Pagans/Wiccans only please?

Question

Can you give me some info about the 8 sabbats in the Wheel of the Year?
I need the names and descriptions of them. I'd also like to know how they are celebrated.

Answer 1

Winter Solsticen - December, 22nd - YULE
Candlemas- february 2nd
Spring Equinox - March 21st
Beltaine - May1st
Summer Solstice - June, 22nd
Lammas - Aug 1st
Autumn Equinox - September 21st
Samhain - October 31st


YULE
Midwinter has long been a traditional time for celebration and merrymaking in Britain. All of the
activities at midwinter were meant to ensure that the season would renew itself and the days
would begin to grow longer again. Greenery was brought into decorate the house: evergreen to
symbolize the promise of life to come even in the darkest winter; the mistletoe, believed to hold
the life of the host tree even when the tree itself appeared to be dead in winter; and the holly and
ivy, symbols of male and female, both of course necessary for new life. Carols, some of which
survive to this day, such as the Gower Wassail, were sung. The earliest carols consisted of taking
hands and singing while dancing in a ring or around a bush, May tree, or even an apple tree (as in
the case of the Apple Tree Wassail, sung in hopes of a good crop of cider the following year).
The Wassail Carols in particular date back to the Viking invasions of England, about 700 A.D.,
when the greeting was "Ves heill". By Anglo-Saxon times, the greeting had evolved into "Waes
thu hal", meaning "be whole" or "good health". The response was "drink hail", meaning "I drink
and good luck be to you". People would travel from house to house in the village bringing good
wishes and carrying an empty bowl. The master of the house being wassailed was expected to fill
the bowl with a hot spicy ale and then it would be passed around to the carolers.
Midwinter was also a time for exchanging gifts and for feasting. Turkey only dates to the 1500's.
Much more common were boar, geese, capons, swans, and pheasants. Minced pies were
originally made with meat, and with the coming of spices to England during the Crusades, plum
pudding became quite the traditional dish. Plum pudding makes a great dish for cakes and wine
in the Yule circle, especially if you pour warmed brandy over it and set it afire before the
blessing.
While I am writing about midwinter customs in Britain because our heritage in .K.A.M. is largely
Celtic in origin, the Isles do not have a monopoly on Yule. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia for
seven days around the Solstice, and it was a time to look ahead and rejoice in the longer days to
come. Slaves and masters switched places at table, and presents were exchanged. The Persian
Mithraists held December 25th as sacred to the birth of their Sun God, Mithras, and celebrated it
as a victory of light over darkness. And in Sweden, December 13th was sacred to the Goddess
Lucina, Shining One, and was a celebration of the return of the light. On Yule itself, around the
21st, bonfires were lit to honor Odin and Thor.
Midwinter has always been a Pagan holiday, so much so that during the 1600's the Christian
Christmas was recognized as a celebration based on Pagan customs and was outlawed in England
and many of the colonies in America.

A Monthly Rune (Traditional)
January By this fire I warm my hands
February And with my spade I delve my lands
March Here I set my seeds to spring
April And here I hear the birds to sing
May I am as light as bird in the treetop
June And I take pains to weed my crop
July With my scythe my mead I mow
August And here I shear my corn full low
September With my flail I earn my bread
October And here I sow my wheat so red (Winter wheat)
November At Martinmas I kill my swine *
December And at Yule I drink red wine

A Yule Recipe
Plum Pudding
1/4 lb. flour
1/4 lb. currants
1 tsp. salt
1/4 lb. sultanas (small raisins)
1 tsp. allspice
2 cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1 tsp. ginger
1 ounce cut mixed (citrus) peel
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 oz. shredded almonds
pinch fresh grated nutmeg
Juice and grated rind of 1 orange and 1 lemon
1/4 lb. fresh breadcrumbs
1/4 lb. molasses (treacle)
1/2 lb. shredded suet
4 large eggs
1/4 lb. brown sugar
2 tbsp. brandy
1/4 lb. dried chopped apricots
1/4 lb. prunes
1/4 lb dates
Sift flour, salt and spices into a large bowl. Stir in breadcrumbs, suet and sugar. Add fruits, peel
and rind. Beat lemon and orange juice, molasses and eggs together and add to other ingredients.
Steam for 6 hours -- a coffee tin filled with the mixture and placed in a steamer in a covered pan
does well. A little vinegar and lemon juice in the water will prevent the pan from discoloration.
After steaming cover in a cool place and let age as long as possible -- usually about 5 weeks. To
serve, re-steam for another 3 hours. Remove from tin, douse with warm brandy and set it ablaze!
If you haven't got six weeks before Yule to prepare a proper pudding (I never do) a tinned one
from Crosse & Blackwell will do fine. Just be sure to always heat the pudding first, no matter
who made it, or all the warmed brandy in the world won't help. And don't forget the hard sauce!

Summer Solstice
Technically, a solstice is an astronomical point and, due to the precession to the equinox, the date
may vary by a few days depending on the year. The summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches
the Tropic of Cancer and we then experience the longest day and the shortest night of the year.
Astrologers know this as the date on which the sun enters the sign of Cancer.
However, since most European peasants were not accomplished at reading an ephemeris or did
not live close enough to Salisbury Plain to trot over to Stonehenge and sight down its main
avenue, they celebrated the event on a fixed calendar date, June 24th. The slight forward
displacement of the traditional date is the result of multitudinous calendrical changes down
through the ages. It is analogous to the winter solstice celebration which is astronomically on or
about December 21st, but is celebrated on the traditional date of December 25th, Yule, later
adopted by the Christians.
Again, it must be remembered that the Celts reckoned their days from sundown to sundown, so
the June 24th festivities actually begin on the previous sundown (our June 23rd). This was
Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Eve. Which brings up another point: our modern calendars are
quite misguided in suggesting that 'summer begins' on the solstice. According to the old folk
calendar, summer BEGINS on May Day and ends on Lammas (August 1st), with the summer
solstice, midway between the two, marking MID-summer. This makes more logical sense than
suggesting that summer begins on the day when the sun's power begins to wane and the days
grow shorter.
Although our Pagan ancestors probably preferred June 24th (and indeed most European folk
festivals today use this date), the sensibility of modern Witches seems to prefer the actual solstice
point, beginning the celebration at sunset. Again, it gives modern Pagans a range of dates to
choose from, hopefully with a weekend embedded in it.
As the Pagan mid-winter celebration of Yule was adopted by Christians as Christmas (December
25th), so too the Pagan mid-summer celebration was adopted by them as the feast of John the
Baptist (June 24th). Occurring 180 degrees apart on the wheel of the year, the mid-winter
celebration commemorates the birth of Jesus, while the mid-summer celebration commemorates
the birth of John, the prophet who was born six months before Jesus in order to announce his
arrival.
This last tidbit is extremely conspicuous, in that John is the ONLY saint in the entire Catholic
hagiography whose feast day is a commemoration of his birth, rather than his death. A generation
ago, Catholic nuns were fond of explaining that a saint is commemorated on the anniversary of
his or her death because it was really a 'birth' into the Kingdom of Heaven. But John the Baptist,
the sole exception, is emphatically commemorated on the anniversary of his birth into THIS
world. Although this makes no sense viewed from a Christian perspective, it makes perfect poetic
sense from the viewpoint of Pagan symbolism.
In most Pagan cultures, the sun god is seen as split between two rival personalities: the god of
light and his twin, his 'weird', his 'other self', the god of darkness. They are Gawain and the Green
Knight, Gwyn and Gwythyr, Llew and Goronwy, Lugh and Balor, Balan and Balin, the Holly
King and the Oak King, etc. Often they are depicted as fighting seasonal battles for the favor of
their goddess/lover, such as Creiddylad or Blodeuwedd, who represents Nature.
The god of light is always born at the winter solstice, and his strength waxes with the lengthening
days until the moment of his greatest power, the summer solstice, the longest day. And, like a
look in a mirror, his 'shadow self', the lord of darkness, is born at the summer solstice, and his
strength waxes with the lengthening nights until the moment of his greatest power, the winter
solstice, the longest night.
Indirect evidence supporting this mirror-birth pattern is strongest in the Christianized form of the
Pagan myth. Many writers, from Robert Graves to Stewart Farrar, have repeatedly pointed out
that Jesus was identified with the Holly King, while John the Baptist was the Oak King. That is
why, 'of all the trees that are in the wood, the Holly tree bears the crown.' If the birth of Jesus, the
'light of the world', is celebrated at mid-winter, Christian folk tradition insists that John the Oak
King was born (rather than died) at mid-summer.
It is at this point that I must diverge from the opinion of Robert Graves and other writers who
have followed him. Graves believes that at midsummer, the Sun King is slain by his rival, the
God of Darkness; just as the God of Darkness is, in turn, slain by the God of Light at midwinter.
And yet, in Christian folk tradition (derived from the older Pagan strain), it is births, not deaths,
that are associated with the solstices. For the feast of John the Baptist, this is all the more
conspicuous, as it breaks the rules regarding all other saints.
So if births are associated with the solstices, when do the symbolic deaths occur? When does
Goronwy slay Llew and when does Llew in turn slay Goronwy? When does darkness conquer
light or light conquer darkness? Obviously (to me, at least), it must be at the two equinoxes. At
the autumnal equinox, the hours of light in the day are eclipsed by the hours of darkness. At the
vernal equinox, the process is reversed. Also, the autumnal equinox, called 'Harvest Home', is
already associated with sacrifice, principally that of the spirit of grain or vegetation. In this case,
the god of light would be identical.
In Welsh mythology in particular, there is a startling vindication of the seasonal placement of the
sun god's death, the significance of which occurred to me in a recent dream, and which I haven't
seen elsewhere. Llew is the Welsh god of light, and his name means 'lion'. (The lion is often the
symbol of a sun god.) He is betrayed by his 'virgin' wife Blodeuwedd, into standing with one foot
on the rim of a cauldron and the other on the back of a goat. It is only in this way that Llew can
be killed, and Blodeuwedd's lover, Goronwy, Llew's dark self, is hiding nearby with a spear at
the ready. But as Llew is struck with it, he is not killed. He is instead transformed into an eagle.
Putting this in the form of a Bardic riddle, it would go something like this: Who can tell in what
season the Lion (Llew), betrayed by the Virgin (Blodeuwedd), poised on the Balance, is
transformed into an Eagle? My readers who are astrologers are probably already gasping in
recognition. The sequence is astrological and in proper order: Leo (lion), Virgo (virgin), Libra
(balance), and Scorpio (for which the eagle is a well-known alternative symbol). Also, the
remaining icons, cauldron and goat, could arguably symbolize Cancer and Capricorn,
representing summer and winter, the signs beginning with the two solstice points. So Llew is
balanced between cauldron and goat, between summer and winter, on the balance (Libra) point of
the autumnal equinox.
This, of course, is the answer to a related Bardic riddle. Repeatedly, the 'Mabinogion' tells us that
Llew must be standing with one foot on the cauldron and one foot on the goat's back in order to
be killed. But nowhere does it tell us why. Why is this particular situation the ONLY one in
which Llew can be overcome? Because it represents the equinox point. And the equinox is the
only time of the entire year when light (Llew) can be overcome by darkness (Goronwy).
It should now come as no surprise that when it is time for Llew to kill Goronwy in his turn, Llew
insists that Goronwy stands where he once stood while he (Llew) casts the spear. This is no mere
vindictiveness on Llew's part. For, although the 'Mabinogion' does not say so, it should by now
be obvious that this is the only time when Goronwy can be overcome. Light can overcome
darkness only at the equinox -- this time the vernal equinox.
So Midsummer (to me, at least) is a celebration of the sun god at his zenith, a crowned king on
his throne. He is at the height of his strength and still 1/4 of a year away from his ritual death at
the hands of his rival. The spear and the cauldron have often been used as symbols for this
holiday and it should now be easy to see why. Sun gods are virtually always associated with
spears (even Jesus is pierced by one), and the midsummer cauldron of Cancer is a symbol of the
Goddess in her fullness. It is an especially beautiful time of the year for an outdoor celebration.
May yours be magical!

Spring Equnox
Now comes the Vernal Equinox, and the season of Spring reaches its apex, halfway through its
journey from Candlemas to Beltane. Once again, night and day stand in perfect balance, with the
powers of light on the ascendancy. The god of light now wins a victory over his twin, the god of
darkness. In the Mabinogion myth reconstruction which I have proposed, this is the day on which
the restored Llew takes his vengeance on Goronwy by piercing him with the sunlight spear. For
Llew was restored/reborn at the Winter Solstice and is now well/old enough to vanquish his
rival/twin and mate with his lover/mother. And the great Mother Goddess, who has returned to
her Virgin aspect at Candlemas, welcomes the young sun god's embraces and conceives a child.
The child will be born nine months from now, at the next Winter Solstice. And so the cycle
closes at last.
We think that the customs surrounding the celebration of the spring equinox were imported from
Mediterranean lands, although there can be no doubt that the first inhabitants of the British Isles
observed it, as evidence from megalithic sites shows. But it was certainly more popular to the
south, where people celebrated the holiday as New Year's Day, and claimed it as the first day of
the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries. However you look at it, it is certainly a time of new
beginnings, as a simple glance at Nature will prove.
In the Roman Catholic Church, there are two holidays which get mixed up with the Vernal
Equinox. The first, occurring on the fixed calendar day of March 25th in the old liturgical
calendar, is called the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (or B.V.M., as she
was typically abbreviated in Catholic Missals). 'Annunciation' means an announcement. This is
the day that the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was 'in the family way'. Naturally, this
had to be announced since Mary, being still a virgin, would have no other means of knowing it.
(Quit scoffing, O ye of little faith!) Why did the Church pick the Vernal Equinox for the
commemoration of this event? Because it was necessary to have Mary conceive the child Jesus a
full nine months before his birth at the Winter Solstice (i.e., Christmas, celebrated on the fixed
calendar date of December 25). Mary's pregnancy would take the natural nine months to
complete, even if the conception was a bit unorthodox.
As mentioned before, the older Pagan equivalent of this scene focuses on the joyous process of
natural conception, when the young virgin Goddess (in this case, 'virgin' in the original sense of
meaning 'unmarried') mates with the young solar God, who has just displaced his rival. This is
probably not their first mating, however. In the mythical sense, the couple may have been lovers
since Candlemas, when the young God reached puberty. But the young Goddess was recently a
mother (at the Winter Solstice) and is probably still nursing her new child. Therefore, conception
is naturally delayed for six weeks or so and, despite earlier matings with the God, She does not
conceive until (surprise!) the Vernal Equinox. This may also be their Hand-fasting, a sacred
marriage between God and Goddess called a Hierogamy, the ultimate Great Rite. Probably the
nicest study of this theme occurs in M. Esther Harding's book, 'Woman's Mysteries'. Probably the
nicest description of it occurs in M.Z. Bradley's 'Mists of Avalon', in the scene where Morgana
and Arthur assume the sacred roles. (Bradley follows the British custom of transferring the
episode to Beltane, when the climate is more suited to its outdoor celebration.)
The other Christian holiday which gets mixed up in this is Easter. Easter, too, celebrates the
victory of a god of light (Jesus) over darkness (death), so it makes sense to place it at this season.
Ironically, the name 'Easter' was taken from the name of a Teutonic lunar Goddess, Eostre (from
whence we also get the name of the female hormone, estrogen). Her chief symbols were the
bunny (both for fertility and because her worshipers saw a hare in the full moon) and the egg
(symbolic of the cosmic egg of creation), images which Christians have been hard-pressed to
explain. Her holiday, the Eostara, was held on the Vernal Equinox Full Moon. Of course, the
Church doesn't celebrate full moons, even if they do calculate by them, so they planted their
Easter on the following Sunday. Thus, Easter is always the first Sunday, after the first Full Moon
after the Vernal Equinox. If you've ever wondered why Easter moved all around the calendar,
now you know. (By the way, the Catholic Church was so adamant about not incorporating Lunar
Goddess symbolism that they added a further calculation: if Easter Sunday were to fall on the
Full Moon itself, then Easter was postponed to the following Sunday instead.)
Incidentally, this raises another point: recently, some Pagan traditions began referring to the
Vernal Equinox as Eostara. Historically, this is incorrect. Eostara is a lunar holiday, honoring a
lunar Goddess, at the Vernal Full Moon. Hence, the name 'Eostara' is best reserved to the nearest
Esbat, rather than the Sabbat itself. How this happened is difficult to say. However, it is notable
that some of the same groups misappropriated the term 'Lady Day' for Beltane, which left no
good folk name for the Equinox. Thus, Eostara was misappropriated for it, completing a chainreaction
of displacement. Needless to say, the old and accepted folk name for the Vernal Equinox
is 'Lady Day'. Christians sometimes insist that the title is in honor of Mary and her Annunciation,
but Pagans will smile knowingly.
Another mythological motif which must surely arrest our attention at this time of year is that of
the descent of the God or Goddess into the Underworld. Perhaps we see this most clearly in the
Christian tradition. Beginning with his death on the cross on Good Friday, it is said that Jesus
'descended into Hell' for the three days that his body lay entombed. But on the third day (that is,
Easter Sunday), his body and soul rejoined, he arose from the dead and ascended into heaven. By
a strange 'coincidence', most ancient Pagan religions speak of the Goddess descending into the
Underworld, also for a period of three days.
Why three days? If we remember that we are here dealing with the lunar aspect of the Goddess,
the reason should be obvious. As the text of one Book of Shadows gives it, '...as the moon waxes
and wanes, and walks three nights in darkness, so the Goddess once spent three nights in the
Kingdom of Death.' In our modern world, alienated as it is from nature, we tend to mark the time
of the New Moon (when no moon is visible) as a single date on a calendar. We tend to forget that
the moon is also hidden from our view on the day before and the day after our calendar date. But
this did not go unnoticed by our ancestors, who always speak of the Goddess's sojourn into the
land of Death as lasting for three days. Is it any wonder then, that we celebrate the next Full
Moon (the Eostara) as the return of the Goddess from chthonic regions?
Naturally, this is the season to celebrate the victory of life over death, as any nature-lover will
affirm. And the Christian religion was not misguided by celebrating Christ's victory over death at
this same season. Nor is Christ the only solar hero to journey into the underworld. King Arthur,
for example, does the same thing when he sets sail in his magical ship, Prydwen, to bring back
precious gifts (i.e. the gifts of life) from the Land of the Dead, as we are told in the 'Mabinogi'.
Welsh triads allude to Gwydion and Amaethon doing much the same thing. In fact, this theme is
so universal that mythologists refer to it by a common phrase, 'The Harrowing of Hell'.
However, one might conjecture that the descent into hell, or the land of the dead, was originally
accomplished, not by a solar male deity, but by a lunar female deity. It is Nature Herself who, in
Spring, returns from the Underworld with her gift of abundant life. Solar heroes may have laid
claim to this theme much later. The very fact that we are dealing with a three-day period of
absence should tell us we are dealing with a lunar, not solar, theme. (Although one must make
exception for those occasional male lunar deities, such as the Assyrian god, Sin.) At any rate, one
of the nicest modern renditions of the harrowing of hell appears in many Books of Shadows as
'The Descent of the Goddess'. Lady Day may be especially appropriate for the celebration of this
theme, whether by storytelling, reading, or dramatic re-enactment.
For modern Witches, Lady Day is one of the Lesser Sabbats or Low Holidays of the year, one of
the four quarter-days. And what date will Witches choose to celebrate? They may choose the
traditional folk 'fixed' date of March 25th, starting on its Eve. Or they may choose the actual
equinox point, when the Sun crosses the Equator and enters the astrological sign of Aries. This
year (1988), that will occur at 3:39 am CST on March 20th.

Autumn Equinox

General Mabon info to start with, set the mood &c...
What is Mabon?
Mabon, sometimes known as the Harvest/Thanksgiving ritual of the Autumn Equinox, is one of
the Spokes of the Wheel of the Year. In the many Earth or Pagan Religions, a special kinship
with the passing of the seasons is felt... this is usually due to the history of said traditions, most of
which stem from agrarian cultures where the seasons marked the way of life. From planting to
reaping to winter to summer... the seasons were of great importance to our ancestors, for their
very existence depended upon good harvests, mild winters, enough rainfall, and the like.
So... having shown the importance of the seasons, we shall turn to Mabon itself. Autumn...
harvest time... the reaping of what was sown and cared thru during the year. A time of
thankfulness and rejoicing. So, of course, someone at some point in time must have said... "Now
that the work is over... LET'S PARTY!!!"
This is the essence of Mabon. Rejoicing in a bountiful harvest, thanking the Gods for being so
kind during the year, and, hopefully, helping in winning over the Gods' favor for the coming
year.
About the Mabon rite itself:
Now, this will be a very Discordian ritual in that each participant will be (more or less) writing
his/her own part. This outline is provided to sorta nudge (nudge, wink, wink, say no more, sir,
say no more!) people into making their individual pieces able to fit into the whole thing... (I feel
like the Green Ball outta "Heavy Metal", the movie, something which ties things together).
Back to the rite itself.
Basically, 6 personages will be represented: Callers or Watchers of the East, South, West and
North, High Priest (HP) and High Priestess (HPS).
Of course, since this is a generic rite, the terms "Lord" and "Lady" will be used when referring to
the Male and Female aspects of divinity/godhood/whatever... individuals may use which ever
names they wish, for a Rose, by any other name, would still smell as sweet.
Outline:
A. Invocation... once everybody has arrived, a Circle shall be cast, more or less, and the 4
Watchers/Callers each get to do their thing invoking that which that direction symbolizes
to come and attend the festivities. After which, either the HPS, HP or both would
consecrate the circle... in our case... the circle will be around each person at their 'puter...
with a sense of being connected to each other via the others' 'puters. So... what we'll do
is... after the circle is cast, and the four Corners have done their things, then the HP will
call upon the Lord to attend, and the HPS shall call upon the Lady, (or, if we want to be
different, we can have the HP call the Lady, and the HPS call the Lord... it's not as
traditional, but I know of some Ladies who are more likely to pay attention to a young,
handsome HP than any HPS, if you get my meaning [wink]).
B. Once invoked... it's time for the thanksgiving part... we all got things we're thankful for...
now's the chance.
C. After the thanks are over, a customary requesting of blessing for the coming year is asked.
D. That done with, it's time to dismiss the summoned ones... first, around the circle... each
corner doing it's thing... the dismissal consists of a Hail to the being summoned, a flattery
(as I call it), and then a structured dismissal (eg. "Air of the East... blah, blah, blah,... Go if
thou must, but stay if thou wilt"). The HP and HPS dismiss the Lord and Lady last with
similar words.
E. PARTY TIME!!!! Get out the Beer, munchies, what have you... celebrate... you've earned
it.

Candlemas

It seems quite impossible that the holiday of Candlemas should be considered the beginning of
Spring. Here in the Heartland, February 2nd may see a blanket of snow mantling the Mother. Or,
if the snows have gone, you may be sure the days are filled with drizzle, slush and steel-grey
skies -- the dreariest weather of the year. In short, the perfect time for a Pagan Festival of Lights.
And as for Spring, although this may seem a tenuous beginning, all the little buds, flowers and
leaves will have arrived on schedule before Spring runs its course to Beltane.
'Candlemas' is the Christianized name for the holiday, of course. The older Pagan names were
Imbolc and Oimelc. 'Imbolc' means, literally, 'in the belly' (of the Mother). For in the womb of
Mother Earth, hidden from our mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings.
The seed that was planted in her womb at the solstice is quickening and the new year grows.
'Oimelc' means 'milk of ewes', for it is also lambing season.
The holiday is also called 'Brigit's Day', in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. At her shrine,
the ancient Irish capitol of Kildare, a group of 19 priestesses (no men allowed) kept a perpetual
flame burning in her honor. She was considered a goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry
and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery). This tripartite symbolism was
occasionally expressed by saying that Brigit had two sisters, also named Brigit. (Incidentally,
another form of the name Brigit is Bride, and it is thus She bestows her special patronage on any
woman about to be married or handfasted, the woman being called 'bride' in her honor.)
The Roman Catholic Church could not very easily call the Great Goddess of Ireland a demon, so
they canonized her instead. Henceforth, she would be 'Saint' Brigit, Patron Saint of smithcraft,
poetry and healing. They 'explained' this by telling the Irish peasants that Brigit was 'really' an
early Christian missionary sent to the Emerald Isle, and that the miracles she performed there
'misled' the common people into believing that she was a goddess. For some reason, the Irish
swallowed this. (There is no limit to what the Irish imagination can convince itself of. For
example, they also came to believe that Brigit was the 'foster-mother' of Jesus, giving no thought
to the implausibility of Jesus having spent his boyhood in Ireland!)
Brigit's holiday was chiefly marked by the kindling of sacred fires, since she symbolized the fire
of birth and healing, the fire of the forge, and the fire of poetic inspiration. Bonfires were lighted
on the beacon tors, and chandlers celebrated their special holiday. The Roman Church was quick
to confiscate this symbolism as well, using 'Candlemas' as the day to bless all the church candles
that would be used for the coming liturgical year. (Catholics will be reminded that the following
day, St. Blaise's Day, is remembered for using the newly blessed candles to bless the throats of
parishioners, keeping them from colds, flu, sore throats, etc.)
The Catholic Church, never one to refrain from piling holiday upon holiday, also called it the
Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (It is surprising how many of the old Pagan
holidays were converted to Maryan Feasts.) The symbol of the Purification may seem a little
obscure to modern readers, but it has to do with the old custom of 'churching women'. It was
believed that women were impure for six weeks after giving birth. And since Mary gave birth at
the winter solstice, she wouldn't be purified until February 2nd. In Pagan symbolism, this might
be re-translated as when the Great Mother once again becomes the Young Maiden Goddess.
Today, this holiday is chiefly connected to weather lore. Even our American folk-calendar keeps
the tradition of 'Groundhog's Day', a day to predict the coming weather, telling us that if the
Groundhog sees his shadow, there will be 'six more weeks' of bad weather (i.e., until the next old
holiday, Lady Day). This custom is ancient. An old British rhyme tells us that 'If Candlemas Day
be bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year.' Actually, all of the cross-quarter days can
be used as 'inverse' weather predictors, whereas the quarter-days are used as 'direct' weather
predictors.
Like the other High Holidays or Great Sabbats of the Witches' year, Candlemas is sometimes
celebrated on its alternate date, astrologically determined by the sun's reaching 15-degrees
Aquarius, or Candlemas Old Style (in 1988, February 3rd, at 9:03 am CST). Another holiday that
gets mixed up in this is Valentine's Day. Ozark folklorist Vance Randolf makes this quite clear
by noting that the old-timers used to celebrate Groundhog's Day on February 14th. This same
displacement is evident in Eastern Orthodox Christianity as well. Their habit of celebrating the
birth of Jesus on January 6th, with a similar post-dated shift in the six-week period that follows it,
puts the Feast of the Purification of Mary on February 14th. It is amazing to think that the same
confusion and lateral displacement of one of the old folk holidays can be seen from the Russian
steppes to the Ozark hills, but such seems to be the case!
Incidentally, there is speculation among linguistic scholars that the very name of 'Valentine' has
Pagan origins. It seems that it was customary for French peasants of the Middle Ages to
pronounce a 'g' as a 'v'. Consequently, the original term may have been the French 'galantine',
which yields the English word 'gallant'. The word originally refers to a dashing young man
known for his 'affaires d'amour', a true galaunt. The usual associations of V(G)alantine's Day
make much more sense in this light than their vague connection to a legendary 'St. Valentine' can
produce. Indeed, the Church has always found it rather difficult to explain this nebulous saint's
connection to the secular pleasures of flirtation and courtly love.
For modern Witches, Candlemas O.S. may then be seen as the Pagan version of Valentine's Day,
with a de-emphasis of 'hearts and flowers' and an appropriate re-emphasis of Pagan carnal
frivolity. This also re-aligns the holiday with the ancient Roman Lupercalia, a fertility festival
held at this time, in which the priests of Pan ran through the streets of Rome whacking young
women with goatskin thongs to make them fertile. The women seemed to enjoy the attention and
often stripped in order to afford better targets.
One of the nicest folk-customs still practiced in many countries, and especially by Witches in the
British Isles and parts of the U.S., is to place a lighted candle in each and every window of the
house, beginning at sundown on Candlemas Eve (February 1st), allowing them to continue
burning until sunrise. Make sure that such candles are well seated against tipping and guarded
from nearby curtains, etc. What a cheery sight it is on this cold, bleak and dreary night to see
house after house with candle-lit windows! And, of course, if you are your Coven's chandler, or
if you just happen to like making candles, Candlemas Day is the day for doing it. Some Covens
hold candle-making parties and try to make and bless all the candles they'll be using for the
whole year on this day.
Other customs of the holiday include weaving 'Brigit's crosses' from straw or wheat to hang
around the house for protection, performing rites of spiritual cleansing and purification, making
'Brigit's beds' to ensure fertility of mind and spirit (and body, if desired), and making Crowns of
Light (i.e. of candles) for the High Priestess to wear for the Candlemas Circle, similar to those
worn on St. Lucy's Day in Scandinavian countries. All in all, this Pagan Festival of Lights, sacred
to the young Maiden Goddess, is one of the most beautiful and poetic of the year.

BELTAINE

I. Starting the Ritual
A) Processional : (starting Chant {Ku-Wa-Te})
To enter the circle each person must pass through four "gates"
representing each of the Three Worlds (Land, Sea & Sky) and Fire. Each person
steps to the first Gate Keeper and is asked: "What do you ask of the Gate of
Earth (Sea) (Air)?" AN answer is given or left unspoken, and the person is
marked by the Guardian (with mud, water and brush of a feather) and proceeds
to the next Gate and is questioned again. The Guardian of the last Gate,
Fire, smudges the person before they enter the circle. When everyone is in
the circle, the chant continues ("Ku-Wa-Te") as the Gatekeepers come into the
circle and prepare themselves.
B) Statement of Purpose :
We are here tonight to honor the Goddess Danu, called the Earth-mother
and to honor the God Belemos, Called the Sun King. We honor them and ask them
to bless us and rekindle the warmth of the world.
C) Centering Meditation:
Group meditation and collective consciousness: All present are brought
together with a group meditation, to form a "group-mind"; to help everyone
center and bring themselves together to work in accord.
D) Earth Mother Invocation :
Oh Earth-Mother
We praise thee
That seed springeth
That flower openeth
That grass groweth
We praise thee
For winds that whisper
Through the shining Birch
Through the lively Pines
Through the mighty Oak
We praise thee
For all things
Oh Earth-Mother who gives lifeII.
The Active Ritual
Invocation of Ogma the Gate Keeper or Mannanon in English:
(Visualization is a triangle shaped iris opening)
Gate Keeper of Fire:
O Ogma, Lord of the Gates, Lord of Knowledge, open the ways for us
O Mannanon, master of the realm beyond the seas, grant us passage to your
kingdom.
O great God of knowledge, we wish to walk your roads.
Reveal to us your teachings, reveal to us the safe path.
Come wash the nighttime clean;
Come Close the gap of darkness in between.
We praise you for the brightness of your power.
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We praise you for the gift of knowledge.
Guide us to the place we seek.
Walk with us Ogma!
Walk with us Mannanon!
CHANT: We invoke thee Ogma, opener of every Gate
We invoke Mannanon, opener of every Gate.
You shall reach us, You shall teach us and reveal our fate.
You shall reach us, You shall teach us and reveal our fate.
B) Consecration of the Waters:
[After each cup is consecrated it is passed around the members of
the circle so that each may drink from it. When the cup returns to the start
the remaining liquid is spilled unto the Earth or into the fire. Contents may
be spring water, or an alcholic brew if alcohol it is preferred to have been
brewed by a member of the Grove.]
Druid of the Gate of Land:
Spirits of nature, of the trees and rocks, of the animals and Earth,
give us your favor and your companionship, share with us the bond of spirit
and of life on Earth. Remember us and speak to us in our hearts. Give us your
teachings and laughter, become one amoung us here tonight, Consecrate these
waters. Behold the Waters of Life!
{All Chant "Fur and Feather"}
Druid of the Gate of Sea:
Ancestors of Long ago, be with us, give us your favor and your
wisdom, share with us the bond of kinship and of life upon Earth.
Remember us and speak to us in our hearts. Give us your knowledge and your
blessing, become one with us here tonight; Consecrate these waters.
Behold The Waters of Life! {All Chant "Blood of the Ancients")
Druid of the Gate of Sky:
Gods and Goddesses, be with us, give us your favor and blessings,
share with us the bonding essance and our existence upon your sphere of life.
Remember us and speak to us in our hearts. give us your strength and your
peace, become one amoung us here tonight. Consecrate these waters.
Behold the Waters of Life! {All Chant "Mother I feel you"}
C) Individual Offerings and prayers:
At this point, all present that wish to may make an offering or
offer prayers. If anyone has an offering or a prayer they would like to make
they step forward and do so, individual offerings to particular patrons or
spirit helpers are done at this time.
D) Sacrifice with the Willow Branch:
Gate keeper of fire makes a final offering of a willow branch, to send
the energy to the deities of the occasion. It is sacrificed into the central
bonfire.
Gate Keeper of Fire:
Our praise goes up with thee on the wings of eagles; our voices are
carried up to thee on the shoulders of the wonds. hear now O Belemos, O Danu,
we pray thee, as we offer up this sacrifice of life. Accept it we pray thee,
and cleanse our hearts, giving to us of your peace and life.
E) Divination :
A scrying is done with crystal/flame, to find if the gods have
accepted our prayers and will be with us. If the omen is bad, offerings are
made again. If they are rejected thrice, the circle is broken immediately and
the ritual ended.
F) The Fourth Consecration:
Here the wards are set to protect us during the magic working.
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Druid #1 (Fire):
We greet you, Brother Wabun, Golden Eagle of the East. We ask that you
watch over us this night, and share with us your wisdom, Let your keen vision
guide us over the obstacles before us. We greet you, Brother Shawnodese,
Guardian of the South, great Coyote. We ask that you walk with us this night,
and guide us as we walk this path of learning. We greet you, Waboose, White
Buffalo Woman of the North, Grace us with your company, and walk with us
night as we seek the wisdom that surrounds us. We greet you, brother
Mudjekeewis, Great Bear of the West. Walk with us this night and aid us in
our journey to wisdom. At this time, would each of you please meditate on
your personal needs and desires.
G) Induction of Receptivity : (Litany of the Waters)
[D1 can be Guardian of Fire, D2 can be the Group response. If the group
doesn't know the responses one of the other guardians should lead them into
them]
D1: Of what does the Earth-Mother give, that we may know of the
continual flow and renewal of life?
D2: The waters of Life.
D1: From whence do these waters flow?
D2: From the bosom of the Earth-Mother,the ever changing All-Mother
D1: And how do we honor this gift that causes life?
D2: By partaking of the waters of life.
D1: Has the Earth-Mother given forth her bounty?
D2: She has
D1: Then give me the waters!
Final consecration and sharing: A fourth cup is consecrated.
O Belemos, O Danu, hear us and answer us! Hallow these waters! We
your children have praised you, and now we ask from you healing, blessing,
power and inspiration...Behold the waters of life!
{Passing chant: "Ku-Wa-Te"}
III. The Work of The Circle
A) The Magic Working:
Tonight we pray for the prosperity of all those here. May our fortunes
increase, may the Goddess and God smail on our endeavors and bring us good
luck in all that we do.
We ask that you bless these small tokens of our wishes, and grant us the
success that we ask for. {Here a small basket with a crystal and appropriate
symbols of general prosperity were passed around so that all might add
energy to it}
B) Affirmation of Success:
D1: Belemos and Danu have Blessed us!
D2: Every time we invoke them, they become stronger and more
alert to the needs of their people.
D1: With joy in our hearts let us return to the realm of mortals to do
the will of the Gods and our own.
D2: Yet, before we leave, we must give thanks to those whome we have
invited here today.
IV. Closing:
A) Thanking and closing of the Quaters:
We thank you, Brother Wabun, Golden Eagle of the East. You have watched
over us this night, and shared with us your wisdom, Your keen vision has
shown us the ostacles before us. We ask you, go in peace, as you came in
peace. So we may walk together again. We thank you, Brother Shawnodese,
Guardian of the South, great Coyote. Once again your lessons have helped us,
and shown us the truth in ourselves. We ask you, go in peace, as you came in
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peace, So we may walk together again. We thank you, Waboose, White Buffalo of
the North. You have graced us with your company, and walked with us this
night. You have helped us see the wisdom that surrounds us. We ask you, go
in peace, as you came in peace. So we may walk together again. We thank
you Brother Mudjekeewis, Great Bear of the West. You have shown us your power
and kept us safe in our journey to wisdom. We ask you, go in peace, as you
came in peace, so we may walk together again.
B) Thanking of the Gods and Goddess:
Gods and Goddesses of the old times, spirits of the old times and
of this place, people of the old times and of our ancestors, our kindred we
thank you.
C) Closing the Gate:
Gate Keeper of Fire :
O Ogma, Lord of the Gates, Lord of KNowledge, we thank you. O Mhannon,
we thank you. Now let the Gates between the Worlds be closed!
D) Return from the group-mind, grounding and centering.
Reverse the Tree Meditation.
Relaxing of the Grove's Wards.
Libation:
D1: To thee we retrun this portion of thy bounty, O Danu our Mother,
even as we must someday return unto thee.
D2: We have finished this ceremony.
D1: So be it!
ALL: Biodh se!
___________________________________________________________________________
CHANTS USED DURING RITUAL:
{Ku-Wa-Te}
Ku-Wa-Te Lay-no Lay-no Ma-ho-teHi-ano, Hi-ano, Hi-anoKu-Wa-Te Lay-no
Ma-ho-teHi-ano, Hi-ano, Hi-ano We are one with the infinite sun Forever,
Forever, ForeverWe are one with the Infinite Sun Forever, Forever, Forever.
{Mother Nature Waits}
Mother Earth provides Mother Earth Provides Mother Earth Provides all for us
to surviveMother Earth Provides Mother Nature Waits Mother Nature Waits Because
life never ends, she always begins again Mother Nature waits.
{Hoof and Horn}
Hoof and horn, Hoof and hornAll that dies shall be reborn.Corn and Grain,
corn and grainAll that falls shall rise again.
{Blood of the Ancients}
It's the blood of the AncientsThat runs through our veinsAnd the forms
pass,But the Circle of life remains.
{Fur and Feather}
Fur and Feather and scale and skin
Different without but the same within
Great of body but one of soul
Through all creatures are the Gods made Whole
{Mother I feel You}
Mother I feel you under my feet
Mother I feel your heart beat
Mother I feel your heart beat
Father I see you where the eagle flies
Spirit gonna carry me higher and higher
Spirit gonna carry me higher and higher

LAMMAS
Although in the heat of a Mid-western summer it might be difficult to discern, the festival of
Lammas (Aug 1st) marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall. The days now grow
visibly shorter and by the time we've reached autumn's end (Oct 31st), we will have run the
gamut of temperature from the heat of August to the cold and (sometimes) snow of November.
And in the midst of it, a perfect Mid-western autumn.
The history of Lammas is as convoluted as all the rest of the old folk holidays. It is of course a
cross-quarter day, one of the four High Holidays or Greater Sabbats of Witchcraft, occurring 1/4
of a year after Beltane. It's true astrological point is 15 degrees Leo, which occurs at 1:18 am
CDT, Aug 6th this year (1988), but tradition has set August 1st as the day Lammas is typically
celebrated. The celebration proper would begin on sundown of the previous evening, our July
31st, since the Celts reckon their days from sundown to sundown.
However, British Witches often refer to the astrological date of Aug 6th as Old Lammas, and
folklorists call it Lammas O.S. ('Old Style'). This date has long been considered a 'power point' of
the Zodiac, and is symbolized by the Lion, one of the 'tetramorph' figures found on the Tarot
cards, the World and the Wheel of Fortune (the other three figures being the Bull, the Eagle, and
the Spirit). Astrologers know these four figures as the symbols of the four 'fixed' signs of the
Zodiac, and these naturally align with the four Great Sabbats of Witchcraft. Christians have
adopted the same iconography to represent the four gospel-writers.
'Lammas' was the medieval Christian name for the holiday and it means 'loaf-mass', for this was
the day on which loaves of bread were baked from the first grain harvest and laid on the church
altars as offerings. It was a day representative of 'first fruits' and early harvest.
In Irish Gaelic, the feast was referred to as 'Lugnasadh', a feast to commemorate the funeral
games of the Irish sun-god Lugh. However, there is some confusion on this point. Although at
first glance, it may seem that we are celebrating the death of the Lugh, the god of light does not
really die (mythically) until the autumnal equinox. And indeed, if we read the Irish myths closer,
we discover that it is not Lugh's death that is being celebrated, but the funeral games which Lugh
hosted to commemorate the death of his foster-mother, Taillte. That is why the Lugnasadh
celebrations in Ireland are often called the 'Tailltean Games'.
The time went by with careless heed
Between the late and early,
With small persuasion she agreed
To see me through the barley...
One common feature of the Games were the 'Tailltean marriages, a rather informal marriage that
lasted for only 'a year and a day' or until next Lammas. At that time, the couple could decide to
continue the arrangement if it pleased them, or to stand back to back and walk away from one
another, thus bringing the Tailltean marriage to a formal close. Such trial marriages (obviously
related to the Wiccan 'Handfasting') were quite common even into the 1500's, although it was
something one 'didn't bother the parish priest about'. Indeed, such ceremonies were usually
solemnized by a poet, bard or shanachie (or, it may be guessed, by a priest or priestess of the Old
Religion).
Lammastide was also the traditional time of year for craft festivals. The medieval guilds would
create elaborate displays of their wares, decorating their shops and themselves in bright colors
and ribbons, marching in parades, and performing strange, ceremonial plays and dances for the
entranced onlookers. The atmosphere must have been quite similar to our modern-day
Renaissance Festivals, such as the one celebrated in near-by Bonner Springs, Kansas, each fall.
A ceremonial highlight of such festivals was the 'Catherine wheel'. Although the Roman Church
moved St. Catherine's feast day all around the calender with bewildering frequency, it's most
popular date was Lammas. (They also kept trying to expel this much-loved saint from the ranks
of the blessed because she was mythical rather than historical, and because her worship gave rise
to the heretical sect known as the Cathari.) At any rate, a large wagon wheel was taken to the top
of a near-by hill, covered with tar, set aflame, and ceremoniously rolled down the hill. Some
mythologists see in this ritual the remnants of a Pagan rite symbolizing the end of summer, the
flaming disk representing the sun-god in his decline. And just as the sun king has now reached
the autumn of his years, his rival or dark self has just reached puberty.
Many commentators have bewailed the fact that traditional Gardnerian and Alexandrian Books of
Shadows say very little about the holiday of Lammas, stating only that poles should be ridden
and a circle dance performed. This seems strange, for Lammas is a holiday of rich mythic and
cultural associations, providing endless resources for liturgical celebration.
Corn rigs and barley rigs,
Corn rigs are bonny!
I'll not forget that happy night
Among the rigs with Annie!

Samhain

Samhain. All Hallows. All Hallow's Eve. Hallow E'en. Halloween. The most magical night of the
year. Exactly opposite Beltane on the wheel of the year, Halloween is Beltane's dark twin. A
night of glowing jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks or treats, and dressing in costume. A
night of ghost stories and seances, tarot card readings and scrying with mirrors. A night of power,
when the veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest. A 'spirit night', as
they say in Wales.
All Hallow's Eve is the eve of AllHallow's Day (November 1st). And for once, even popular
tradition remembers that the Eve is more important than the Day itself, the traditional celebration
focusing on October 31st, beginning at sundown. And this seems only fitting for the great Celtic
New Year's festival. Not that the holiday was Celtic only. In fact, it is startling how many ancient
and unconnected cultures (the Egyptians and pre-Spanish Mexicans, for example) celebrated this
as a festival of the dead. But the majority of our modern traditions can be traced to the British
Isles.
The Celts called it Samhain, which means 'summer's end', according to their ancient two-fold
division of the year, when summer ran from Beltane to Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to
Beltane. (Some modern Covens echo this structure by letting the High Priest 'rule' the Coven
beginning on Samhain, with rulership returned to the High Priestess at Beltane.) According to the
later four-fold division of the year, Samhain is seen as 'autumn's end' and the beginning of winter.
Samhain is pro- nounced (depending on where you're from) as 'sow-in' (in Ireland), or 'sow-een'
(in Wales), or 'sav-en' (in Scotland), or (inevitably) 'sam-hane' (in the U.S., where we don't speak
Gaelic).
Not only is Samhain the end of autumn; it is also, more importantly, the end of the old year and
the beginning of the new. Celtic New Year's Eve, when the new year begins with the onset of the
dark phase of the year, just as the new day begins at sundown. There are many representations of
Celtic gods with two faces, and it surely must have been one of them who held sway over
Samhain. Like his Greek counterpart Janus, he would straddle the threshold, one face turned
toward the past in commemoration of those who died during the last year, and one face gazing
hopefully toward the future, mystic eyes attempting to pierce the veil and divine what the coming
year holds. These two themes, celebrating the dead and divining the future, are inexorably
intertwined in Samhain, as they are likely to be in any New Year's celebration.
As a feast of the dead, it was believed the dead could, if they wished, return to the land of the
living for this one night, to celebrate with their family, tribe, or clan. And so the great burial
mounds of Ireland (sidhe mounds) were opened up, with lighted torches lining the walls, so the
dead could find their way. Extra places were set at the table and food set out for any who had
died that year. And there are many stories that tell of Irish heroes making raids on the
Underworld while the gates of faery stood open, though all must return to their appointed places
by cock-crow.
As a feast of divination, this was the night par excellence for peering into the future. The reason
for this has to do with the Celtic view of time. In a culture that uses a linear concept of time, like
our modern one, New Year's Eve is simply a milestone on a very long road that stretches in a
straight line from birth to death. Thus, the New Year's festival is a part of time. The ancient
Celtic view of time, however, is cyclical. And in this framework, New Year's Eve represents a
point outside of time, when the natural order of the universe dissolves back into primordial chaos,
preparatory to re-establishing itself in a new order. Thus, Samhain is a night that exists outside of
time and hence it may be used to view any other point in time. At no other holiday is a tarot card
reading, crystal reading or tea-leaf reading so likely to succeed.
The Christian religion, with its emphasis on the 'historical' Christ and his act of redemption 2000
years ago, is forced into a linear view of time, where 'seeing the future' is an illogical proposition.
In fact, from the Christian perspective, any attempt to do so is seen as inherently evil. This did
not keep the medieval Church from co-opting Samhain's other motif, commemoration of the
dead. To the Church, however, it could never be a feast for all the dead, but only the blessed
dead, all those hallowed (made holy) by obedience to God -- thus, All Hallow's, or Hallowmas,
later All Saints and All Souls.
There are so many types of divination that are traditional to Hallowstide, it is possible to mention
only a few. Girls were told to place hazel nuts along the front of the firegrate, each one to
symbolize one of her suitors. She could then divine her future husband by chanting, 'If you love
me, pop and fly; if you hate me, burn and die.' Several methods used the apple, that most popular
of Halloween fruits. You should slice an apple through the equator (to reveal the five-pointed star
within) and then eat it by candlelight before a mirror. Your future spouse will then appear over
your shoulder. Or, peel an apple, making sure the peeling comes off in one long strand, reciting,
'I pare this apple round and round again; / My sweetheart's name to flourish on the plain: / I fling
the unbroken paring o'er my head, / My sweetheart's letter on the ground to read.' Or, you might
set a snail to crawl through the ashes of your hearth. The considerate little creature will then spell
out the initial letter as it moves.
Perhaps the most famous icon of the holiday is the jack-o-lantern. Various authorities attribute it
to either Scottish or Irish origin. However, it seems clear that it was used as a lantern by people
who traveled the road this night, the scary face to frighten away spirits or faeries who might
otherwise lead one astray. Set on porches and in windows, they cast the same spell of protection
over the household. (The American pumpkin seems to have forever superseded the European
gourd as the jack-o-lantern of choice.) Bobbing for apples may well represent the remnants of a
Pagan 'baptism' rite called a 'seining', according to some writers. The water-filled tub is a latterday
Cauldron of Regeneration, into which the novice's head is immersed. The fact that the
participant in this folk game was usually blindfolded with hands tied behind the back also puts
one in mind of a traditional Craft initiation ceremony.
The custom of dressing in costume and 'trick-or-treating' is of Celtic origin with survivals
particularly strong in Scotland. However, there are some important differences from the modern
version. In the first place, the custom was not relegated to children, but was actively indulged in
by adults as well. Also, the 'treat' which was required was often one of spirits (the liquid variety).
This has recently been revived by college students who go 'trick-or-drinking'. And in ancient
times, the roving bands would sing seasonal carols from house to house, making the tradition
very similar to Yuletide wassailing. In fact, the custom known as 'caroling', now connected
exclusively with mid-winter, was once practiced at all the major holidays. Finally, in Scotland at
least, the tradition of dressing in costume consisted almost exclusively of cross-dressing (i.e.,
men dressing as women, and women as men). It seems as though ancient societies provided an
opportunity for people to 'try on' the role of the opposite gender for one night of the year.
(Although in Scotland, this is admittedly less dramatic -- but more confusing -- since men were in
the habit of wearing skirt-like kilts anyway. Oh well...)
To Witches, Halloween is one of the four High Holidays, or Greater Sabbats, or cross-quarter
days. Because it is the most important holiday of the year, it is sometimes called 'THE Great
Sabbat.' It is an ironic fact that the newer, self-created Covens tend to use the older name of the
holiday, Samhain, which they have discovered through modern research. While the older
hereditary and traditional Covens often use the newer name, Halloween, which has been handed
down through oral tradition within their Coven. (This is often holds true for the names of the
other holidays, as well. One may often get an indication of a Coven's antiquity by noting what
names it uses for the holidays.)
With such an important holiday, Witches often hold two distinct celebrations. First, a large
Halloween party for non-Craft friends, often held on the previous weekend. And second, a Coven
ritual held on Halloween night itself, late enough so as not to be interrupted by trick-or-treaters.
If the rituals are performed properly, there is often the feeling of invisible friends taking part in
the rites. Another date which may be utilized in planning celebrations is the actual cross-quarter
day, or Old Halloween, or Halloween O.S. (Old Style). This occurs when the sun has reached 15
degrees Scorpio, an astrological 'power point' symbolized by the Eagle. This year (1988), the date
is November 6th at 10:55 pm CST, with the celebration beginning at sunset. Interestingly, this
date (Old Halloween) was also appropriated by the Church as the holiday of Martinmas.
Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Halloween is the only one that still boasts anything near to
popular celebration. Even though it is typically relegated to children (and the young-at-heart) and
observed as an evening affair only, many of its traditions are firmly rooted in Paganism.
Interestingly, some schools have recently attempted to abolish Halloween parties on the grounds
that it violates the separation of state and religion. Speaking as a Pagan, I would be saddened by
the success of this move, but as a supporter of the concept of religion-free public education, I fear
I must concede the point. Nonetheless, it seems only right that there SHOULD be one night of
the year when our minds are turned toward thoughts of the supernatural. A night when both
Pagans and non-Pagans may ponder the mysteries of the Otherworld and its inhabitants. And if
you are one of them, may all your jack-o'lanterns burn bright on this All Hallow's Eve.



i hope this is good

Answer 2

This site: www.wicca.com has a link to the Sabbats. The next one coming up is Mabon on Sept. 21.

Answer 3

This is a HUGE question! So, wanting to save typing fingers, I copied and pasted from this site. You might want to have a look on your own.

http://www.freewebs.com/wiccanswonder/sabbatts.htm

1. WINTER SOLSTICE/YULE- (On December 22)- Yule is the time of the greatest darkness and the longest night of the year. The Winter Solstice had been associated with the birth of a "Divine King" long before the rise of Christianity. Since the sun is considered to represent the Male Divinity in many Pagan Traditions, this time is celebrated as the "return of the sun god" where he is reborn of the goddess.

2. IMBOLC: (February 2)-The earliest whisperings of springtide are heard now as the Goddess nurtures Her Young Son. As a time of the year associated with beginning growth, Imbolc is an initiatory period for many. Here we plant the "seeds" of our hopes and dreams for the coming summer months.

3. SPRING EQUINOX/OSTARA: (On March 21)- The first true day of springtide. The days and nights are now equal in length as the young God continues to mature and grow. We begin to see shoots of new growth and swelling buds on the trees. Energy is building as the days become warmer with promise.


4. BELTANE: (April 30-May1)- The Land represented by the Goddess is now ripe and fertile and the Young God expresses His Love fo Her. This is a time of joyous reveling as the first flowers of summer are gathered in their Honor.

5. SUMMER SOLSTICE/MIDSUMMER: (On June 21)- The days of the first harvesting of herbs as the earth now begins to share her bounty. This time of the longest day is celebrated as a fire festival. The season between the planting and harvest, June is also the "Traditional" month for handfastings and weddings.

6. LUGHNASADH: (August 1)- The first harvest. Plants are "setting their seed" already for the next year as the cycle of nature continues. The sun (son) still burns brightly, but already the passing of the days begins to herald the coming of Autumn. The young animals are now almost full grown and our plans-planted with high expectations in the spring- are beginning to come to fruition.

7. AUTUMN EQUINOX/MABON: (On September 21)-The second or continuing harvest. Now, as at Ostra, the days and nights are equal once again. Gardens are full bloom and heavy with natures bounty. There is a slight nip in the air already and preparations begin to prepare for the long cold months which to come.

8. SAMHAIN: (October 31-Nov 1)- The last Harvest. The Earth nods a sad farewell to the God. We know that he will once again be reborn og the Goddess and the cycle will continue.This is the time of reflection, the time to honor the Ancients who have gone on before us and the time of "seeing"(divination). As we contemplate the Wheel of the year, we come to recognize our own part in the eternal cycle of life.

Answer 4

The information you seek can easily be found through out the web. One of the best places to visit would be the witches voice. The site is very informative with links to thousands of others.

Answer 5

Merry Meet
Nice to see a question about our religion !!

You already have some good answers
Bessed be )0(

Answer 6

http://www.sacredhearth.com/Spirituality/Sabbats/sabbats.html

Answer 7

Go to this site it might be helpful.

http://www.magickalmeltingpot.com/WheeloftheYear