The Sabbats
The Sabbats
By celebrating the natural cycle of the year through ritual, we can attune
ourselves to nature and the Divine that is inherent in all things.
Samhain
Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas (Celtic/Scottish)
October 31
Samhain, popularly known as Halloween, is the Witches' New Year.
It is said to be the time when the veil between the worlds is very thin, when
souls that are leaving this physical plane can pass out and souls that are
reincarnating can pass in.
Darkness increases and the Goddess reigns as the Crone, part of the three-in-one
that also includes the Maiden and Mother.
The God, the Dark Lord, passes into the underworld to become the seed of his own
rebirth (which will occur again at Yule). Many Pagans prepare a Feast for the
Dead on Samhain night, where they leave offerings of food and drink for the
spirits. Divination is heightened this night.
Jack-O-Lanterns, gourds, cider, fall foliage can be used as altar decorations.
Yule
the Winter Solstice, Yuletide (Teutonic), Alban Arthan (Caledonii)
Around Dec. 21
Yule coincides closely with the Christian Christmas celebration. That's because
the early Church sought to win the allegiance of the populace by placing its
festivals at or around the time of existing Pagan festivals. The Roman
celebration of the birth of the sun God Mithras, for example, was also observed
on Dec. 25.
This Sabbat represents the rebirth of light. Here, on the longest night of the
year, the Goddess gives birth to the Sun Child and hope for new light is reborn.
Yule is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets behind.
The Christian tradition of a Christmas tree has its origins in the Pagan Yule
celebration. Pagan families would bring a live tree into the home so the wood
spirits would have a place to keep warm during the cold winter months. Bells
were hung in the limbs so you could tell when a spirit was present.
Food and treats were hung on the branches for the spirits to eat and a
five-pointed star, the pentagram, symbol of the five elements, was placed atop
the tree.
The colors of the season, red and green, also are of Pagan origin, as is the
custom of exchanging gifts.
A solar festival, Yule is celebrated by fire and the use of a Yule log. A piece
of the log is saved and kept throughout the year to protect the home. That piece
is used to light the next year's log.
Candlemas
Imbolic (Celtic), Imbollgc Brigantia (Caledonii), Lupercus (Strega)
February 2
Candlemas involves celebrations of banishing the winter and welcoming the
spring.
At the time of Candlemas, the newborn Sun God is seen as a small child nursing
from his Mother.
At this phase of the cycle, winter is swept away and new beginnings are
nurtured. Some Wiccan groups favor this time of year for initiations into the
Craft.
It is traditional at Candlemas to light every lamp in the house for a few
minutes in honor of the Sun's rebirth.
Ostara
Vernal (Spring) Equinox, Alban Eiler (Caledonii)
Around March 21
The Spring Equinox is the point of equilibrium - the balance is suspended just
before spring bursts forth from winter.
The God and Goddess are young children at play and holiday festivals use
brightly colored eggs to represent the child within.
The Easter Bunny also is of Pagan origin, as are baskets of flowers.
Traditionally, Ostara is a time for collecting wildflowers, walking in nature's
beauty and cultivating herb gardens. This is the time to free yourself from
anything in the past that is holding you back.
Beltane
Mayday, Bealtinne (Caledonii), Festival of Tana (Strega), Walburga
(Teutonic)
April 30 (Mayday is celebrated on the first of May)
Beltane is the time of the sacred marriage which honors the fertility of the
Earth; it represents the divine union of the Lord and Lady.
Celebrations include weaving a web of life around the Maypole and leaping the
Beltane fire for luck. Wiccan handfastings are common at this festival.
This is a time of self-discovery, love, union and developing your potential for
personal growth.
Litha-
Midsummer
Summer Solstice, Alban Hefin (Caledonii)
Around June 21
The Summer Solstice, the longest day, is a time of triumph for the light. This
holiday represents the Sun King in all his glory.
In many Wiccan celebrations, this is when the Oak King, who represents the
waxing year, is triumphed over by the Holly King, who represents the waning
year. The two are one: the Oak King is the growing youth while the Holly King is
the mature man.
Healings and love magick are especially suitable at this time. Midsummer Night's
Eve is supposed to be a good time to commune with field and forest sprites and
faeries.
Lammas
Lughnassadh (Celtic), Cornucopia (Strega), Thingtide (Teutonic)
August 2 (Lughnassadh, the Celtic festival in honor of the Sun God, is
held on the 7th)
This is the celebration of the first fruits of the harvest. The Sun King, now
Dark Lord, gives his energy to the crops to ensure life while the Mother
prepares to give way to her aspect as the Crone.
Now is the time to teach what you have learned, to share the fruits of your
achievements with the world.
Wheat weaving, such as the making of corn dollies, is traditional. Bread is
baked and the altar is decorated with fruits and vegetables of the harvest.
Autumn Equinox
Mabon (Celtic), Winter Finding (Teutonic), Alban Elfed (Caledonii)
Around Sept. 21
At the Autumn Equinox, the days and nights are equal. It is a time of balance,
but light gives way to increased darkness.
It is the second harvest, and the Goddess mourns her fallen consort, but the
emphasis is on the message of rebirth that can be found in the harvest seeds. It
is a good time to walk the forests, gathering dried plants for use as altar
decorations or herbal magick.
Cornbread and cider are good additions to festivities and fall leaves make good
altar decorations.