THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR
Witchcraft believes in the idea of life after birth, and this is represented
by the eight holidays or Sabbats. They follow on from Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn - birth, growth, life,
death etc ... the wheel turns on and on. The Sabbats are the eight points at which we connect the inner and the
outer cycles; where the seasonal, the celestial, the communal, the creative, and the personal all meet.
Rituals are carried out to celebrate each of the Sabbats. These rituals may include music, singing, drama, (often
reinactment of myths) poetry and masquing, and even props and special effects. There are no rituals set in stone
for these rituals, creativity is the watch word.
YULE - WINTER SOLSTICE (DECEMBER 20-23)
This is the longest night of the year. It is also the Feast of the Rebirth of the Sun, after which the days begin to grow longer again. Many Christmas customs have a Pagan origin that people are unaware of: the Yule Log, Christmas Tree, Evergreen decorations, Wassailing etc.BRIGID - CANDLEMASS (FEBRUARY 2)
This ritual is dedicated to Brigid, the Goddes of fire and inspirations. This is the feast of the waxing light. What was born of the Winter Solstice grows stronger as the days grow visibly longer.The ritual's significance is to share the light of inspiration which will grow within the coming year.ECOSTAR - SPRING EQUINOX (MARCH 20-23)
This is the time of the Spring's return, when life bursts forth from the earth, and the chains of Winter are finally broken. It is a time of balance when all the elements within us must be brought into a new harmony.BELTANE - MAY EVE (MAY 1)
Also called May Day, this festival is the first day of Summer. It is the beginning of the light half of the year and is a feast of fertility and burgeoning life. All of nature is renewed.LITHA - SUMMER SOLSTICE (JUNE 20-23)
This is the time of the rose, blossom and thorn, fragrance and blood. Now on this longest day, light triumphs, and yet begins the decline into dark. We turn the Wheel and share in the fate, for we have planted the seeds of our own changes, and to grow we must accept even the passing of the Sun.LUGHNASAD OR LAMMAS (AUGUST 1)
This is the festival to celebrate the wake of Lugh, the Sun King who dies with the waning year, and the Corn King who dies when the grain is reaped. In the fields, the grain is ripe but not yet harvested. We have worked hard to bring many things to fruition but the rewards are not yet certain. We celebrate the turning of the wheel, and ask the deities to grant our sucessess.MABON - FALL EQUINOX (SEPTEMBER 20-23)
This is the time of harvest, of thanksgiving and joy, of leave taking and sorrow. Now day and night are equal, in perfect balance, and we give thought to the balance and flow within our own lives. The Season of barrenness is on us, yet we give thanks for that which we have reaped and gathered.SAMHAIN - HALLOWEEN (OCTOBER 31)
The ending of the year at Halloween is the Witches' New Year. And so we end in the beginning, as we should, and the Wheel turns on. The ritual involves taking a plate of bread or cakes and lighting a candle as offering to the beloved dead, and time is spent recalling the memory of friends and relatives who are gone.
