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THE SABBATS
(Wiccan holidays)




Yule (Yuletide, Winter Solstice)

The shortest day and longest night of the year. This usually falls on December 20th or 21st and marks the rebirth of the Sun God from the Goddess. A solar festival, Yule is celebrated by fire and the use of the Yule log. From Pagan descent, red and green are the season's colors. Also of Pagan descent are the cutting and decorating of the Yule tree and exchanging gifts. Holly wreaths, fancy cookies and breads are also part of Pagan tradition. Food is specially prepared for dinner after the Yule celebration when the tree is lit and the Yule log is burned. A portion of the Yule log is kept throughout the year to protect the home and then used to light the next year's log. Bayberry candles are burned to ensure wealth and happiness during the next year.The reindeer stag is a symbol of the Horned God.

Imbolc (Candlemas)

This marks the time for welcoming Spring, on February 2nd. The festival is for fertility and to celebrate all that are yet to be born. This is a good time to work in your house, changing curtains and tablecloths, painting and wallpapering and fixing furniture.

Ostara (Spring Equinox)

The second in the trinity of Spring celebrations, on or around the 21st of March. It is a Fire festival celebrating the resurgence of Earth fertility. The observances for Spring include lighting bonfires at sunrise and decorating eggs. Ostara, or Eostre, is a Goddess who protects small children and entertains them by hatching rabbits from chicken eggs. Seeds are blessed for future planting. Eggs are painted and placed on altars as magickal talismans.

Beltane (Mayday)

While Mayday is celebrated on May 1st, Beltane is celebrated on May 5th. This is the last of the three spring fertility festivals. This is a time of love, union and the Maypole. Decorate any tree in your yard with ribbons and bows. The Divine Union of the Lord and Lady is celebrated on this holiday.

Litha (Summer Solstice, Midsummer)

The longest day of the year (on or around June 21st), it is a good time for working on business needs or a situation where male energy is needed. Midsummer Night's Eve is also a great time to commune with field and forest sprites and faeries.

Lughnassadh (Lammas)

Represents the beginning of the harvest cycle, on August 1st. Traditionally, bread is baked for this holiday. Canning and stocking magickal cabinets happens now. Herbs for magickal use should be harvested today. Also, this is the best time to prepare your house for the fall seasons.

Mabon (Autumn Equinox)

Celebrated on or around September 21st, this second harvest festival is associated with the taking of corn and other foods that are to be harvested at this time. Cornbread and cider are great additions to the festivities. Now is the time to harvest the rest of your herbs for drying. River stones collected during the summer can be empowered now.

Samhain (Halloween)

October 31st is the Witches' New Year. Honoring of the dead is done now. The veil between the worlds is weakest tonight. Jack-o-lanterns and gourds are the decorations for this holiday. Black candles are burned to ward off negativity.

Sabbat dates for our friends
in the Southern Hemisphere

Yule: on or around June 21st
Imbolc: August 1st
Ostara: on or around September 21st
Beltane: October 31st
Litha: December 20th or 21st
Lughnassadh: February 2nd
Mabon: on or around March 21st
Samhain: May 1st

Thank you, Waters, for this info!


Herbs

Yule: bay, bayberry, chamomile, frankincense, rosemary, sage Imbolc: basil, bay, benzoin, celadine Ostara: celadine, cinquefoil, jasmine, rose, tansy, violets Beltane: almond, ash, cinquefoil, frankincense, marigold, meadowsweet, woodruff Litha: chamomile, cinquefoil, elder flower, fennel, lavender, mugwort, thyme, vervain Lughnassadh: cornstalks, heather, frankincense, wheat Mabon: benzoin, marigold, myrrh, sage, thistle Samhain: heather, mullein, patchouli, sage

Decorations

Yule: holly, juniper, mistletoe, moss, oak, pine cones, cedar, evergreen, blessed thistle Imbolc: angelica, myrrh, yellow flowers, white flowers Ostara: acorn, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, honeysuckle, iris, lily, strawberry Beltane: angelica, bluebells, daisy, hawthorn, ivy, lilac, primrose, rose Litha: hemp, larkspur, pine, rose, St. John's wort, wisteria Lughnassadh: acacia flowers, corn ears, hollyhock, myrtle, oak leaves, wheat Mabon: acorns, asters, ferns, honeysuckle, milkweed, mums, oak leaves, pine, rose Samhain: acorns, apples, pumpkins, oak leaves, straw, broom, dittany, ferns, flax

Information from "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" by Silver RavenWolf.

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