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Witch Holidays

Celebrating the Rebirth of the sun. This holiday is also known as winter solstice. A fire and a Yule log are present. A piece of the old yule log is kept for the next Yule to light the new log....this is also used to protect the home during the year. People also say this starts the wheel of the year, with the idea that the years turns continuous with spokes making the seasonal holidays and occasions.

IMBOLIC: February 2

Also known as Candlemas, this marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. It also marks the recovery of the Goddess after giving birth to the God during Yule. So it is tradition, after sunset, to light every lamp or candle in the house to honor the Sun's rebirth.

VERNAL EQUINOX or Ostara or Spring: March 21

The first true day of spring. Days are longer and nights are shorter. Life is renewed and planting of flowers and trees is all around. This Sabbat celebrates the Goddess, once again in her maiden aspect. This Sabbat is a time for fertility rituals, and the cutting of spring's first blossoms.

BELTANE: April 30

This holiday celebrate the merging of the Goddess and God and the young God as he moves into manhood. Her fertility is celebrated as well. She is now in her Mother aspect, and it is from Her womb that all life will spring. Time for maypoles and flowers...this is also a good time for hand fasting (witch marriage) ceremonies. This holiday is usually celebrated in a forest or around a lot of trees.

MIDSUMMER: June 21

Also known as summer solstice. This Sabbat celebrates the Goddess. She is now heavy with child, as is nature heavy with the bounty of the coming harvest. This is considered to be a time when energies abound, and is a good time for magic and purification rites. This is when the powers of nature are at their highest point. This is also the longest day of the year.

LUGHNASADH: August 1

Time for the first harvest of the year. The God begins to lose his strength as the days grow shorter. Nothing in nature remains constant and we are reminded of this on this holiday. As it is a harvest, the God figures more prominently here than the Goddess, though she, too, is revered and thanked for bringing the fruits of harvest.

AUTUMN EQUINOX (or Mabon): September 21

The Goddess is entering into cronehood, and the dark of the year is beginning, so this is a time often associated with mysterious lore and wisdom. Harvest is now completed. and the days and nights are equal once again. The God prepares to travel toward renewal and rebirth from the Goddess. Nature prepares for winter.

SAMHAIN (or Halloween): October 31

This is when we bid farewell to the God and he prepares to be reborn of the Goddess at Yule. At this time, the spirits = may roam the Earth along with the living, and the Goddess is in her crone aspect. Time to reflect on the past year and the coming of the greatest change in life---death. We remember our ancestors and loved ones on this day. This is also a prefect time to do spells to rid ones self of bad habits. This also marks the end of the wheel of the year.

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