Sabbats & Esbats

Sabbats

Samhain (October 31)


The end of the Celtic Year, and also the point during the year when the veil between the physical world and the spirit world is at its thinnest. At this time of year people revel in the old year and the beginning of the new year. They also will reflect on those relatives and loved ones who have passed on. Commonly a place is set at the table for deceased relatives. Christianity renamed this festival All Hallows Eve (Halloween) and believed that the spirits that roamed the land were evil, not understanding the Celtic viewpoint. Due to the increased spirit activity at this time of year many seers and mediums will attempt to contact the deceased on this day. The name "Samhain" translates roughly into English as "end of summer". To many of us it may seem strange that this time was considered to be the new year, however it makes sense as this time of year is the end of one agricultural year, and the start of a new one.

Yule (December 21-22)


Yule is the beginning over winter officially, livestock and people would be huddled inside from the cold. Some other Pagan faiths believe that the God is reborn. The Yule log (not the chocolate version) was specially prepared for the Yule feast and was believed to offer protection from winter danger to the home for the winter. It was burnt on the fire and its ashes being scattered over the fields was thought to bring fertility. At the winter solstice the sun is at his lowest point in the sky

Imbolc (February 1)


Sacred to the Celts as a festival for Brigid their Goddess, (Goddess of Fire and Inspiration.) This time of year was mid winter, and commonly balefires were lit to warm the earth to hasten their thawing when spring came. Also the sun is beginning to creep out of the darkness of winter, giving hope again that the sun will return.

Oester (March 21)


As springs begins it is a time of celebrating new life and new growths. The first flowers and return of bright colours to the land result in feasting and socialising, especially amongst the Celts. Also it is a time of thankfullness for surviving the winter, which was always a time of hardship for ancient pagans. Day and night are of equal length and the first tilling and sowing of the earth often begin at this time.

Beltane (May 1)


Second only to Samhain, Beltane is one of the most important festivals of the year. Beltane is the great Fertility rite of life, starting at dusk on the 30th and continuing until the dawn of the 1st. However today it is commonly all held on May 1st itself. The Maypole celebration returns to us again. The interwoven,spiralling dance of life around the symbol of the God ( the pole). Many people would be handfasted on this day, and a child concieved on Beltane was believed to be destined for greatness.

Litha (June 21)


The longest day of the year, and the celebration of light over darkness again. Springs new life is now even more obvious as everything is in full bloom and growing rapidly. At this point of the year we can see the fruits and gifts of the Earth that will be harvested at Lughnasad.

Lughnasad (August 1)


The beginning of the harvest and celebrations for a the bounty that nature has provided. Also, Lugh is the name of a Pagan God and this holiday is named for him as a thanksgiving for the crop harvest in early preparation for winter.End of summer.

Mabon (September 21)


It is the second of the harvest festivals. The final fruits of the vine, and of the ground are brought in now before the frost. This holiday is one of thanksgiving. The air begins to turn colder as the leaves begin to fall from the trees.

Amongst the Celtic people only the festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasad are celebrated. The other four festivals, Yule, Oester, Litha and Mabon were celebrated in addition to the Celtic festivals by other Pagan nations. Traditional Witches do not celebrate the Sabbats as points of the God/Goddess story as Wiccans and other Pagans do, but focus on the events of the changing of the seasons itself, from the budding new shoots of spring, through the cold frosty ground of mid winter. The Sabbats themselves are in some cases not even celebrated by some Traditional Witches as the Sabbats comes second to the Esbats in the mind of Traditional Witches.

Southern Hemisphere

For those Witches in the southern hemisphere I suggest flipping the sabbats so that you get the below dates with the sabbats. This is simply because the seasons in the southern hemisphere are the opposite to what we in the northern hemisphere would be experiencing on the same date. As Traditional Witches celebrate the seasons changes rather than any specific mythological event keeping the names is perfectly fine. 

Samhain   - May 1st
Yule      - June 21st
Imbolc    - August 1st
Oester    - September 21st
Beltane   - October 1st
Litha     - December 21-22
Lughnasad - February 1st
Mabon     - March 21st

(Thanks to N.Reeves for bringing this to my attention)

Esbats

The Esbat is the night of a Full Moon, a time of great importance to all Witches, and more so to Traditional Witches as they put more emphasis on the Esbats than they do on the Sabbats. The night of a full moon and the nights preceding it and following it, but especially so on the full moon night itself are stronger in power than at any other time during the month. The full silver light of the moon shines down on the earth and bathes it in its strength and wisdom.

It is the Esbats that Traditional Witches celebrate and most of all, and commonly they will do more magic on this one night than at any other time during the preceding weeks. How a Witch celebrates this event is dealt with in different ways by different people. Some Traditional Witches will complete elaborate Full Moon/Esbat rituals to celebrate the event, whereas others will simply sit quietly meditating in front of a candle asking the moon for its wisdom, seeking its help to better themselves, and purge them of their bad habits. Others with families and especially young children will make it a special evening in other ways with fun games, outings under the light of the moon, (if the weather permits.) Young couples may do something private and special together, whether it be a romantic dinner, or something more intimate.

Moon Names
These are merely names I have found for the various full moons,and are Celtic in origin. 

January   - Storm Moon
February  - Chaste Moon
March     - Seed Moon
April     - Hare Moon
May       - Dyad Moon
June      - Mead Moon
July      - Wort Moon
August    - Barley Moon
September - Blood Moon
October   - Snow Moon
November  - Oak Moon
December  - Wolf Moon

Types of Moons

New Moon/Dark Moon
This is the period when there is no visible moon in the sky. This moon is also commonly called the Dark Moon.

Full Moon
This is the night when the entire moon is completely visible in the sky. Although on the immediate preceding and following nights around the full moon, the moon may appear to be completely full, but there is only the one night when the moon is truly "Full".

Waxing Moon
This is the period when the moon grows from the New Moon to the Full Moon.

Waning Moon
This is the period when the moon shrinks from the Full Moon to the New Moon.

First Quarter
This is the halfway point between the New Moon and the Full Moon when it is waxing.

Last Quarter
This is the halfway point between the Full Moon and the New Moon when it is waning.

Blue Moon
This is the second of two Full Moons in one calendar month. A Blue Moon is uncommon, hence the saying. "Once in a blue moon."

Black Moon
This is the second of two New Moons in one calendar month. Like the Blue Moon, this is also an uncommon occurance.