The Sabbats

~ The Sabbats ~ ~ Book of Shadows ~
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The Sabbats are the pagan holidays. They are celebrations of the changing seasons, and the harvests. Below you will find a list of the eight Sabbats, their most common date, their color correspondences, and the meaning behind the celebration.
Sabbat	Date	Colors	Information
Samhain	Oct 31	Black & Orange	Samhain is the Wiccan farewell to the God. He has gone to prepare for His rebirth. Samhain is a time of reflection, looking back over the last year, and coming to terms with the one part of life we have no power over, death. We believe that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities are thin. This is a time to remember all those who have gone before.
Yule	Dec 21	Red White Green	Celebrated on the Winter Solstice, Yule is the day the Goddess gives birth to a son, the God. Yule is the time of greatest darkness and is the shortest day of the year. Wiccans sometimes celebrate just before dawn, then watch the Sun rise as a fitting finale to their ritual. Since the God is also the Sun, this marks the point of the year when the Sun is reborn. We often light fires or candles to welcome the Sun's returning light and to help cast our energy to the God to facilitate His growth. The Goddess, after the winter of Her labor, rest after Her delivery. This is also a time for Spiritual Rebirth.
Imbolc or Candlemas	Feb 2	White Purple	Imbolc marks the recovery of the Goddess, after giviing birth to the God, And Her awakening to view the lengthening periods of light caused by the Gods increasing power. The new warmth fertilizes the Earth, causing seeds to sprout and the earliest beginnings of spring occur. The warmth also warms the Goddess and makes her more receptive to the God, as well as Her devoted followers.
Ostara	Mar 21	Green Yellow Pink	The Goddess blankets the Earth with ferility, bursting forth from Her sleep, as the God stretches and grows to maturity. He walks the greening fields and delights in the abundance of nature.On Ostara the hours of day and night are equal. Light is overtaking the darkness; the Goddess and God impel the wild creatures of the Earth to reproduce.
Beltane	Apr 30	Red White	Beltane celebrates the emergence of the young God into manhood. He desires the Goddess and His desire is mirrored in all of nature. They fall in love, lie in the fields, and unite. The Goddess becomes pregnant by the gods seed. The Wiccans celebrate the symbol of Her fertility in ritual.
Midsummer	June 21	Greens	At Midsummer the powers of nature reach thier hightest point. Bonfires are leapt to encourage fertility, purification, health, and love. The fire representing the Sun, on this, the longest day of the year. Midsummer is a powerful time for ritual magick of all kinds, but particularly that of nature.
Lammas or Lugnassahd	Aug 1	Greens Yellows	Lammas is the time of the first harvest. Plants wither and drop their bounty for our use and to ensure future crops. The God too withers and loses strength, as the Sun rises farther south and the nights grow longer. The Goddess watches in sorrow and joy as She realizes that the God is dying, and yet lives on inside Her as Her child. On this Sabbat a great feast is held as an act of attunement with nature.
Mabon	Sep 21	Orange Maroon	Mabon is held on the Autumn Equinox and marks the end of harvest. Nature draws back its bounty, readying for winter and a time of rest. The God prepares to leave His physical body and begin the great adventure into the unseen, toward renewal and rebirth. The Goddess nods in the weakening Sun. She feels the presence of the God in Her womb even as His presence wanes to Her eyes.
Contents contributed by Katrina Rayne Storm, currently the owner of Autumn Meadow Coven, a study group for pagans on the east coast of the US.
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