The Eight Sabbats of Wicca

The Eight Sabbats of Wicca - The Sabbats are seasonal festivals which mark the turning of the Wheel of the Year and the cycles of nature. Where the Wiccans celebrate the male energy of the All, which is represented by the God and the Sun. Unlike human-made holidays, the Sabbats are naturally occurring events. They mark the Equinoxes- the two days a year when daytime and nighttime are of equal duration. The Sabbats also include the longest day of the year, the longest night of the year (known as the solstices) and the midpoints between these four occurrences. Most break the Sabbats down into major and minor, the major Sabbats are: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh. The minor Sabbats are: Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Autumn Equinox.

Samhain (SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) October 31st

This is one of the Greater Sabbats and is probably the witches' biggest holiday. Samhain has many meanings, it marks the end of the third and final harvest, it is a day to commune with and remember the dead, and it is a celebration of the eternal cycle of reincarnation.

On this holiday witches will hold celebrations to honor the dead. Some witches have a silent supper during which they relive moments of life with a friend or loved one who has passed on during the year. This is the time when the veil is said to be at its thinnest, which makes it a great night for communicating with the dead and the closer you get to midnight on that night, the thinner the veil becomes.

Yule (YOOL) December 21st: Winter Equinox

This is one of the lesser Sabbats and marks the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. It is also the time the God is reborn and light begins to return to the Earth. Yule is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets behind. Wiccans celebrate by exchanging gifts, decorating a tree, singing, hanging mistletoe, feasting, and of course by burning the Yule log. The Yule log is burned in the evening in a fireplace or cauldron. They save a piece of the log which is used to light the next year's Yule log making the fire reborn as well.

Imbolc (IM-bolk) February 2nd

Imbolc, one of the Great Sabbats, is also referred to as Candlemas, is the time when Wiccans celebrate the renewing fertility of the Earth. 'Imbolc' means 'in the belly (of the Mother)' because that is where seeds are beginning to stir. Spring is here. It is a holiday of preparedness. Wiccans scrub their houses from floor to ceiling, bills are paid, and taxes are filed, so that none of the business of the winter interferes with the pure joy of the earth's rebirth. Known as Spring cleaning. This time is also the bleakest part of the year while we are thinking that Spring will never get here.

Ostara (oh-STAR-ah) March 21st: The Spring Equinox

On the spring and fall equinoxes, day and night are of equal lengths. Ostara celebrates the coming of spring, new growth and fertility. In the days that follow, the hours of light grow longer, spring blooms in the air, and the Lord and Lady, as to all the creatures of Nature, begin to wonder about each other. Wiccans would celebrate much like a Christian celebrates Easter, by boiling and decorating eggs, having egg hunts and eating chocolate bunnies. This would be a good time to buy a new ritual broom and sweep out any negative energy.

Beltane (BEL-tayne) April 30

At Beltane,one of the Great Sabbats, the Lord and Lady unite in a handfasting, where they help the Earth to burst with life and new growth. Just like the Veil is thinnest at Samhain, we can reach across at Beltane as well. Wiccans celebrate Beltane by dancing around the Maypole, which represents the Lord, handfastings, and great bonfires in which both people and livestock were run between for purification and luck in the upcoming year.

Litha (LEE-tha) June 21st: Summer Equinox

The Summer Solstice which is a lesser Sabbat, marks the longest day of the year. Most Wiccans acknowledge this time of year but usually don't have large celebrations. In the past, this Sabbat was celebrated with large bonfires that were burned to promote purification, fertility, and love. People were even said to jump over the fires to encourage these qualities in themselves. Midsummer is also a time when magic can be very powerful, for example, when used to further ambitions, to manifest a new home or to increase prosperity. It is also believed to increase fertility in women.

Lughnassad (LOO-nus-uh) August 2nd

One of the Greater Sabbats the Lughnassad marks the beginning of the fall harvest. The God and Goddess have entered into later adulthood. This is the time that the God and Goddess enjoy their time together. Each are growing older and beginning to prepare for the decent into old age. The God's powers are waning greatly as winter approaches and the sun dies out. Wiccans often hold feasts in honor of the holiday because everything is so plentiful at this time of year. Its traditional to bake on this day.

Mabon (MAY-bon) September 21st: Autumn Equinox

This is the second harvest festival and to celebrate the last fruits of the year. Night and day are of equal duration on this date, and you can feel the approach of winter and darkness. The Lord is preparing for his death at Samhain, and the Lady is beginning to mourn his loss. Some Wiccans like to hold feasts or do food magick on this holiday. In this way the Wheel turns, bringing us back to Samhain where we began our cycle.