The Sabbats

     The dates vary depending on when the actual Solstices and Equinoxes are and also by which tradition is followed.  Tradition also determines the name of the Sabbats.  The Solstices and Equinoxes are the quarters of the year represented by Yule, Ostara, Midsummer and Mabon.  The cross quarters are the other four Sabbats: Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh & Samhain.    Brief descriptions (these are partly my interpretations) of the Sabbats are listed below.  The descriptions listed are the stories of the Goddess and the God - symbolisms of nature and it's existence.  They are not of actual physical people.
 Yule (Winter Solstice) - circa December 21st
Yule (pronounced yew-l) is the time of the year when the Sun is the lowest in the sky making it the shortest day of the year.  This day is symbolized as the Goddess (the Earth) giving birth to the God (the Sun).  All the days after this one will grow longer until Midsummer.  Candles and fires are lit on this night (where the idea for Christmas lights came from)  and the fire in the hearth is kept burning until sunrise as a symbol to "lure" the Sun to return so the Earth can once again become fertile.  Usually, the large log that is placed in the hearth is decorated for the festivities.  It is known as the Yule Log.
Imbolc- circa February 2nd
The name Imbolc (pronounced im-bowl-k) means "ewe's milk".  This is the time of the year when pregnant sheep and cattle begin producing milk.  A sure sign that Spring is not far away.  Imbolc is symbolic of the Goddess recovering from the birth of the god.  Candles are again an important part of this Sabbat and are lit in reassurance of the Sun's return.  Other names for this holiday include Candlemas and Groundhog Day. 
Ostara (Spring Equinox) - circa March 20th
This is one of two days during the Wheel of the Year when day and night are of equal length.  The name Ostara (pronounced oh-star-rah) is of Germanic origin and is the name of their Virgin Goddess.  Ostara is the time when resurrections are celebrated.  The Earth coming back to life.  Trees start to send out new buds, and a few flowers, like Crocus, start emerging.  One common story of resurrection is of Persephone.  Persephone, the maiden of Spring, had traveled to the Underworld.  When her mother, Demeter (Goddess of Corn and of the Harvest) discovered her missing, she was so stricken with sorrow that she refused to let anything flourish.  The Earth became frozen and barren receiving no gifts from Demeter until she could have her daughter back.  Eventually, an agreement was made where Persephone would spend half the year with Hades in the Underworld and the other half with her mother.  Each Spring Persephone is guided back to the Earthly realm by Hecate so to be united with her mother and the Earth can become fruitful once again.  This is also the time of the year when birds start laying eggs.  Because of this, ancient pagan tradition holds the egg as a symbol of new life and is revered at Ostara.

Beltane - circa May 1st
Also known as May Day, Beltane (pronounced bell-tayn) is the celebration of fertility. Known as the Great Rite, the Goddess (in her Maiden form at this time of year) and the God unite so the land can be fruitful once again.  Celebrations include dancing and singing around Maypoles and balefires, and flowers are placed about the home.  Beltane fire ashes would be spread throughout the fields to ensure a fruitful crop.  Beltane usually marks the end of the planting season and the beginning of tending the crops.  Honey is also an important part of Beltane.  It is used in the making of Meade, a Celtic ale.  This ale was believed to be an aphrodisiac.  It was consumed by couples who wished to mate and then marry in one month's time.  This is where the word honeymoon comes from.  Honey - from the Meade, and moon - the one month until they would be wed in June.  Hence, 'June Bride'.

Midsummer (Summer Solstice) - circa June 20th
Midsummer marks the longest day of the year and the shortest night.  It is opposite Yule on the Wheel of the Year.  In other parts of the world, this Sabbat is also known as Litha, Gathering Day and All Couple's Day.  Summer marks the time of year of the Mother aspect of the Goddess and she is represented as being pregnant with the coming harvest.  To celebrate the longest day of the year, balefires are lit the night before the Sabbat and kept burning until sunset on the night of Midsummer.  Because this Sabbat honors the Sun, festivities are traditionally done during the day, starting with the sunrise, and last all day.
Lughnasadh - circa August 1st
After the Solstice, the next Sabbat is Lughnasadh (pronounced loo-nah-sah).  Lughnasadh, roughly translated, means August and this Sabbat starts the beginning of the three harvests in the year.  Other names for this Sabbat include Lammas, First Harvest and August Eve.  The largest feast of the year is on this day and includes such foods as fruit, corn, and grains which have begun to be harvested. Canning is also started to preserve the harvested foods throughout the year.  The Goddess of the Corn and of the Harvest, Demeter, is also honored at this time.  This is also a good time to collect herbs for future use, until Lughnasadh the following year when they can be harvested again.

Mabon (Autumn Equinox) - circa September 23rd
Mabon (pronounced may-bone) lies opposite Ostara on the Wheel and marks the second day in the Wheel of the Year when day and night are of equal length. All over the world, this day is known as the second harvest.  This Sabbat is the original 'Thanksgiving' date.  It was 'moved' to November by the Pilgrims (who landed in Massachusetts in 1620) with their celebration of thanking the Indian, Squanto, for showing them how to survive in New England. Festivities of Mabon include dancing, feasting, making cider, collecting nuts and berries, and leaving an offering of food outside for the animals.  Wine is an important part of celebrating this Sabbat by honoring the God of Wine, Dionysus, for this is the time when grapes are harvested and made into wine.  The familiar German Ocktoberfest was also celebrated on this date.  During Mabon, the Sun is noticeably lower in the sky and the year is waning, marking the Crone aspect of the Goddess in the Wheel of the Year.
Samhain - circa October 31st
Also known as Halloween, Samhain (pronounced sow-in. The 'ow' sounds the same as in the word 'town'.) is the third and final harvest of the year.  Celebrated as the Celtic New Year, Samhain is a time to remember those who have died and to celebrate reincarnation.  Candles are placed inside carved-out gourds (the jack-o-lantern) to show the spirits of relatives (where trick-or-treaters come in to play) their way home to join in the festivities of this night.  Plates of food are left outside overnight to feed the spirits (hence, giving candy to trick-or-treaters).  The Goddess is now in her full Crone phase and has been deformed by modern society as a scary green hag with her cauldron at her side.  The Crone is actually the Goddess in her ever-wise and knowledgeable phase of life.  The cauldron represents the womb, in which all things that have died, will be reborn.  This includes the God, who dies and passes through the veil that separates the living from the dead on this night.  He is then reborn at Yule and the Wheel of the Year makes another full turn.  

The Sabbats by Edain McCoy
Wicca, The Complete Craft by D.J. Conway
Herbal Rituals by Judith Berger
The Witches' Almanac
The Old Farmer's Almanac

The 'Further Reading' page within this site also lists additional books available.

Back to Hazel's Book of Shadows