How do you observe the sabbats and holidays in wicca?

Question

If anyone has the time,i would like to know about all of them. or any websites that might tell me about them would help

Answer 1

I have found that Google video has some great resources for this.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1590377409630299605&q=Wheel+of+the+Year&hl=en

This is an overview of the Wheel of the Year that covers all the widely celebrated Sabats.

Imbolc Feb 2nd marks the Warming period of the new year. Spring is soon approaching and the Sun is getting stronger everyday.

Ritual example
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5419769523549074811&q=Imbolc&hl=en

Ostara is the Vernal Equinox it falls on Mar19-21st It celebrates the beginning of Spring. Ostara is the Goddess of Springtime and is occompanied by a white rabbit. This is a fertility holiday. SSome of the more common practices are decorating eggs.

Ritual Example
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8961697163412946518&q=Ostara&hl=en

Beltane falls on May 1st and is yet another fertility Sabbat. It celebrates the Marriage of the Goddess and God. This is usually celebrated by jumping Balefires (bonfires used in magickal rituals and granting wishes) Many people choose to get married(handfasted) on this day.

Maypoles are another Beltane tradition. The pole resembles the God's Phallus entering the womb of the Goddess which is the Earth.

Ritual Example
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1700649324541488272&q=Beltane&hl=en

Litha is the Midsummer Celebration that falls between June 19th and June 21st. It is the changing of power from the Time of the Father God to the Time of the Mother Goddess. The Sun has reached his peak and the days are now getting shorter. This is a great time for fertility and divination work.

Ritual example
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4020948695494909049&q=Litha&hl=en

Lughnasadh(aka Lammas) is the first Harvest Sabbat. Readying for the coming cold months is the main theme of this Sabbat. It falls between July 30th and August 1st.

Ritual Example
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-33939094831626619&q=Lammas&hl=en

Mabon is the Autumnal Equinox it falls between Sept 21st and 23rd. It is the second Harvest Holdiay and is the Pagan Thanksgiving.

I couldn't find a riutal example for this holiday. MOstly because this is a feasting holiday and it would just be a bunch of people eating. But sometimes they do a Give thanks ritual.

Samhain (Sow wen) is probably the most popular of all the Wiccan/Pagan sabbats. The Witches New Year as some call it, most people know it be Halloween. It falls on oct 31st-Nov 1st. The main focus of this Sabbat is death. This is when old things die off in preparation for the coming winter. It is also the time of year when the veil between worlds is thinnest. THis means that
Spirit Communication is easiest at this time

Ritual Example
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5449486904745456315&q=seance&hl=en

Yule (Midwinter) Falls on or around December 21st. This is the shortest day of the year. The sun is reborn on this day. This is when the God regains his time of Power.

Many of the Christian rituals used to celebrate their holiday are original Yule traditions. Mistletoe, Trees, presents, carolling and the feast are also Pagan celebrations.

There is no Yule video that I have found. Sorry.

Here are some other videos on Wicca and rituals

Wiccaning (Wiccan Baptism)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTb2b0DL2TI&mode=related&search=

A Year and a Day Handfasting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mNdXy9z5kY

The Goddess
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8636008658074614593&q=Burnt+Page&hl=en

Answer 2

This would actually depend on which holiday and which sabbats you are referring.

Example: Halloween (Sanheim - which is pronounced sow-en) is the Witches' (Wiccans) New Year. Most Wiccans celebrate this "evening" holiday by first having a "black supper" which basically means that you sit in silence when eating supper this evening and have set an extra place-setting for someone who is deceased. This is to show respect for the person who has passed on, that they are still in your thoughts and while you are eating, you silently think/meditate. The idea of the "black supper" is because it "involves" the deceased and when most people (EXCEPT Wiccans who wear white to celebrate the deceased person's life) attend a funeral service, they are wearing black. Also observed on this holiday are divinations (tarot card readings or another kinds of divination). These are usually done very close to Midnight or exactly on Midnight as this night is seen as being the closest our world and the "other" world, when the veil between the two worlds is thinnest. This "last" of the harvest holidays is also about making sure that you have harvested everything out of your garden (if you had one) and are ready for the Winter season to begin. Halloween (as with the "traditional" New Year's Eve) is a very happy time of celebration.

Have a lovely rest of the evening. Bright Blessings........