THE SABBATS
IMBOLIC(CROSS QUARTER):
Also known as Candlemas , Disting(Feb 14th in the Teutonic tradition) , Lupercus(Strega) or Candelaria(Mexican Craft) . The Imbolic or Candlemas Sabbat marks the welcoming of Spring . It is one of the three Spring festivals .(The others include Ostara & Beltane) .
Notable dates during this month :(1)Evaneline Adams' Birthay(8th Feb) & Susun Weed(Owner of Wise Woman Publishing)(8th Feb); (2)The passing of Gerald Gardner(Founder of the Garderian tradition)(12th Feb) ; (3)The initation of Stewart Farrer into the Alexandarian Wiccan(21st Feb 1970) ; (4)Sybil Leek's birthday(22nd Feb)(Astrologer & Witch) and not forgetting Groundhog Day(Feb 2nd)
OSTARA(SPRING EQUINOX):
This sabbat occurs in mid-March when the nights & days are of equal length . It is the 2nd Spring festival , marking the celebration of balance , inviting the Earth's ferility energy to awaken once more . The Horned god's power recedes at this month , making way for the Green goddess' presence , filing the Earth woth the early blossoms of Spring . The Goddess is viewed as a young maiden . Here are some examples of the Godesses honoured during Ostara :(1)Anna Perenna(Etruscan Goddess of time , fate & health . Her name represents the passing & arriving of the Old & New respectively in the ever continuous wheel of life ) Candlemas is also a festival for feritlity & to celebrate things that are to be born .
BELTANE(CROSS-QUARTER):
This is the last spring festival . It is also referred to as Mayday(1st May) , Festival of Land(Strega) , Walburga(Teutonic) . Beltane is celebrated on the 5th of may . The Maypole (One of the symbols of the festival) has survived most prominently . Once raised , men & women will dance around it in opposite directions , weaving ribbons & garlands together . This symbolizes the Lord's potent energies streaming into the Lady's laps . The Hawthorn wreath at the top of the Maypole symboloizes the Great goddess's Tabia . Traditional colours for Mayday include red & white .
Notable dates during this month include :(1)The initation of Scott Cunningham into the Traditional Gwyddonic Order Of the Wicca (25th May 1981).
SUMMER SOLSTICE(21st JUNE):
This is the year's longest day . This is also known as Mid-Summer Night's Celebration(Although they don't always coincide on the astrological calendar).June has too been a popular month for wedding festivites in Europe & North America . Remember the old English nursery rhyme that is often recited to June brides :
" Marry in the month of may . Most surely , you will rue the day . Marry in June when roses grow . And happiness you'll always know ".
LAMMAS(CROSS-QUARTER):
Lughnasaad , the Pagan festival is celebrated on Aug. 2nd . {It is also referred to as Lamas , Laa Lunys(Cornucupia)} . It celebrates Uhgh's triumph over his arch rival , Balor . According to one legend , Balor was a sun god . After his defeat , he descended into the Underworld to heal . This explains why the days have begun waning visibly during this time . This sabbat marks the beginning of the harvest cycle . (A festival to give thanks for the goodness we are about to receive hence the first of the three harvest festivals in the Craft ).Freshly baked bread is still an important & central compotent of amny Lammas celebration . Bread is the combination of seeds(Flour : Earth ) , water , fire (the oven ) and air ( Yeast ). From these four elements , when mixed together , you have bread !
A folklore also says that
" If the 20th of August be fair & clear , then hope for a prosperous Autumn that year ".
MABON:
This is the second harvest festival , celebrating the taking of the corn & other foods that are to be harvested during this time . Therefore , corn bread , cakes & cider would be excellent additions to the celebrations ! YUM ! Mabon is also referred to the Autumn Equinox (Sept 21st to 23rd) , Alban Elfed (Caledoni).
Notable dates during this month include :(1)Rev. Paul Blyer's birthday(Wiccan Author)(Sept.2) ; (2)Jeraldine Saunder's Birthday(Astrologer)(3rd ASept); (3)Carl Llewellyn's Birthady(Owner & President of Llewellyn Publications) ; (4)Silver RavenWolf's birthday(Wiccan Author)(Sept 11th) & also the Birthday of the Wiccan Pagan Press & Alliance(WPPA) ; (5)Henry Cornelius Agrippa's Birthday(Scholar & magician)(14th Sept 1486)
SAMHAIN(CROSS-QUARTER):
Otherwise known as Halloween , Shadowfest(Strega) , or Old Hallowmas(Martinmas)(Scottish/Cletic) . This represents the full turn of the seasonal year . (last of the the three harvest festivals) . During Halloween , the veil between the two worlds grow thinner each night . The Otherworld draws closer to ours as it approaches twilight . Ancestors , Anicent Ones , spirits of the dead are more accessible , more approachable during this time of the dying of the Land .
As this is the last harvest , it is also the last great burst of life & life before the waning of light into the longest night of the year-Yule . Bonfires , bobbing for apples , scrying , Halloween costumes , trick-or-treating are some of the wonderful activites during Halloween . It is also time to share stories of the past year's exploits , the gathering of friends & the sharing of some token or symbol of their personal harvests , the invoking , welcoming , thanking & offerings to the Gods & ancestors are also made as well . It is also time of remembrance , contemplation & honouring of the dead . Each person lights a candle quietly for their dead ones & bow their head in a monent of silence . After that , everyone takes their place at the dining table to partake of a feast enjoyed in silence .
Notable dates :(1)Timothy Roderick's Birthday(Wiccan Author)(2nd oct) ; (2)Nicholas Culpepper's Birthday(Astrologer & herbalist)(18th Oct) ; (3)Selena Fox's Birthday(Circle Sanctuary)(20th Oct) ; (4)the passing of Sybil Leek(26th Oct , 19820 ; (5)Halloween/Samhain(31st Oct)
YULE :
Yule is an Anglo-Saxon term for "wheel" . This term is similar to the Celtic word "Tinne" , the sacred holly or the evergreen oak . This is the longest night of the year . (Usually 20th or 21st of Dec) . A fir tree or evergreen tree , decorated with shiny glass or ornaments (not forgetting the star at the top ) & colourful wrapped presents underneath it is for many a treasured memory . The colours of the festival , red & green , are of the original pagan desent . Wreaths of holly & fancy presents & log cakes are all part of the festivities .