Wheel of the Year

Samhain - (Sowen) - October 31, New Years Eve in the Celtic Calendar. It is the night when the veil between the living and the dead is at its' thinnest, it is when the spirit of our ancestors are honored when they visit us. It is also the night when the Goddess enters the underworld and we enter dream time. Appropriated by the Christian religion as All Saints Day, Nov. 1 and All Souls day, Nov. 2, the day honoring the dead.

Yule - Dec 21 , Yule is the winter solstice, the longest eve of the year. It is also know as the Festival of light, when the Goddess conceive her son, the Sun God. It is a sabbat for rejoicing in the discovery of new light and new birth, within the womb of darkness as each day grows brighter. It was approiated by the Christians as Christ's' birthday and then was moved to Dec.25.

Imbolic - February 2 , means in the belly in Gaelic and is the holiday that celebrates the first evidence of the return to life. It is also the holy day of the Goddess Brigid, Goddess of fire and muse to the poets. Approiated by the Christians as St. Brigid's Day, the feast of the Purification of Mary, the day on which the church candles are blessed for the year.

Oestara - March 21, The Vernal Equinox, the holy day when light and the darkness are in complete balance. It is the day when life is born from the great mother reappearing on earth in its' full glory. Oestara is the Great Mother of the fertile earth and her symbols are eggs and rabbits and flowers to remind us of her blessings. This was approiated by the Christians as Annunciation Day, the day the Angel Gabriel came to the Virgin to ask her to bear the Christ child. Also used by the church as the date Christ's resurrection was determined. The first Sunday after the full moon after the spring equinox, called Easter from the Goddess Oestara.

Beltaine - May 1, Beltaine is also known as May Eve or May Day depending on when celebrated on the first. It is the holiday of the young Goddess and God first encounted and fell in love with each other. We celebrate it with the ecstasy of love as it fills the earth with life. Beltane is celebrated by many Catholics as "The May Crowning" when, as in the pagan traditions, statues of Mary are crowned with wreaths or flowers. She is referred to as the Queen of Angles, or the Queen of May. Prior to this apparition the latter title referred to the Goddess, her priestess, or a young woman chosen from the community to embody the Goddess.

Litha - June 21, Summer solstice is the longest day of the wheel though from this day forth the sun's presence will wane. The fertile conjunction of the sun and earth are celebrated as the divine union of the Goddess and the God. People should rejoice in the fruitfulness of their lives, giving thanks to the Great Mother Earth. This is also known as Midsummer's Day or by the Catholic religion as the feast of St. John the Baptist.

Lugnassad - August 1, Lugnassad is a first harvest celebration in which we give thanks for the fruits of the earth. It is also the wake for the Celtic Gog of the Sun, Lugh, who is said to enter the underworld on this day. It is celebrated with games, races, dances, and ritual fire. August 13th was celebrated by the ancient Romans and Pagan Italians as the birthday of the Goddess Diana, approiated by the Christians as the day of Mary's Assumption into Heaven.

Mabon - September 21, Autumn Equinox, is when light and dark are in perfect balance, though the movement is towards darkness. On this holy day, the mystery of eternal life is contemplated as the sun goes into the seed that will sustain life through the dark months ahead. The Goddess is thanked for her generosity with the contemplation of the harvest; the God is thanked for his gift of energy as it is embodied in the waning sun and we reflect on those goals we brought into fruition.


	Lady Airianna \| home All About the pentacle.. \| Wheel of the Year \| Resources \| The Witches Rede \| Wholesale Items & Kits \| Related Links \| Contact Lady Airianna \| Herb Class \| Free Spells \| A gypsy story \| Magic of the moon \| The Magic of Scents \| Candle Magick \| Views of Life Wheel of the Year The names of the Wiccan Sabbats and the explanations are from the Celtic traditions. Samhain - (Sowen) - October 31, New Years Eve in the Celtic Calendar. It is the night when the veil between the living and the dead is at its' thinnest, it is when the spirit of our ancestors are honored when they visit us. It is also the night when the Goddess enters the underworld and we enter dream time. Appropriated by the Christian religion as All Saints Day, Nov. 1 and All Souls day, Nov. 2, the day honoring the dead. Yule - Dec 21 , Yule is the winter solstice, the longest eve of the year. It is also know as the Festival of light, when the Goddess conceive her son, the Sun God. It is a sabbat for rejoicing in the discovery of new light and new birth, within the womb of darkness as each day grows brighter. It was approiated by the Christians as Christ's' birthday and then was moved to Dec.25. Imbolic - February 2 , means in the belly in Gaelic and is the holiday that celebrates the first evidence of the return to life. It is also the holy day of the Goddess Brigid, Goddess of fire and muse to the poets. Approiated by the Christians as St. Brigid's Day, the feast of the Purification of Mary, the day on which the church candles are blessed for the year. Oestara - March 21, The Vernal Equinox, the holy day when light and the darkness are in complete balance. It is the day when life is born from the great mother reappearing on earth in its' full glory. Oestara is the Great Mother of the fertile earth and her symbols are eggs and rabbits and flowers to remind us of her blessings. This was approiated by the Christians as Annunciation Day, the day the Angel Gabriel came to the Virgin to ask her to bear the Christ child. Also used by the church as the date Christ's resurrection was determined. The first Sunday after the full moon after the spring equinox, called Easter from the Goddess Oestara. Beltaine - May 1, Beltaine is also known as May Eve or May Day depending on when celebrated on the first. It is the holiday of the young Goddess and God first encounted and fell in love with each other. We celebrate it with the ecstasy of love as it fills the earth with life. Beltane is celebrated by many Catholics as "The May Crowning" when, as in the pagan traditions, statues of Mary are crowned with wreaths or flowers. She is referred to as the Queen of Angles, or the Queen of May. Prior to this apparition the latter title referred to the Goddess, her priestess, or a young woman chosen from the community to embody the Goddess. Litha - June 21, Summer solstice is the longest day of the wheel though from this day forth the sun's presence will wane. The fertile conjunction of the sun and earth are celebrated as the divine union of the Goddess and the God. People should rejoice in the fruitfulness of their lives, giving thanks to the Great Mother Earth. This is also known as Midsummer's Day or by the Catholic religion as the feast of St. John the Baptist. Lugnassad - August 1, Lugnassad is a first harvest celebration in which we give thanks for the fruits of the earth. It is also the wake for the Celtic Gog of the Sun, Lugh, who is said to enter the underworld on this day. It is celebrated with games, races, dances, and ritual fire. August 13th was celebrated by the ancient Romans and Pagan Italians as the birthday of the Goddess Diana, approiated by the Christians as the day of Mary's Assumption into Heaven. Mabon - September 21, Autumn Equinox, is when light and dark are in perfect balance, though the movement is towards darkness. On this holy day, the mystery of eternal life is contemplated as the sun goes into the seed that will sustain life through the dark months ahead. The Goddess is thanked for her generosity with the contemplation of the harvest; the God is thanked for his gift of energy as it is embodied in the waning sun and we reflect on those goals we brought into fruition.