The Sabbats

Wiccans celebrate eight festivals, called "Sabbats," as a means of attunement to the seasonal rhythms of Nature.

The "Wheel of the Year" has eight spokes or "Sabbats". Four of these represent major agricultural and pastoral festivals and the remaining four represent the minor solar festivals of the solstices and equinoxes. While there are other days of celebration on the witches calendar, this is a list of the eight "primary holidays".

In many traditions one day ends and another begins at sundown so if a holiday is listed as beginning on the 31st,  it will begin at sunset on the 31st and end at sunset on the 1st.

Imbloc - January 31st

Also known as Candlemas and Brigid's Day.  Also coincides with Groundhog's Day.  The days begin to lengthen and Spring is on its way. We focus on the revival of life.  It's time to prepare for the welcoming of spring and a time of new beginnings, a choice time for dedication or re-dedication to the Goddess .

Spring Equinox - March 21st

Vernal Equinox   The first planting festival. The days and nights are now equal and Spring arrives to awaken our world.  From here the "Easter Bunny" takes his tradition of colored eggs and baskets teeming with flowers.  We rejoice in the Goddess's gift of rebirth and fertility.

Beltane - April 30th

"Mayday"  The last Spring Fertility Festival. It's time to be merry and dance around the maypole, which is a symbol of fertility.  At the fertility festivals you will see witches leaping joyously over fires to bring good luck. We now celebrate the union of the Goddess and God.

Summer Solstice - June 22nd

This is the longest day of the year, and marks the beginning of the harvest season.  A very magickal time when we celebrate the fruits of our labor during the years early harvest.  Many say that whatever you dream on this night will surely come true.

Lammas Eve - July 31st

The first harvest festival. The nights grow longer and the grains of the first harvest are used for making the ritual bread. 

Autumn Equinox - September 21st

Mabon, the second harvest festival. The completion of the harvest and time for the darkness of night to take over again. A time for thanksgiving.  We celebrate and rejoice to our Goddess, thanking Her for all She has given us.

Samhain - October 31st

"Halloween"  This holiday is considered the Witches’ New Year's Eve.  A time of reflection, remembering those who have gone before us. It's the night when the barriers between the worlds of life and death are very thin, allowing our ancestors to walk among us and bestow their blessings upon is. The nights begin to lengthen and giving us more time with the moon and stars.

Yule - December 1st

Winter Solstice  This is the longest night of the year, and is the festival of the Sun's rebirth.  We honor the Goddess for giving birth to the sun. We celebrate with Yule Logs, Yule Trees, mistletoe over the doorway and even the exchanging of gifts.