Sabbats and Esbats
There are 8 holidays that are celebrated in the Wiccan religion; the four Esbats (Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain) and the four Sabbats (Yule, Ostara, Litha, and Mabon).
These latter are the Wiccan celebrations of the changing of the seasons, these holidays occur on the separate solstices-Yule on the Winter Solstice, Ostara on the Spring Equinox, Litha on the Summer Solstice, and Mabon on the Fall Equinox. These four make up the Sabbats, the major Wiccan holidays.
The Esbats, the four "lesser" Wiccan holidays, are actually more often than not more widely and elaborately celebrated than the Sabbats. Each of these holidays has their own special reasons for being in existance along with their own ways of being celebrated.
Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, marks the beginning of the new year and the beginnings of the return from winter to spring. It falls on February 1st every year, the day before Groundhog's Day. This holiday is often used as a day of spiritual Spring Cleaning, an opportunity for the Wiccans practicing on this day to clean out the broom closet and prepare themselves physically and spiritually for the comings of the new year.
Beltane occurs every year on May 1st. It is a time of great joy and festivities, as spring has finally returned and the world is alive and merry during this time of the year. It is the celebration of the Union of the God and Goddess, and the consummation of their relationship. In many old Pagan rites this holiday often included a dance called "maying" that involved a pole with long streaming ribbons, known as a May pole (hence it is often called Mayday).
The third of the Esbats, Lughnasadh, is the first of the Harvest festivals celebrated by Wiccans. It is during this time that the shortening of days and lengthening of nights become more apparent. For the most part, this is a celebration of the Gods for the good crops provided and a time to ask for blessings for the harvests which are just beginning.
The final Esbat, Samhain, is one of the two Wiccan holidays that is most often confused when it comes into contact with people of other religious sects, especially those of the Christian faith (the other holiday being the Yule Sabbat). It is the last of the Harvest festivals, and is a time to reflect upon the year gone by; it is considered to be a New Year celebration for Wiccans. This holiday is also known as All Hallow's Eve, and being so is the holiday that was turned into Halloween by other religions. However, many Wiccans celebrate both, as Halloween is more of a fun celebration than anything else.
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The Wiccan Traditions
The Wiccan religion is primarily descended from the ancient Celtic religion, which is more often than not simply referred to as the "Old Religion." The Celtic religion had many influences over the years that changed it from its original state, such as the invasion of the Roman Empire led by Julius Caesar, and followed by invasions of the Goths, the Saxons, the Danes and the Vikings. For example, Ostara was the celebration of the Spring Equinox originally, but under the influence of the Saxons and their spring goddess, Ostra, it became a much more celebrated and elaborate holiday.
Throughout the years, however, the Wiccan religion has separated itself, much as the Christian religion became separated into their separate sects of Christianity (Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans, ect.,). However, the separations of the Wiccan religion are usually referred to as the Wiccan Traditions. There are many separate Traditions, but some are more widely known and practiced than others. As a few examples, there is the Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, Fairie (also known as Faerie) and Seax Traditions.
Alexandrian Wicca is very similar to the Gardnerian Tradition. It was started by Alex Sanders in England, during the early to mid part of the 20th century. They practice much the same, but with more Ceremonial Magicks involved. Many of the Rituals are performed skyclad. They observe all of the Sabbats and Esbats, as well as both God and Goddess.
British Traditional traces back from either the Alexandrian or Gardnerian. They consist of those who trace lineage from the originators of both Traditions, or those who simply practice as they did.
Celtic Traditional Wicca is the Celtic and Druidic practices of the Old Religion, in practice today. It follows most of the old practices, and celebrates the Celtic Pantheon. Most of the religion revolves around nature, and other things such as the Little People (leprochauns, faeries, etc.,)
The Church and School of Wicca is based in Wales. It is a correspondence course setting, in which the students learn of the Goddess through a course including a book called The Witches Bible. It was founded in the 1970's by Yvonne and Gavin Frost.
Circle Wicca was created in the '70s also, by Selena Fox and Jim Alan. It is based out of Wisconsin in the US. It is recognized as a legal church by the American Government; it is different as it is more like the Amerindian and Shamanistic ways than the Western European.
The Dianic Tradition is a mixture of many other traditions, but it is considered the "feministic" movement of Wicca as most Dianics believe purely in the Goddess, and the God doesn't have much of a part within this Tradition. There are men and women participants, solitary practitioners, mixed covens, and all female covens. All Dianic rituals have at least one Priestess present.
Many solitary Wiccans are practitioners of Eclectic Wicca. It is not an official tradition, as the people who participate in Eclectic Wicca create their own personal combination of many different Traditions.
Faerie (also spelled Fairy, Faery, or Feri) Wicca - goto http://www.cog.org/wicca/trads/faery.html for more information on this Tradition.
Gardnerian was the first Tradition to be publicly known, in the 1950's in England. Gardnerian places the Goddess above the God, generally female over male in some respects. It has a degree system for advancement within the coven and tradition itself, and does not allow for self-initiation into the Tradition. These covens work skyclad and try to have perfect couples, meaning exact pairs of women and men. Theoretically, the covens are autonomous, and the Gardnerian Tradition of Wicca can be found all over the world.
The Georgian tradition was originated in Georgia, in the US. It is an Eclectic Tradition, but with many mixtures of other Traditions thrown in as well. They celebrate God and Goddess, but lean more towards the Goddess. They are encouraged to learn from many different sources, and individuals are encouraged to practice on their own as they wish.
Seax-Wica is a Saxon based Tradition. They are often more open about their religion than other groups might be, although coven secrets are not revealed. It has open rituals, a democratic organization, it is possible to be either in a coven or practice Solitary, and it is possible to be Self-Initiated if desired, in lieu of a required Coven Initiation.
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The Wiccan Rede
Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.
For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.
Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name, let love and light be our guides again.
Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.
Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's insight.
Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.
As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.
When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.
Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.
In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.
Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.
Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.
With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.
Be true in love this you must do
Unless your love is false to you.
These Eight words the Rede fulfill:
"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"
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