The Wheel of the Year’s 8 Sabbats

The Wheel of the Year is a calendar marking a collection of seasonal festivals known as Sabbats and observed by modern Pagans and Wiccans. Notably, the Wheel of the Year’s 8 Sabbats are derived by combining the four solar events, Winter and Summer Solstices and Spring and Autumnal Equinoxes (quarter days) with their midpoints (cross quarter days). While the solstices and equinoxes mark nature’s 4 major seasons, their midpoints mark 4 transitional seasons between them. Moreover, the midpoint festivals are derived from main ancient Celtic festivals.

Since, Paganisn and Wicca are Earth based religions, the Wheel of the Year’s 8 Sabbats are sacred dates set aside to honor and give gratitude for Mother Earth’s consistent support and sustenance. While some Sabbat practices are meant to appease the Gods/Goddesses for abundant future harvests, others are for connecting with and honoring the earthly seasons.

Consequently, customary Sabbat practices include such activities as altars of worship, great feasts, and fire ceremonies. And may also include festival specific activities derived from both Germanic and Celtic folk traditions. Examples of these are Ostara’s hunting colorful dyed eggs and Samhain’s carving pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns.

Surprisingly, it’s no coincidence that a few Pagan Sabbats coincide on or near a Christian holiday. For in order to placate new Pagan converts, the early Christian Church adopted some Pagan festivals i.e., Yule (Christmas), Imbolc (Candlemas), Ostara (Easter), and Samhain (All Saints Day), minus the Pagan Gods/Goddesses, of course.

The Wheel of the Year’s 8 Sabbats

Below, the Wheel of the Year’s 8 Sabbats are listed in their customary order. Since Samhain is the Pagan/Wiccan year end, Yule is the first Sabbat of their year.

Note: The dates of the Sabbats are listed here as they fall in the Northern Hemisphere. However, in the Southern Hemisphere there’s a 6 month date difference due to the Earth’s tilt angle to the Sun differs. And the date of Sabbat’s dates vary slightly from year to year. For the Gregorian calendar has 365 days, but the Earth’s orbit around the Sun is approximately 365.25 days. Consequently, every 4 years a day is added to February (leap year).

• Yule – Winter Solstice – (Christian Christmas)
• Imbolc – (Christian Candlemas)
• Ostara – Spring Equinox -(Christian Easter)
• Beltane – (May Day)
• Litha – Summer Solstice
• Lammas/Lughnasadh
• Mabon – Autumnal Equinox
• Samhain – (Christian All Saints Day)

Yule – Winter Solstice – December 21-22

Yule is a Pagan winter festival celebrated on the Winter Solstice that falls on December 21st or 22nd, depending on the year. Moreover, the Yule festival originated with the Germanic peoples with many observed traditions and typically lasted up to 12 days.

Importantly, this date marks the shortest day of daylight of the year. Therefore, Yule celebrates the date of the return of the light. For each consecutive day following Yule stretches longer until the Summer Solstice.

Although Yule has Norse roots, Celtic mythology comes to play with the Yule addition of the Holly and Oak King. For the Holly King reigns from the Summer Solstice to Yule when he’s defeated by the Oak King who then reigns from Yule to the Summer Solstice.

Some Typical Yule Traditions Include: 

• Burning a Yule log encouraging the Sun to return.
• Decorating homes with evergreen and holly cuttings.
• Kissing under hanging Mistletoe.
• Decorating an evergreen tree.
• Feasting on traditional food and drinks.
• Singing traditional songs. 
• Exchanging Gifts.

Notably, Yule coincides with the Christian Christmas season. For with conversion of the Germanic peoples to Christianity their beloved Yule and many of its traditions were adopted by the early Christian Church.

Imbolc – Feb 1 – 2

Imbolc is a Pagan festival celebrated between February 1-2, the halfway point between Yule (Winter Solstice) and Ostara (Spring Equinox). And as the midpoint between winter and spring, Imbolc symbolizes hope for the coming spring.

Notably, the name Imbolc (“in the belly of the Mother”) refers to seeds of spring stirring within the Earth. Moreover, at Imbolc sheep are giving birth and lactating, thus the connection of “ewe’s milk” to Imbolc.

Furthermore, a large part of Imbolc traditions are activities to honor Brigid, Celtic “Goddess of Fire and Fertility.” Interestingly, Brigid was eventually adopted by the Christian Church as the Patron Saint of Irish Nuns, Newborns, Midwives, Dairy Maids, and Cattle. Another Christian connection to Imbolc is the Christmas feast day Candlemas celebrated on February 2nd. This is the day Jesus was presented to the Temple of Jerusalem. And on this day Christians take their personal candles to their church to be blessed for use the remainder of the year.

Some Typical Imbolc traditions Include:

• Creating a twig and corn husk doll symbolizing Brigid.
• Decorating an altar with Brigid symbols (candles, a Brigid doll, white flowers, bowl of milk).
• Conducting a candle ceremony honoring Brigid.
• Holding a fire ceremony honoring Brigid.
• Reciting prayers to receive Brigid’s blessing.
• Feasting in honor of Brigid.

Ostara – Spring Equinox – March 19-21st

Ostara is a Pagan festival celebrated on the Spring Equinox that falls between March 19-21, depending on the year. Importantly, the Spring Equinox is one of two equinoxes when the day and night are of equal length. Then each subsequent day stretches longer until the Summer Solstice, the longest day.

Notably, Ostara is named for Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring, Fertility, Renewal, and Dawn. As its namesake, Ostara celebrates spring’s arrival with rebirth of the trees, plants, animals, birds, and beneficial insects. After a long cold winter, the first spring flowers are a sight for sore eyes. Moreover, Ostara emphasizes fertility symbols of eggs, chicks, and rabbits for their mass reproducing nature.

Some typical Ostara traditions include:

• Decorating an altar with spring symbols (flowers, bird’s nest, eggs, rabbit figurine).
• Offer a prayer of gratitude to Goddess Eostre for having survived the winter.
• Planting seeds for a summer garden.
• Spring cleaning the home and garden.
• Dying eggs pastel colors and placing them in baskets.
• Holding an egg hunt for children.
• Eating chocolate eggs and bunnies.
• Wearing pastel clothing.

Note that Ostara, predates Christianity and many of its traditions were later adopted by the Christian Church as its Easter holiday.

Beltane – May 1st – aka May Day

Beltane, known as May Day, is a Pagan festival celebrated on May 1st midway between the Ostara (Spring Equinox) and Litha (Summer Solstice). Importantly, Beltane is a transition period from cool spring to the warm summer. And as such, exudes love, sex, and fertility themes. Basically, Beltane honors the mating season for humans and creatures as the third and last fertility festival of the year.

Additionally, mid-spring flowers are an important theme of Beltane, as “April showers do bring May flowers.”

Moreover, Beltane is another time to honor the Sun. For the name Beltane means, “the fires of Bel” referring to the Belenus, the Celtic Fire and Sun God.

Some Typical Beltane Traditions Include:

• Conducting fire ceremonies is honor of Belenus, the Fire and Sun God.
• Decorating an alar with flowers, candles, and fertility symbols.
• Making flower wreaths.
• Wearing flower circlets on the head.
• Creating a Maypole decorated with ribbons and flowers.
• Dancing around a Maypole.
• Feasting on aphrodisiacs (oysters and chocolate).

Litha – Summer Solstice – June 19 – 22

Litha, is a Pagan festival celebrated on the Summer Solstice between June 19-22, depending on the year. Importantly, Litha is the longest day of the year, with each subsequent day shrinking until Yule (Winter Solstice).

Although, known as Midsummer, Litha is actually the first day of Summer. And as such, Litha honors the Sun’s vitality and the abundance of nature i.e., flowers, plants, and creatures, birds, and beneficial insects.

Some Typical Litha Traditions Include:

• Honoring summer flowers, creatures, birds, butterflies, and bees.
• Decorating an alter with flowers, herbs, and beeswax candles.
• Making wreaths of flowers and herbs.
• Singing and dancing around bonfires and leaping over them.
• Playing games outdoors.
• Swimming in lakes and streams.
• Walking in nature.
• Feasting outdoors on summer vegetables and fruits.
• Preserving nature’s bounty by canning vegetables, honey, and jams.

Lammas/Lughnasadh – First Harvest – August 1

Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is a Pagan festival celebrated on August 1st on the midpoint of the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox.

Importantly, Lammas, meaning “loaf mass,” celebrates the first harvest of the year, mainly the grain harvest. For the flour and bread made from grains is the sustenance of life, especially in winter.

Interestingly, Lammas was a Christian holiday adopted by the Pagans. For on Lammas Christians took their first loaves of the year to the Church for blessing. This is surprising because it usually went the other way with Christians adopting a Pagan holiday.

Additionally, Lammas honors Lugh, the Celtic God of craftsmanship, blacksmithing, wheel making, and fighting.

Some Typical Lammas Traditions Include:

• Offering first loaves to the Gods/Goddesses.
• Decorating an altar with shafts of wheat or bread loaf.

Mabon – Autumnal Equinox – 2nd Harvest – September 21-24nd

Mabon is an early autumn Pagan festival that celebrates the Autumnal Equinox and falls between September 21-22, depending on the year. Importantly, the Autumnal Equinox is one of two equinoxes when the days and night are of equal length. Then, following Mabon each consecutive day continues shrinking until the Winter Solstice, the shortest day.

Notably, Mabon celebrates the second harvest of the year falling between Lammas/Lughnasadh, the first harvest and Samhain, the last harvest.

Some Typical Mabon Traditions Include:

• Decorating an altar with acorns, pine cones, and colored leaves.
• Burning fall colored candles (Red, Orange, and Gold).
• Feasting on seasonal vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

Samhain – Last Harvest and Wiccan New Year – October 31 Through November 1

Samhain, also known as All Hallows Eve, Halloween, and the Wiccan New Year is a Pagan festival celebrated beginning sunset October 31st until sunset November 1st (All Saints Day). Importantly, Samhain, pronounced “sow in” falls on the midpoint between Mabon (Autumnal Equinox) and Yule (Winter Solstice) and celebrates the last harvest. For after Samhain Mother Earth sleeps until the first blush of Spring. Thus, recognizing the birth-death-and rebirth cycle is an important theme of Samhain.

Another important theme of Samhain is honoring ancestors. For the veil between worlds is the thinnest of the year on Samhain. Consequently, ancestors beyond the veil can visit the living to bestow blessings and guidance. And since black cats are believed to tread both worlds, they are seen as a guide for ancestors to move between worlds.

Moreover, Morrigan (Goddess of Death, War, and Fate) and the crow are honored during the festival. For in Celtic mythology Morrigan is associated with and shape-shifts into a crow, which are considered a symbol of death and messenger of ancestral guidance.

Some Typical Samhain Traditions Include:

• Carving pumpkins into Jack-0-Lanterns to ward off evil spirits.
• Decorating the home in Halloween themes.
• Decorating an altar with Samhain themed objects (black and orange candles, fall leaves, crow, black cat, skull).
• Creating a Besom (twig broom) to sweep away negative energies.
• Holding a fire ceremony.
• Feasting on fall foods with a plate set for ancestors.
• Dressing up in costumes.
• Giving out candy to Trick-or-Treators.

Final Words for the Wheel of the Year’s 8 Sabbats

The Wheel of the Year’s 8 Sabbats are each a time to celebrate the natural rhythms of nature as one season transitions to the next. By marking these 8 dates, we become more aware of the natural world and thus connect to the Earth more deeply.

Moreover, observing these Sabbats festivals keeps us grounded when our daily lives spin out of control. And, as a bonus, they offer both sacred spiritual and fun family activities.

I hope you will plan to observe some of these festivals. For I know you will enjoy them as I have. And as always thank you for reading.