Wheel of the Year

Also known as St. Brigid's Day in Ireland, Imbolc is associated with the Irish saint Brigid, who is said to have been born on February 1st. It is a traditional Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring that is celebrated on February 1st or 2nd, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

Imbolc has ancient roots and was originally observed by the Celtic peoples of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. It was a time to celebrate the increasing daylight, the first signs of spring, and the promise of new life and growth. The festival was often marked by rituals, feasting, and the lighting of fires.

One of the key symbols of Imbolc is the lighting of candles or bonfires, representing the return of the sun's warmth and light. It is also a time for purification and renewal, both of the land and of oneself. In modern times, Imbolc is still celebrated by some practitioners of Celtic paganism and Wicca, as well as by those interested in reviving or reconnecting with ancient traditions.

Ostara is a modern Pagan holiday that celebrates the spring equinox, typically occurring around March 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of the eight Sabbats observed in the Wheel of the Year, a cycle of seasonal festivals that mark the changing of the seasons.

The name Ostara is derived from the Germanic goddess Eostre or Ostara, who represents fertility, renewal, and the dawn. She is associated with the return of spring, new life, and the increasing daylight. Some symbols commonly associated with Ostara include eggs, rabbits, flowers, and other symbols of fertility and rebirth.

Ostara is a time to celebrate the arrival of spring and the balance between light and darkness as day and night are of equal length during the equinox. It is a time for planting seeds, honoring the Earth's renewal, and embracing new beginnings. Many modern Pagans and Wiccans celebrate Ostara with rituals, feasting, and activities such as egg decorating and nature walks to welcome the arrival of spring.

Ostara is also known by other names in different traditions, including Eostre, Eostar, and the Spring Equinox. It is celebrated by various Pagan and Wiccan communities around the world as a time of joy, growth, and spiritual renewal.

Beltane is a Gaelic festival celebrated on May 1st or the eve of May 1st. It marks the beginning of the warmer months in the Northern Hemisphere and is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh.

Beltane is traditionally observed with rituals and festivities that celebrate fertility, vitality, and the coming of summer. It is a time to honor the union of the god and goddess, symbolizing the fertility of the land and the renewal of life. Bonfires are a central feature of Beltane celebrations, with people leaping over the flames as a form of purification and to bring luck for the coming season.

Maypoles are also a common feature of Beltane festivities. These tall poles are adorned with ribbons, flowers, and other decorations, and people dance around them in intricate patterns to celebrate fertility and the interconnectedness of life.

Beltane is a joyful and vibrant festival, marked by music, dancing, feasting, and revelry. It is a time to embrace the abundance of nature, to honor the beauty of the earth, and to welcome the warmth and growth of the summer months. Today, Beltane is celebrated by many modern Pagans, Wiccans, and others who follow Earth-based spiritual paths as a time of joy, community, and connection with the natural world.

Litha, also known as Midsummer, is a Pagan holiday celebrated around June 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the summer solstice, which is the longest day and shortest night of the year. In the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed, Litha corresponds to the winter solstice, typically around December 20th or 21st.

Litha is one of the eight Sabbats observed in the Wheel of the Year, a cycle of seasonal festivals that mark the changing of the seasons. It is a time to celebrate the height of summer, the abundance of the Earth, and the power of the sun. Litha is associated with themes of light, growth, fertility, and vitality.

Traditional Litha celebrations often include rituals, feasting, dancing, and bonfires. Bonfires are lit to honor the sun and to encourage its continued strength and warmth throughout the summer months. People may also gather herbs and flowers, such as St. John's Wort and lavender, which are believed to have magical properties and are associated with protection and healing.

Litha is a time for outdoor activities, such as picnics, nature walks, and swimming, to enjoy the beauty of the natural world and to connect with the energies of the sun and the Earth. It is also a time for reflection, gratitude, and setting intentions for the second half of the year.

Today, Litha is celebrated by many modern Pagans, Wiccans, and others who follow Earth-based spiritual paths as a time of joy, abundance, and connection with the rhythms of nature.

Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is a Pagan holiday celebrated around August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the first harvest festival of the year and is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Beltane.

The name Lammas is derived from the Old English words hlāfmæsse, which means loaf mass. It refers to the tradition of baking bread from the first grain harvest of the season and offering it as a sacred offering to the gods. Lughnasadh is derived from the name of the Celtic god Lugh, who was honored at this time of year.

Lammas/Lughnasadh is a time to celebrate the bounty of the earth and to give thanks for the first fruits of the harvest. It is associated with themes of abundance, prosperity, and the cycle of life and death. Traditional celebrations may include rituals, feasting, dancing, and games.

One common tradition associated with Lammas/Lughnasadh is the making of corn dollies or corn maidens, which are symbolic representations of the harvest goddess. These dollies are often woven from the last sheaf of wheat or barley harvested and are placed on the altar as a focal point for rituals.

Lammas/Lughnasadh is also a time for community gatherings, where people come together to share food, stories, and music. It is a time to honor the hard work of farmers and to acknowledge the interconnectedness of all living beings in the cycle of life.

Today, Lammas/Lughnasadh is celebrated by many modern Pagans, Wiccans, and others who follow Earth-based spiritual paths as a time of gratitude, abundance, and connection with the rhythms of nature.

Mabon, also known as the autumn equinox, is a Pagan holiday celebrated around September 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the second harvest festival of the year and is one of the eight Sabbats observed in the Wheel of the Year, a cycle of seasonal festivals that mark the changing of the seasons.

Mabon is a time to celebrate the balance between light and darkness as day and night are of equal length during the equinox. It is also a time to give thanks for the bounty of the harvest and to prepare for the darker months ahead.

The name Mabon is derived from Welsh mythology and refers to the god Mabon ap Modron, who is associated with the harvest, the earth, and the cycle of life and death. Mabon is sometimes called the Wiccan Thanksgiving because it is a time to give thanks for the abundance of the earth and to share in the harvest with friends and loved ones.

Traditional Mabon celebrations may include rituals, feasting, and activities such as apple picking, making cider, and creating cornucopias filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is also a time for reflection, introspection, and giving thanks for the blessings in one's life.

Mabon is celebrated by many modern Pagans, Wiccans, and others who follow Earth-based spiritual paths as a time of gratitude, abundance, and connection with the rhythms of nature. It is a time to honor the changing seasons and to embrace the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is a Gaelic festival celebrated on October 31st or November 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, as well as the start of the Celtic New Year. Samhain is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh.

Samhain is a time when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is believed to be at its thinnest, allowing spirits and ancestors to walk among the living. It is a time to honor and remember the deceased, and to celebrate the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Traditionally, Samhain was celebrated with rituals, feasting, and bonfires. People would leave offerings of food and drink for the spirits and would also carve turnips or pumpkins into lanterns to ward off evil spirits. The tradition of carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns is believed to have originated from this practice.

Samhain is also a time for divination and introspection, as it is believed that the spirits are more accessible and can provide guidance and wisdom. Many modern Pagans and Wiccans use Samhain as a time for reflection, honoring their ancestors, and preparing for the darker months ahead.

Today, Samhain is celebrated by many people around the world as Halloween, a secular holiday that incorporates elements of the ancient Celtic festival. However, for many modern Pagans, Wiccans, and others who follow Earth-based spiritual paths, Samhain remains an important religious and spiritual observance, a time to honor the sacred cycle of life and death.

Yule, also known as the Midwinter or Winter Solstice, is a festival celebrated in various cultures around the world. It marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, usually occurring around December 21st or 22nd. In the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed, Yule corresponds to the summer solstice, typically around December 21st or 22nd.

Yule has ancient roots and has been celebrated for thousands of years by different cultures and civilizations. In pre-Christian Europe, Yule was a pagan festival that celebrated the rebirth of the sun and the return of longer days. It was a time for feasting, storytelling, and rituals aimed at ensuring the sun's return and the fertility of the land.

With the spread of Christianity, many Yule traditions were incorporated into Christmas celebrations, such as decorating with evergreen trees, wreaths, and holly, as well as the lighting of candles and fires. However, some pagan traditions associated with Yule have persisted and are still practiced by modern Pagans, Wiccans, and others who follow Earth-based spiritual paths.

Today, Yule is celebrated in various ways, depending on cultural and religious traditions. It is often a time for gathering with loved ones, exchanging gifts, and reflecting on the past year while looking forward to the return of the light and the promise of new beginnings.