is also a | | | | fertility, as this was the time when people could |
| celebration of a bountiful harvest. It is a day of | | | | begin to see the fruits of their labor. The oats, |
| Thanksgiving, in the most traditional sense. | | | | and rye were growing in the fields, and fruits and |
| Samhain falls on October 31st. | | | | vegetables appeared on plants and trees. |
| Yule, the first of the Lessor Sabbats, falls on the | | | | Lammas, is the first of the harvest celebrations, |
| shortest day of the year, or the Winter Solstice. | | | | and a Greater Sabbat. The earliest vegetables are |
| When the Darkness of winter finally yields to the | | | | harvested. Food is plentiful. Lammas is celebrated |
| light of spring. It is similar to the Christianized | | | | on August 1st traditionally the day that the first |
| version of Christmas. We celebrate the coming of | | | | barley harvest was complete. |
| the Son of the Goddess (the sun also), who | | | | Mabon, the final Lesser Sabbat of the year, is |
| brings the light and awakens the sleeping earth. | | | | celebrated on the Autumnal Equinox, or the first |
| Yule is December 22nd this year (actually next | | | | day of fall, the 23rd of September. It is a harvest |
| year). | | | | celebration, when all the food has been brought in |
| Imbolc, also a Greater Sabbat is celebrated on | | | | and the stores of food are being put away for |
| February 2nd. It is also known as Groundhogs day | | | | winter. It is the day that once again daylight and |
| in the US, and Candelmas by people of the | | | | night are equal, and signals the coming of the dark |
| Catholic faith. It is a spring ritual, celebrating | | | | as the days gradually shorten. |
| rebirth. This is a time that many covens initiate | | | | For more information, I suggest the following |
| members. | | | | books, "The Grandmother of Time" by Zsuzsanna |
| Ostara, is the Lessor spring Sabbat, falling on the | | | | Budapest, and "Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan |
| Vernal or spring equinox (the day when daylight | | | | Traditions" by Pauline Campanelli. They are both |
| and darkness are equal). It is celebrated on | | | | packed with information, celebrations and |
| approximately the 20th of March (check your | | | | traditions that I will not delve into in this blog, and |
| calendar as it is not a fixed day.) It is a celebration | | | | great resources. |