We refer to the eight holidays of witchcraft as the wheel of the year which symbolises the continual life cycle. In Wicca we also celebrate the Full Moon, once a month by having Esbats which are holidays that honour the Goddess.
The Eight Holidays (Sabbats)
1. Yule (Winter Solstice) - December 21st
Associated with the return of the Sun God as he is reborn of the Goddess.
2. Imbolc - February 2nd
Associated with the beginning of growth. often spells of new beginnings are cast around this time.
3. Ostara (Spring Equinox) - March 21st
The first day of Spring, associated with the growth and maturity of the young God.
4. Beltaine - May 1st
The Holiday of Fertility, a time where the God and Goddesses union is celebrated.
5. Midsummer (Summer Solstice) - June 21st
Celebrating the first days of harvesting herbs and a traditional month for hand-fastings and weddings.
6. Lughnasadh (lammas) - August 1st
This celebrates a time of harvesting the land.
7. Mabon (Autumn Equinox) - 21st September
This celebrates the continual harvesting of the land and the God who is beginning to fade as the Sun.
8. Samhain (Halloween) - October 31st
This is the start of Winter. The God descends into the underworld and the Goddess changes into the crone. This holiday celebrates the end of the life cycle and celtic year and it's also a time where there is a thin veil between the spirit world and our own, and ancestors can be contacted now if they wish.
