How do Wiccans celebrate their holidays?

Answer 1

The Wheel of the Year is celebrated as the natural cycle of the seasons, commemorated by eight festivals, spaced at approximately even intervals through the year.

In some aspects of Neopaganism (particularly Wicca), natural processes are seen as cyclical; the passing of time is a cycle, represented by a circle or wheel. The course of birth, life, decline, and death seen in human lives is echoed in the seasons. Wiccans also see this cycle as echoing the life, death and rebirth of their God.

A calendar of eight festivals falling on the solstices, the equinoxes and four other intermediate dates is observed by many branches of neopaganism. The solstices and equinoxes are widely known as Quarter days; the four dates falling between them are the Cross-quarter days or "fire festivals".

In Wicca the eight festivals are called Sabbats and are distinct from Esbats, which are Wiccan festivals falling at full or new moon. Some modern Druids follow a similar eightfold wheel, but do not refer to the individual festivals as Sabbats. While retaining the Irish names for the fire festivals, they use names derived from the writings of Iolo Morganwg for the solstices and equinoxes. Keltrian druidry uses the same festival names as are common in North American Wicca.

The festivals, with the usual dates of their celebrations, are:

* Midwinter/Yule/Alban Arthan, on the winter solstice
* Imbolc/Oimelc/Brigid's Day, on February 2 and the preceding eve
* Ostara/Lady Day/Alban Eilir, on the spring equinox
* Beltane/Beltaine/May Day on May 1 and the preceding eve
* Midsummer/Litha/Alban Hefin, on the summer solstice
* Lughnasadh/Lammas, on August 1 and the preceding eve
* Mabon/Harvest Home/Alban Elfed, on the autumnal equinox
* Samhain, on November 1 and the preceding eve October 31

While most of these names derive from historical festivals, the names Litha and Mabon, which have become popular in North America were invented in the 1970s.

This calendar originates in the northern hemisphere, and the symbolism of its festivals follows these seasons. In the southern hemisphere it is common to shift the dates of the festivals by six months to preserve the seasonal symbolism (so that for instance an Australian celebrates Samhain on 1 May, while a Canadian is celebrating Beltane).

Wheel of the Year

Wiccans like to celebrate. The Wiccan calendar contains 13 full moons (Esbats) and 8 Sabbats, or days of power, making 21 Wiccan ritual occasions. (Note: The dates listed are for the Northern Hemisphere. See below for the Southern Hemisphere.)

The Esbats are for celebrating the Goddess. The Sabbats mark the sun's yearly cycle and tell the story of The Wheel of the Year. (Clicking on the links will take you to rituals for that Sabbat.)

Our story begins on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, (usually around Dec. 21) also known as Yule. It is on this day that we celebrate the Goddess giving birth to the God, a reminder that with death comes rebirth. It is a joyous celebration of family and friends, of peache and love and positive energy. Wiccans light candles and/or fire (the Yule log) to welcome the Sun's return. It is common for this ritual to be performed just before dawn, ending with the sun's rising. It is tradition to save part of the Yule log for use the next year and to bring luck into your home during the coming year.

Imbolic falls on Feb. 2. During this Sabbat, we celebrate the Goddess's recovery from giving birth and the God's growth as the days begin to get longer. It is the quickening of the year. This is the Festival of Light and Fertilization - sacred to the Irish goddess Brigit - a traditional time for purification, initiation and self-dedication. Also referred to as Imbolg, Imbolc, Candlemas and Brigid.

Ostara, the Spring Equinox (when the day and night are equal, usually around March 21), is also known as The Rites of Spring. This is when the God is flourishing in youth and the Goddess (in her Maiden aspect) blankets the earth in fertility. This is where their courtship begins. Ostra is a solar festival of fire, light and fertility. Eggs are a popular symbol of this holiday. This is a time of beginnings and of actions and for planting spells for future gain. It is also a time to bless seeds that will be planted in the garden. Also referred to as Ostra, Ostre and Eostar.

Beltane (May 1) marks the emergence of the God into manhood. It is the great fertility festival where we celebrate the marriage of the Goddess and the God and the consummation of their relationship. This festival celebrates the transformation of from maiden to mother through the mystery of sexuality. The Goddess's fertility is celebrated, usually with the May Pole and Beltane Eve is the perfect time for the Great Rite. Also spelled Bealteinne, Beltaine, Beltainne.

Litha, the Summer Solstice (around June 21) marks the longest day of the year, when powers in nature reach their highest point. The Earth is awash with the fertility of the pregnant Goddess, and the God is at the height of his power. Fire is lit to mark the longest day. It is a great time for handfastings, workings of empowerment, consummation, culmination and magick. Also referred to as Midsummer.

Lughnasad (Aug. 1) is the festival of the first harvest. The God is losing strength and is dying. The Goddess is sad as she watches him die, yet is happy as she knows that he lives on inside of her as her child. This is a reminder that nothing in the Universe is constant. It is usually marked with the Festival of Bread and a corn king is sacrificed. Also spelled Lughnassad and referred to as Lammas.

Mabon, the Fall Equinox (around Sept. 21) is the completion of the harvest begun at Lughnasad. Day and night are equal. It is at this time that the God prepares to leave his body for rebirth. It is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and give thanks for abundance.

Samhain (Sow-win, Oct. 31), Witches' New Year, marks the death of the God and his the arrival in the Land of Youth, where he opens the gates so the souls can revisit their loved ones. It is said to be the day when the walls between the worlds are to be the thinnest and when contact with one's ancestors can tack place. It is celebrated with the Festival of the Dead. This is a time of reflection on the year and a celebration of our ancestors.

The Southern Hemisphere:

As an earth religion we follow the earth and its cycles, maintained directly by the sun and its positions. We celebrate those cycles, coupled to events like the planting and harvest, by having our Sabbats. These cycles differ in the northern and the southern hemisphere, as when it's winter in places like England or Canada it's summer in New Zealand and Australia.

For our fellow practicing Southern hemisphere located witches and pagans, we have acquired the rough dates for the Sabbats (the dates may vary a little each year as the sun has a slightly different position every time).

Samhain: April 30th
Yule: June 21st
Imbolc: August 2nd
Ostara: September 21 st
Beltane: Octubre 31st
Midsummer: December 21st
Lamas or Lughnassadh: February 2nd
Mabon or Autumnal Equinox: March 21st

- Thanks to LunaSaidar for the Southern info

Answer 2

It depends on the holiday. Most of the time it involves a ritual to honor the forces that make that particular day a holiday (for Midsummer you'd honor the Sun and fertility, for example) and then a feast of seasonal foods. If they're Solitaries, they'd do this by themselves or perhaps with a few friends, if they're Coven they'd have more. Some of the holidays, they'll have what are called Open Circles, which means that anyone who wants to can join the celebration.

Answer 3

Well, the last time I went to one of their celebrations they started off with a toast with wine and beer. Then they talked a while, told jokes, and after they got more oiled up they started singing and laughing a lot about dumb stuff they did in the past. Then the sent the kids to bed and started playing cards and dice in one room, eating gluttonously in another, some got really blitzed and began arguing about how ripe the mistletoe had to be before you could kiss under it, then there were several rooms with mistletoe and people were engaged in all manner of lewd and lascivious acts. After a long time of panting and grunting, drinking and laughing, fighting and laughing, they got dressed and some went home, some slept at the party and went home in the morning.
I could give lots more lewd details but you are probably not interested in that.

Answer 4

They do rituals, invoke spirits, gods, goddesses, praise their gods and goddesses, dance (sometimes), create a sacred circle, and whatever else they feel like doing, I suppose. A lot of Wiccans do their holidays differently. It depends on if you practice in a coven or as a solitary Witch.

Answer 5

confident, why not! somewhat Catholics are probable the closest Christian custom to Wicca (and another Pagan traditions). they might desire to be by using fact a lot of their rituals are based upon Paganism. Thanksgiving isn't a non secular trip; yet rather a social gathering of arising it with the aid of a iciness. as a result, this trip will not be able to be claimed with the aid of any faith as fullyyt their very very own. Pagans and Christians share a lot at iciness Solstice/Christmas. evaluate the commonalities: tree, provides, a God starting to be mortal (Dionysus, Mithra, and others), to be an occasion to people, 12/25 (maximum theologians say Jesus, if actual, replaced into born 6/11), celebrity, virgin beginning, embraced with the aid of the outcasts of society, candles, desire and eating from 'the cup of kindness'. And the message is an identical: Peace (Pax Deorum - peace of the gods), brotherhood/sisterhood, be comfortable and type to a minimum of one yet another. back those features are actually not unique to anybody, specific faith (fortuitously).

Answer 6

By celebrating the seasons, the movements of the Earth and the myth/stories associated with them, how this is related to their personal lives
With music dancing art ritual feasting
whatever unique ways and ancient traditionaly ways are desired
The solstices, equinoxes and days in between
http://www.circleround.com/wheelintro.html

Answer 7

We have parties, exchange blessings, and say prayers to the gods. Each person, group, or organization does things a little differently. Go to www.witchvox.com if you want more info.