Sabbats and descriptions of each
Samhain, or Witches' New Year, the Last Harvest
This holdiday is known by many names. For most of the general population in the United States is called Halloween. It is also known as "Feast of All Saints", "All Hallows", "Hallowe'en", "Mischeif Night", and many other names. For the Wtich, it is a holiday where we honor our dead friends, relatives, ancestors, and even our pets who have passed on. We remember them by putting an extra plate at the dinner table for them. This is also the night on which the veil between our world and the spirit world is at its thinnest. This isnt to say we all whip out the ouija board and bother resing souls (most pagans and Wiccans do not have much good to say about the ouija board, some have never even touched one before). Some do try and contact their ancestors, but some prefer to just honor them with a prayer and a place at the table.This is also when it is tradional to celebrate the last harvest before the falling of Winter snow. Other activities may include the tarot cards for the new year, and other traditional Halloween things like "Trick-or-treating" for candy, dressing up, bobbing for apples and having a new-year party because the wheel begins to turn again.
Yule-Winter Solstice
This is a joyous holiday indeed. This is not a rip-off of the Christian Christmas, becasue many divine babies were born at this time. Mithras is one example. There are many things that are still celebrated today by Christians that have pagan origins. The Yule tree, decorated with all sorts of decorations. Pagans of hte ancient times probably decorated with candles and food, instead of lights and colored balls.
The wreath, the misletoe and hte Yule-log (with the sun etched onto it symbolizing the Baby Sun God's return) burning in the fire-place, and they say that Santa was once a Shaman.
Religious signifigance is that our God is once again born from the Goddess. The Goddess now sleeps until Imbolic to awaken again as a young maiden.
Imbolc
This is the holiday where we are reminded that Spring will be here soon. The Earth still sleeps under her blanket of snow, and the Young Maiden Goddess is beginning to awaken from her long winter's nap. Theis is when the groundhog comes out to tell us if we are still going to have a lot of winter left. Traditionally, this is the time when we coax the Goddess to awaken during our Imbolc ritual.
Ostara, Spring Equinox
Fertility now is beginning to rise up slowly from the earth. This holiday is where the tradition of two symbols of fertility came from which are still used today by Christians who aren't aware of their orgins. The bunny and the egg. This is hte time of year when we decorate eggs, and the bunny hides them. The basket full of decorated eggs symbolizes the womb full of fertility almost ready to burst forth onto the Earth. This is the time of year in which we celebrate the courtship of hte Goddess and God. Becasue she gave birth to him at Yule does not mean that this is incest. This Symbolism is nature. The Goddess and God play the parts of all our lives. At one point we are all of their aspects, so this is how they represent us. A female maiden, a mother, a crone; and a male is a boy, a father, and a grandfather at some point in their lives. They are merely symbolically living in terms we can all understand. You celebrate by taking a walk through a nature-trail or into your backyard to recognize the changes in the Earth as she awakens even more.
Beltaine-May Day
This holiday is a fertility holiday. Crops are blessed for the coming year, and dancing around the phallic may-pole is a tradition still carried on today by some people. This holiday represents the sacred union of the Goddess and God. Ferrility bursts forth from the shell that once contained it and the greenery of the Earth is fast returning in full-force.
Midsummer-summer solstice
This is the holiday that Shakespeare based "A Midsummer Night's Dream " on. This is a time for high magick, faery magick, balefires (bonfires), promises of a bountiful harvest, and visions of a pregnant Goddess. This is the time when the power and energies of magick are at their highest. Draw down the sun as you would draw down the moon, but use a wand or athame instead of a chalice and feel the power of manhood at it's peak.
Lughnassadh ( pronounced Loo NAHS ah)
This holiday is the first of the three harvest holidays. The work of the summer and spring is finally paying off in the first harvest. Offerings of bread can be offered to feary folk, and left for wild animals. During this time you may wish to honor the pregnant Goddess, and the waning energy of the Sun God, as the sun begins to fade. You can honor them by leaving libations (offerings) of bread and cider.
Mabon (fall Equinox)
This is the second of the three harvest sabbats. The Goddess is now heavily pregnant with the God, and the God's warmth is still slowly fading away. As his power fades, the Goddess begins to mourn his warmth, but she knows his power will return at Yule. The Goddess and God are honored by leaving another offering offering of the second offering, if you are of age you may leave an offering of wine. Thank the Goddess and God for the bountiful harvests, and wonderful year of teaching and lesson-giving.
Esbats
Are tradionally held on Full or New Moons, but can actually be held any time you wish when you want to honor the dieties!
When held on a full-moon you may use milk as the drink, and crescent-shaped cookies, or cakes for the simple feast. It is another holiday to say "thank you" to them and time to honor them especially if something special has happened recently that you fell They have had a hand in it. They appreciate it!
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