What are the Pagan/Wiccan Sabbats?

Wheel of the Year

Instead of following the commercialised holidays that are related to Christian festivals, we celebrate the traditionally Pagan festivals that many of the Christian festivals were adapted from. There are 8 Sabbat celebrations which all tie in to the four seasons of the year, Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.

The Sabbats are here to help us celebrate the natural world and the earths cycle that we couldn't live without. There are 4 main Sabbats: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh. These greater Sabbats occur when the earths energy is at its peak. They were traditionally known as the 'Fire Festivals' honouring the Sun gods.

The lesser Sabbats mark the points where one seasons transitions into the next, the astronomical beginning of a new seasons. They always occur on the solstice or equinox. Solstice is a term for the two occasions of the year when the sun is directly above either the further pointing north or the furthest point south of the equator that it ever reaches. The equinox is a term for another twice-yearly occurrence when the sun crosses the equator, so day and night are at equal lengths. Most Pagans/Wiccans celebrate these eight Sabbats annually:

Samhain, All Souls Night, Festival of Remembrance: 31st October - 1st November

For many Wiccans, Samhain (pronounced sah-wen) marks the New Year and is the most important Sabbat. It’s the time to remember our ancestors and lost loved ones and celebrate their lives. It is also the time to celebrate the 3rd and final harvest of the year and all that has been accomplished over the year. “The dark half of the year.” Celebrants believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during Samhain, allowing more interaction between humans and spirits. Click HERE for our in depth blog post on Samhain.

Yule, Yuletide or Winter Solstice: 20th December - 1st January

Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice the 21st December is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. We keep a fire burning and light shining on this night until the sun rises (hence the term Yule Log) Some Pagans/Wiccans consider Yule to be either the year’s beginning or the end. This is the time to celebrate the return of the light. Yule is the solar turning of the tides, and the newborn Sun offers a fresh start and, literally, a new day. It’s a time of renewal and hope and that longer days are near.

Imbolc, Imbolg, or Brigid’s Day: 2nd February

Imbolc, is a preparation for spring. At Imbolc, Wiccans clean and organize their living environments, as well as their minds and hearts, in preparation for the upcoming season of growth. It’s a time to shake off the doldrums of late winter and light the fires of creativity and inspiration.

Ostara or Spring Equinox: 19th - 21st March

Ostara is a celebration of the start of spring, when day and night have become at perfect balance with each other once again on the journey through the Wheel of the Year. At this time the light begins to take over the darkness and signs of spring are starting to show - new life and growth are appearing all around us. It's a time for fertility, new growth and the birth of animals and insects too. This is why hares ("Easter rabbits") are the main symbol for Ostara. The sun is slowly awakening with it's light becoming warmer and stronger to its full potential.

Beltane or May Day: 30th April - 1st May

Beltane marks half way between Ostara (The Spring Equinox) and Litha (The Summer Solstice) it honours love, life, fertility and the returning of Summer. All of the Earth's energies are at their strongest and most active; fertility, sexuality, passion. Energy and new life are at their peak at this time. The festival is to ensure a good growing season and a bountiful harvest. Beltane is light-hearted and joyful it is also a good time for bringing hopes, dreams and aspirations to life.

Litha, Summer Solstice or Midsummer: 19th - 23rd June

Litha is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. Light triumphs, but will now begin to fade into darkness as autumn approaches. The crops are planted and growing. The woods and forests have reached their peak fullness. This is the time of abundance for wildlife, including people!

Lughnasadh: 29th July - 1st August

Lughnasadh (pronounced Loo-nasa) is the celebration of harvest; it's the realisation that the green earth's energies and bustling growth are beginning to slow down, darker and colder days will arrive soon and the summer is coming to an end. The warm days are still lingering but the Sun is slowly losing its strength, marking the beginning of the harvest season. The seeds fall from the crops into the earth where they will now rest all through the winter, until they return at Imbolc.

Mabon or Autumn Equinox: 20th, 21st, 22 or 23 September

At Mabon, the day and the night are equal in length once again, in sublime balance. For many locations, Mabon coincides with the final harvest of grain, fruits, and vegetables. Mabon, also called Harvest Home, is the time of thanksgiving to the earth for (hopefully) a bountiful harvest. The beauty and bounty of summer gives way to the desolation of winter, and the darkness overtakes the light.

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