Wheel

Witchcraft Sabbats are not man-made. Sabbats of Witchcraft do not commemorate any historical events in time. They also aren’t holidays that are celebrated whenever someone felt like putting it in the calendar . The 2 greater Sabbats may the oldest celebrations known to man and woman . The seasons existed long before the human existence even though humans did not exist to recognize them with a title the fact remains the seasons still changed. These Sabbats and esbats are a celebration of how Mother Earth and Father Sun and the great powerful pull of the Moon works. We live on a amazing planet specifically in tune with the Sun. We have many different things taking place here in regards to this. Such as there are times during the year that the days are longer while the nights are shorter and vise versa. Such as Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice. There is also a time in Spring when the day and night are equal. This is the Vernal Equinox. Same thing in Fall and this would then be the Autumnal Equinox. Now obviously we know the earliest of all life knew about the season change. This is regardless of if they were human or an animal stocking up for the winter months. The wheels cycles of the year were then a celebration by all of the World. From the Egyptians to the Aztecs, Indians, Asians and so on. The Equinoxes and the Solstices are then known as the oldest holidays to have ever existed to all. (I must note and I don’t mean to harp on some BUT how can the Christians tell Witches and other nature based faiths they are evil for celebrating the oldest traditions. The truth is every Easter and Christmas were truly based on the old religions or traditions based on geographical locations.The Nativity theme to some Pagans and the three main characters were to be interpreted as Mother Nature, Father Time, and the Baby Sun God Easter is from the Sun God Eastre whom was celebrated at that time. The Death of the one Sun God to the rebirth of the brother twin Sun God. They just changed it to the Son of God. Same thing at Christmas. We celebrate the birth of the promised light for Winter Solstice. The promise Sun child whom shines later and later from that day forward to bring forth a nice Spring and Summer. The Christians then turned it to the birth of the Son of God while the entire planet had always celebrated the birth of the promise of the Sun God. They even took the way much of the days were celebrated in order to get the folk to follow them. Once they felt they had enough people celebrating with them they then in 431 A.D. changed it completely to the Son of God and banished for the most part the Goddess Mary. The ones they didn’t convert well I guess they thought it more important to have Witch Hunts and the Spanish Inquisition . But that's another story. Yes the Pagans picked on Christian's in the early days and even fed them to the lions, but they did not continue on such murderous trends numbering in thousands upon thousands. I also don't believe they were as selective in their the plot to kill focusing on woman as the Christians did. So if you are not Pagan and you happen to stumble on this site and page I hope you take with you that we just love nature and see our religion as important as you do yours and we celebrate some of the oldest traditions and that tolerance of each others faith is of great importance to our very own internal peace and spirituality. Remembering all the while freedom of Religion means any religion. And trust me you need not save any more souls as that was already tried once for a course of over 300 years and it killed more than many would care to acknowledge. So Blessed Be.

Sabbat one of the eight seasonal festivals equally spaced during the year, celebrated by Solitaries and or a coven of Witches. The Sabbats are a way to celebrate seasonal cycles.

Esbat There are about 13 full moons each year. These are called the Esbats. Some Covens and Solitaries have things they wish to do at this time. Some also meet during the new moon. The Enchantress.

Samhain (October 31st) 1 of the 2 greater Sabbats

Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest.This night of magick is Belonging to neither past nor present. The dark winter half of the year. The Celts New Years Eve . No matter what one calls Samhain, All Hallows. All Hallow's Eve. Hallow E'en. Halloween. It is one of the most magical night of the year. It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit nights" each year, the other being Beltane (The other greater Sabbat). It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space as we may call it are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. This does not end on November 1'st but continues till almost the time of Yule. The old dying and new still unborn. This being a good time to communicate with past loved ones (Though always good to communicate our love to them). It is believed that the Spirits of deceased loved ones also liked to sit by the warmth Samhain fire. It was believed that you had to have the crops completely harvested at this time or the nocturnal hobgoblin would destroy or contaminate whatever remained unreaped. Originally the F`eila na Marbh "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead".Since this was a night for chaos & magic the Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting human folk. So many made protective spirits by hollowing out turnips and carving( Carving Pumpkins is much easier) . Samhain on one hand is the the time of propitiation, communion with the dead and a time for divination, yet on the other hand a time for great feasting of food and drink. Some other tradition would include this being a time for a girl to find her future husband. She would wash her night dress three times and hang it up at the kitchen fire to dry at midnight leaving the door open and what ever gentleman was drawn in to turn it over would be her husband. Some used roasted nuts and by the way they jumped it told of their future husband. Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year. (Note: Witches do not necessarily ‘call back’ the dead but do believe that if the dead themselves wish they can return at Sabbat. Symbolism of Samhain: Third Harvest, Rebirth through Death. the Dark Mysteries and it's power so equally important as the light mysteries, Activities of Samhain: Gathering Gourds, Making Cider from Apples, Black Cats, Making Jack-O-Lanterns Placing Besoms over door.

Herbs of Samhain: Mandrake, Chrysanthemum, Thistle, Catnip, Sage, Deadly Nightshade.

Foods of Samhain: Beets, Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Pumpkin dishes, Gingerbread, Beef, Pork, Poultry.

Incense of Samhain: Heliotrope, Nutmeg, Musk Oil

Yule (December 21st)

Symbolism of Yule: Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for Future .

Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning the Sun stays up a little longer each day here after. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King of the waxing year, slain his twin brother the Holly King of the waning year. The Oak King known as a Sun King, Giver of Life that warms the frozen Earth re-fertilizes the leprous white lady, white haired one, life in death , Queen of the cold darkness.She gives birth to the child of Promise hence the Sun God. Bonfires were lit in the fields, to celebrate.In some parts the children brought sprigs of holly bunches and knocked on doors and recited jingles.

The ceremonial Yule log was very important to tradition . It would be gathered from the residents own land or can be given as a gift usually not purchased. It would be decorated with greens and sprinkled with cider and possibly ale. It was placed in fireplace to be burnt. After a select number of days it was then ashed out. It is important to keep a piece of the yule log for the next year.

Children were went from house to house with gifts. Keeping Holly and Ivy and Mistletoe about was to also invite Nature Sprites to join the festivities. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as an invitation for good fortune. If one wanted to make a garland around the home it may have been made with cloves, rosebuds, and bows. Deities of Yule Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. This would include Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid a Goddess of the Smiths and fire tending. The fire pierces through the darkness. While Dagda’s cauldron it is said that it contains the power to make sure that nature will take care of all the children.

Activities of Yule: Gather and decorate Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, place holly, mistletoe inside and outside, make gold pillar candles, put together baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias .

Herbs of Yule: Evergreen,Bayberry, Frankincense, Holly, Mistletoe, Oak, Pine, Sage, Ash.

Some Foods of Yule: Caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork , spiced cider, wassail, roasted apples, hibiscus or ginger tea.

Incense of Yule: Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh.

Spell workings of Yule: Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Deities of Yule: Gods- , Ra, Odin the Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, Mabon. Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana .

Imbolg (February 2nd)

Imbolg, (pronounced "i molg" or ’immol’g’"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, Feast of Lights. “The Quickening of the Year” both for body and Earth. The first foetal stirrings of Spring in Mother Earth’s Womb. Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing . It marks the center point of the dark half of the year.It is the time when people would give a blessing of the seeds and also the time for consecration of agricultural tools . People place candles in the windows or lanterns to honor the Sun’s rebirth.

The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Corn dollies are created from rush or straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding, called (Brigid’s Bed) and lay side by side with a phallic club. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is place by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Brighid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Imbolgc Brigantia (Caledonni), Imbolic (Celtic).

The Festival of Lights, or the Feast of the Virgin. All Virgin and Maiden Goddesses are honored at this time.

Deities of Imbolc: All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.

The Symbolism of Imbolg is Growth and Renewal,Purity, the Reunion of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, and ridding of the old and making way for the new. Symbols used for Imbolg would include Bridgid’s bed, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Bridgid's Crosses, Phallic Wands (acorn tipped), and Ploughs.

Herbs of Imbolg: Angelica, Basil, Blackberry, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers.

Incense Bay, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh.

Foods Seeds such as Pumpkin or Sunflower, Poppy seed Cakes, muffins, and breads, all dairy products, Spiced foods such as Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas.

Activities Candle Lighting, Stone Gatherings, walks , looking Signs of Spring, Making of Brigid’s bed and , Making Phallic Wands, Decorating Ploughs, Feasting, and Bon Fires .

Ostara, Festival of the trees,Spring Equinox, March 20'th - the 23'rd

Depending on Actual Spring Equinox day.

The Light and the Dark are in balance, but the light is what would be the master, mastering the darkness. Vernal Equinox . This marks halfway the journey from Candlemas to Beltane. Mother Goddess welcomes the young Sun God's embrace and she conceives a child.

This is one of the lesser Sabbats.

Activities: Egg decorating, Planting an herb garden, collecting wildflowers, nice long walks to take in the new seasons fresh air after a long winter, being creative with the herb planting.

Herbs: Daffodil, Easter Lily CAUTION Deadly to animals in home if they eat them, Honeysuckle, Iris, Jasmine,Olive, Peony, Tansy, Violet.

Incense: This is some of my FAVORITE incense, Rose Petals, Peony, Violet Leaves, Honeysuckle Oil, and Jasmine Oil.

Foods: Hot Cross Buns, Leafy Greens, Edible Flowers, Honey Cakes, Carnation Cupcakes, Dandelion Wine.

Beltane (May Eve or Bealtaine) April 30'th 2'nd Greater Sabbat

Beltane To start this is a Sabbat that if at all possible if you have access to some wooded areas or at least some trees try to make every effort to go celebrate this Sabbat there. This is the greatest celebration. This is the Sabbat that celebrates the wedding of the God and Goddess. In Celtic tradition this is one of the two greatest festivals. The other greatest Sabbat is Samhain. To Celtic tradition the year really only consisted of two seasons. Not four as we go by in the calendar of our day. In Celtic Bealtaine is May. Also meaning Bel Fire as the original meaning. The main two themes of Beltane or known as May Eve is fertility and fire. In Ireland the Bel Fires were not lit until the The High King lit the first fire on Tara Hill.

During the festivals one tradition was to jump over the fire. The younger people jumped over the fire in order to bring them a mate or spouseTtravelers may jump the fire in order to bring forth a safe journey. Pregnant woman jumped over it to help with easier delivery of the baby.

For the Agricultural use of Bealtaine they had the cattle cross over the cooled ashes to ensure the yield good milk. The ashes of the fire embers once cooled were also spread over the fields to ensure good crops .

The May Pole was was a highlight of the festival. It was decorated with flowers and colored ribbon and that alone was in itself a ritual. Faeries are known to be quite active during Bealtaine also Beltane. The people danced around the May Pole. Hunted for nuts in the woods. Many marriages the Green Wood marriages. People stayed up all night to watch the may Sun rise. Traditionally all the people would go and gather up branches and spring flowers and bring them back home to decorate up their homes for May Morning.Another tradition still alive in Ireland today is to go and Skim the well of a prospering neighbor. This was believed that they themselves will become prosperous.

I would like it to be known that even though this is also a the marriage of the Sun God and Goddess and it is traditionally acted out in a sexual manner it is still done privately. If you are a under 18 and reading this please note it is always best to not have sex till you are in a committed relationship and this is not a Sabbat to make an excuse to have sex and I am not advocating it in any way.

During the Bealtaine celebrations in traditional circles some still act out this tradition. The love making union between the adults are still done in private and not with the group. Once this part of the tradition has been acted out is when the rest of the group or coven joins back into the circle or square to finish the rest of the ritual and then feast. I say square because only some gather into a circle for a ritual. There is some who prefer a square such as some Druid Groves. They usually call upon the Kindred's. I have found I enjoy the square gathering and calling to the Kindred's as much as a circle.

Incense: Frankincense, rose Petals, Sandalwood, Bay, Heliotrope oil.

Foods: Dairy, Ice Cream, honey Wine or Mead, Marigold Custard.

Activities: Walks in Nature making wedding gifts for the God and Goddess such as strings of beads , or flower garlands, and potpourri bags. You cold make a flower basket and leave it at a neighbors door.

Herbs: Almond, Angelica, Ash Tree, Ivy, Lilac, Marigold, Primrose, Rose, Sattyrion Root, Yellow cowslip.

Midsummer (June 22’nd)

This is considered one of the lesser Sabbats. This is the time of the Sun God. he is at his highest and brightest and his day at his longest. In Folklore this is the most sacred night to Faerie Folk . Witches great him at the peak of his annual cycle. We ask him out to flight the power of the great darkness and to bring to us the gift " fertility of the land". This is when the Oak King God of the waxing year falls to his twin brother the Holly King God of the waning year. The Oak King is at his peak but must fall to the Holly King so he can slowly progress back into the darkness.

The Goddess never undergoes a death and rebirth. She always remains the same except for her faces.

Midsummer is both a fire and water festival. Of course the fire is the God and the water is to represent the Goddess.

St. Patrick shifted the bonfire night. See Bealtaine is Irish for the May. So St. Patrick may have shifted the bonfire night to St. John’s Eve but he wasn’t able to shift the name since it was specific in meaning. He did this shift in order to play down the Pagan celebration. St. Johns Eve was on June 23’rd and in some places the 28’th of June. Hence some woman picked St-John's Wort and chanted to see if the coming year would make her a bride. St. John himself was often seen as a Pagan figure. He was after all known as '"The Oak King". Many statues showed him as a horned figure. Christian iconographers can't explain away the image "Horns of Light". What is great about it is that some Pagans call him Pan the Baptist. Just as the Pagan mid-winter celebration of Yule December 21'st was adopted by Christians as Christmas was(December 25th), they did the same with the Pagan mid-summer celebration was adopted by them as the feast of John the Baptist (June 24th). There is so many things that the Christians just don't know or want to know about their history. For those who do they will not truly admit facts they know. I won't say all of them because there always is the honest ones. This is obviously not the place to teach it but some things need to be mentioned.

Activities: Light Bon Fires and jump them for good luck and to ward off the evil spirits. Decorate over the door way with flowers such as white lily, fennel seeds, hemp, Ivy, St-John's Wort. Blue Printing Leaves and Make sure to Leave Food out for the Faeries.

Incense: Pine, Rose , St-Johns Wort, Chamomile.

Foods: Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Ice Cream, Mead, Ale, Summer Fruits, Hot spiced Foods, in colors of red and yellow.

Herbs: Acorn, Larkspur, St-Johns Wort, Carnation, Chamomile, Daisy, Fennel, Elder, Lavender, Lily, Oak, Pine, Rose.

Lammas,Lughnasadh July 31'st or August 1'st

Festival of Bread. In Irish Gaelic, the feast was referred to as Lugnasadh. "Lughnasadh means the commemoration of Lugh" the Irish Sun God Lugh. Lugh was a fire and light god of the Baal. Even though we are celebrating the death of Lugh, the God of light though he doesn't really die mythically until that of the autumn equinox.

In Irish legend Lugh was a leader of Tuatha De' Dannan ( "the people of the Goddess Dana")

Lughnasadh is the autumn parallel to that of Beltane. Such as Bealtaine is 'Greenwood marriages, then Lughnasadh was that of the 'Teltown marriages'. These marriages were considered trial marriages and the couples would stay together one year and one day. If the couple returned to the same place of the union and walked away from each other to the North and the South the marriage could then be dissolved. Teltown now known as Tailteann is a a Village in the County Meath.

Activities: Decorate alter with husks of barley, wheat, oats, bread and fruit. Making bread into the shapes of the Sun. Perform rituals of hope and protection., weave corn dollies, visit fields and orchards.

Herbs: Acacia flowers, any Grains, Sunflower, Oak leaves, Fenugreek, Heather, Frankincense, aloe, and cornstalks.

Incense: Frankincense, Heather, Fenugreek, Black Orchid Oil.

Foods: Barley Cakes, Pears, Rice, Berry dishes, Grapes, Elderberry Wine, Wheat, Breads, Ale, Meadowsweet Tea.

Mabon or also known as Harvest Home September 21'st or 22'nd

(Mabon is The Welsh God the Sun Child), Autumnal Equinox, Fall Sabbat, Second Festival of Harvest. .

September 20'th through the 23'rd depending on actual day of the Fall Solstice. Whatever day is the Solstice is the day of the Sabbat. Though it used to be a fixed holiday on the calendar of September 25'th. We like to actually celebrate it on the actual Solstice. Personally one of my favorites Sabbats as it usually falls on my birthday. I also love the size of the moon (Goddess) at this time she is so big and orange as she rises.

The Autumnal Equinox marks the commencement of Thanksgiving and joy as the second harvest. This marks the completion of the harvest with thanks for the abundance. To now emphasize on future return of the abundance.

The theme for the Autumn Equinox is that of rest after laboring. The Sun will now be entering the Zodiac sign of Libra, meaning balance.

The harvest has now been gathered as far as the fruits and grains. The Sun God is now mellow but he still remains with us. The Goddess at this time represents Initiation. Mythically, this the day of the year when the God of light is defeated by his twin and alter ego, the God of darkness.

Just an added note that the Celts recognized their days from sundown to sundown.

It is believed that this is the only day that Llew(Light) can be conquered because he is vulnerable based on where he is astrologically. He is betrayed by the Virgo (Virgin) and is then transformed into the sign Scorpio.

Please note if you are not a Pagan or Witch who celebrates these Sabbats Greater or Lesser that, that of sacrifice is only symbolically. Not actual human sacrifice as the Church would try to say.

Activities: Make friends with your shadow self, sit quietly, make horns of plenty and rattles, take meditative walks, gather seed pods and dried plants or flowers, and knit or quilt.

Herbs: Fern, Myrrh, oak Leaves, Passionflower, Aspen, Hazel, Rose,Sage, Sweet grass, Solomon's Seal, Thistle.

Incense: Benzoin, Myrrh, Honeysuckle oil, Pine oil, Rose petals and Oil, Passionflower.

Foods: Underground vegetables, Corn, Bread, Nuts, Cider, Apples, Corn Bread, Bake Squash, Beans.

Sources

The Witches Bible, The Complete Book of Witchcraft, A Witches Guide , The Witches Cookbook, and from my own personal papers on the subject of Witchcraft

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Mainly Irish Gods and Goddesses