Pagans celebrate 8 Sabbats...4 Major and 4 Minor.
The 8 Sabbats represent birth, death and rebirth. These are times to celebrate, to rejoice
with the Gods and Goddesses and have a good time. The Sabbats usually are associated
with the sun diety. This does not mean that you can not honor the Goddess on a solar
holiday. The Gods are honored at certain phases of the sun, the “Lesser Sabbats” which
occur at Summer and Winter Solstice and Spring and Autumn Equinox. The “Greater
Sabbats” are more in the nature of seasonal rather than solar and are times when both
Gods and Goddesses are honored.
The first in the Wiccan New Year called Samhain which is celebrated on October 31. It is a Greater Sabbat. It is the time when the veil between the worlds are thin so magick is high on this night. Many Pagans prepare a feast for their departed friends and family and place an empty setting at the table to honor them. Celebrations to honor the dead are done at this ritual along with speaking to those who have passed over. Divination is heightened this night. It is the last of the three harvests.
Many Halloween customs stem from this celebration. Trick or treat was an old English tradition where children went door to door begging for “soul cakes” to feed the wandering spirits. The jack-o-lantern was used as a lantern by people traveling at night on the assumption that the scarey face would frighten away spirits or faeries who might lead them astray. They were set on porches and in windows to cast a spell of protection over the household.
Yule the Winter Solstice is celebrated on December 21. It is a Lesser Sabbat but an important one. It is a time of the year when the sun is at its lowest point. The shortest day of the year and of course the longest night. Since it is a solar festival it is celebrated by fire and the use of the yule log. It is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets behind. You will find many traditional Christmas traditions are in reality Pagan traditions, such as mistletoe, yule log, holly, Christmas tree, gifts and caroling.
Imbolic is also known as Candlemas and is celebrated on Feb 2. This holiday is chiefly connected to weather lore, ie. Groundhog’s Day. It occurs at the peak of winter and involves celebrations to banish winter. It is a Greater Sabbat. It is the time to turn away all left over regret and guilt from last year and plan for the future year. The coldness of winter prevents a bon fire from being lit during this fire festival so many candles are lit hence the name Candlemas.
Ostara also known as Spring Eguinox happens around March 21. It celebrates the beginning of Spring when light and darkness are in balance. This festival is considered one of fertility, and is the second in the trinity of spring celebrations.
As in other Sabbats there are some traditions that were adapted by the Christian population. One is decorating eggs and “planting” them. The eggs symbolize the fertility of the Goddess and God. Decorating them charges them as a magickal item. They were painted in any color appropriate for your goal and then hidden. The legend was if you found the egg you would achieve your goal that year. The bunny also symbolized the fertility of the Goddess. It represented the growth of life on Earth. Ostara is a festival of fertility and growth.
Beltane is celebrated around April 30 or May 1. It is the last of the three spring fertility festivals and is when people, plants and animals prepare for the warm months ahead. This is a time for love, union, self-discovery and developing your potential for personal growth. Handfasting is common during this festival. It is also called May Day. It is one of the most important festivals. It symbolizes the coming of Spring. It is a Greater Sabbat-one of the original Celtic harvest festivals. It is a fire festival which means that bon fires were traditional lit in celebration.
Midsummer is the Summer Solstice and celebrated on June 21. It is the longest day-a time of triumph for light. It is a celebration of passion and success. It is one of our fire festivals. People would leap the bonfire for purification and renewal of energy. Herbs are picked at Midsummer to capture the power of the sun in them. Amulets of the past year are buried and new ones made. It is considered one of our Lesser Sabbats.
Lammas is the first of three harvest celebrations. It is the celebration of the first fruits of the harvest, celebrated on August 2. It is considered a time of Thanksgiving. It marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall.
This Sabbat represents the beginning of the harvest cycle and rests on the early grain harvest as well as those fruits and vegetables that are ready to be taken. It was the traditional time of the year for craft festivals. It is a time to give thanks for what you have just begun to receive and to sacrifice what you can to receive more of your heart’s desires. Storing away for the winter of food and herbs began at this time.
Mabon is the Autumn Equinox celebrated around Sept 21. The days and nights are equal but light is giving way to darkness. This is the second and largest harvest, associated with the taking of corn and other foods at this time. It is a Lesser Sabbat in modern Witchcraft due to the fact that it is not necessary for us to rely on the harvest for our survival as did our ancestors. It is the time for giving thanks for our successes in our endeavors. This is a good time to do spells for protection, wealth and prosperity, security and self-confidence. It is also a good time to perform spells around the idea of balance in your life, remove guilt and replace it with love and acceptance.
