Wicca: Wiches, Warlocks and Wizards

The term witch comes from the old english word wicca which is derived from the Germanic root wic, meaning to bend or to turn.  By using magic, a witch is believed to change or bend events.  Today, the word witch can be applied to a man or a woman.  In the past, male witches were also called warlocks and wizards.

Essentially, Wicca is a fertility religion that celebrates the natural world and the seasonal cycles that are central to farming societies.  It acknowledges the Goddess as the feminine side of a diety called God.  Witches worship both Goddess and God in various personifications, including ancient gods and goddesses.  Rites are tied to the cycles of the moon, which is the symbol of the power of the Goddess, and to the seasons of the year.  Religious holidays are called sabbats.  Ther are four major sabbats: Imbolc - Feburary 1; Beltane - April 30; Lugnasaadh or Lammas - July 31; and Samhain - October 31

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