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I don't know about you, but I just love a reason to party, and in the Wiccan and Pagan traditions, there are plenty of opportunities to do just that. Our celebrations center around the solar holidays, or Sabbats which are in conjunction with the Wheel of theYear. Each holiday or sabbat, tells a story about the god and the different aspects of his evolution during the various times of the year.
The wheel turns clockwise or in the same direction as the earth rotation. One full turn of the wheel equals one year.
The wheel has eight spokes representing the eight holidays (Sabbats), and the spaces between the spokes represent the Esbats and other special days of celebration.
The eight Sabbats represent birth, death and rebirth of the seasons. They are as follows:
Yule/Winter Solstice
Imbolg/Candlemas
Ostara/Spring Equinox
Beltane/May Day
Midsummer/Summer Solstice
Lammas/Lughnassadh
Mabon/Autumn Equinox
Samhain/Halloween - Pagan New Year
"If you decide to set out upon the Old Road you will come to understand something of the simplicity of the traditional festivals for, whoever you are, you will discover the deities within you. They are your magical ancestors, their feasts are part of your own unfolding pattern." (from 'Witch Alone', by Marian Green)
"It is important and beneficial both to ourselves and to our environment to take these eight days off from work, if we are able. If it is impossible, however, to break away from a job or project, there are many other ways to participate in or at least personally recognize our Mother's eight natural events. On a lunch break, you could walk through the Autumn leaves or simply sit in the cool shade of a tree. In the dead of Winter, venture outdoors to feel the snow and ice on your hands. Eight times a year, stop what you are doing for a moment to be respectful and mindful of your planet, your Mother, the Earth. What is she saying to you? Where are the planets, Moon, and stars at this point on the Wheel? How can I nurture and care for the Earth so that she in turn will care for me?....
By observing the Wheel of the Year, we are learning to respond and act toward the Earth, for She is always responding and acting toward us. She gives us clean or foul air to breathe, clear or poisoned water to drink, and rich or poor soil to till. The folly of our human family has been in thinking we could grow old without Her counsel." (from "Celebrate the Earth" by Laurie Cabot) |
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