Sabbats

The Wheel of the Year follows the cycle of nature and the life/death/rebirth of all things, and the God and Goddess. In Midwinter the Goddess gives birth to a son who grows into a young man by the Spring. In the Spring the Goddess appears to the God in her Maiden form, falls pregnant to him and becomes the Mother of Life in Summer and Autumn. Meanwhile the God ages, slowly dieing, becoming the Lord of Death, which symbolises Winter. In the darkest time when the days are at their shortest, the Goddess gives birth to a son who she again takes as a lover in the Spring which continues the cycle of Life.
The Sabbats are divided into two groups....the Greater Sabbats and the Lesser Sabbats. The Greater Sabbats represent high energy in that season and the Lesser Sabbats are equinoxes and solstices. The Sabbats celebrate the changeing of the seasons.

Samhain(Halloween)

Pronounced Sow-een, Sow-in or Sav-ain, this is the Wiccan New Year and is the main Sabbat of the year. On this holiday the veil between this world and the next wanes thin....allowing contact with the spirit world. It is also a time when you remember the dead. This is the third and final harvest holiday (the biggest harvest holiday), though you shouldn't harvest anything on this night.

Imbolc (Candlemas)

Pronounced em-bowl/g) This is the first day of the Wiccan Spring, it is the Festival Of Light. Light candles to encourage the return of the Sun and the awakening of the Earth. This holiday is when we honour the Goddess and celebrate the birth of the God. The Earth is birthing new life and growing too.

Beltaine

Pronounced beel-teen or Beel-tawn-uh) This is considered the second most holy day. This is the festival of rebirth, the bale fire holiday that brings blessings to our homes. The Lord and the Lady consumate their relationship on this day, so alot of people choose this day as their wedding day. This holiday is a romantic holiday, Spring is in the air and all the world is rejoicing........the very dull in comparison Valentine's Day is the only comparison I can think of in a similar vein. Traditionally dancing around the maypole (a phallic symbol) by virgins occurs on this day.

Lammas (Lughnasadh)

Pronounced Lam-mahs is a holiday in which we celebrate the Celtic Sun God Lugh. This is the first of three harvest holidays. On this day we give thanks for the abundance of the Earth. This is mainly a grain harvest so we bake loaves, it's comparison is the American Thanksgiving.

Yule

Yule is the Winter Solstice, the rebirth of the God. We light candles to encourage his birth. He returns to bring his light and warmth to the Earth. We leave candles or lights burning for the duration of this night. This is where the Oak King fights and wins over the Holly King representing the dark of the year dying and the light of the year being reborn. The comparitive Christmas Tree is seen here as the Yule Tree and the ornaments represent this holiday, suns, etc. Don't forget that to hang the other important ornaments __your wishes for the coming year (wreaths can also be used this way- they represent the circle of the year.) The pine represents the Goddess who doesn't die through Winter and a piece of the tree is kept (Yule Log) for next year's fire.

Ostara

Pronounced Oh-Star-ah this is the Spring Equinox. Ostara is where the word and holiday of Easter comes from. This is when the Lady returns and awakens the fertility of the land....hence eggs etc....which is why some people call this day Lady Day. Some Wiccans use this day to try and wipe their Karmic slate by trying writing down all the negative things they have done all year and a week before this holiday go down the list trying to atone for their acts etc once this is done on this night you can burn the list wiping...or at least rebalancing your Karmic slate.

Litha

This is the Summer Solstice when the God reaches his glorious peak.....his power and warmth at their maximum strength. The Oak King and the Holly king return to fight again, but this time the Holly King wins the fight and will reign until Yule when they will fight again. All plants have reached their magickal peak.....harvesting of these plants/herbs will be done on this day......making of protective solar amulets and the burning of the nine traditional woods is also done on this day.

Mabon

This is the Autumn Equinox......the name Mabon comes from the Welsh God of Arthurian Legend who symbolised male fertility. On this day we concentrate on cutting unwanted things out of our lives and of honouring the female dead. Also on this day you can make new wands/staves out of Willow and offer harvest items and Autumn leaves on your altar....as this is the second harvest holiday.

Southern Hemisphere

Greater Sabbats:

Samhain(Halloween)......May 1st.

Imbolc(Candlemas)......August 1st.

Beltane(May Day)......October 31st.

Lammas(Lughnasadh)......February 2nd.

Lesser Sabbats:

Yule(Midwinter Solstice)......June 21st to 23rd.

Ostara(Spring Equinox)......September 21st to 23rd.

Litha(Midsummer Solstice)......December 21st to 23rd.

Mabon(Autumn Equinox)......March 21st to 23rd.

Northern Hemisphere

Greater Sabbats:

Samhain(Halloween)......October 31st.

Imbolc(Candlemas)......February 2nd.

Beltane(May Day)......May 1st.

Lammas(Lughnasadh)......August 1st.

Lesser Sabbats:

Yule(Midwinter Solstice)......December 21st to 23rd.

Ostara(Spring Equinox)......March 21st to 23rd.

Litha (Midsummer Solstice)......June 21st to 23rd.

Mabon(Autumn Equinox)......September 21st to 23rd.