Sabbats
.....Holidays!
Welcome to the information page about the Wiccan's Holiday's we celebrate!
Our holiday's are called Sabbats.
You may notice that they are a little different then some of the holiday's your friends celebrate, but thats o.k. Everyone is unique in their own way.
These Sabbats are also called ' The Wheel of the Year'. (See the page to find out more! )There are 8 sabbats in our Wheel of the Year. Four of them fall on the equinox and solstices. These 4 are called Lesser Sabbats of the year, the other 4 are in between which are called Greater Sabbats.
Celebrating these Sabbats can help us to understand the seasons...spring, summer fall and winter.
They also remind us that our seasons are just like the journey of our Gods life. A journey though his birth, life and sad but true...death.
Lets not forget the Goddess! These Sabbats also teach us about how she lived her life too!
Sabbats
Yule-December 21 ( this is a solstice, so the day may change)
Other names- Winter Solstice
Why we celebrate?
The Goddess gives birth to the God.
Shortest day of the year so from now on we celebrate the return of the sunlight. The amount of sunlight will be longer and longer each day.
What can I do??
Welcome the God back!
Draw a picture of the sun or light a candle with your parents to welcome the god.
Welcome the sun at Sunrise early on the Winter Solstice.
Decorate a Yule tree, make a Yule log, or a wreath decorated with seasonal items. OUR Yule is VERY similar to your friends "Christmas". Actually a lot of our customs are the same!
This is our big Yule log!
Imbolc-Feb 2nd
Goddess Brigid
Other names Candlemas, Lady day
Why do we celebrate?
A time to look forward to the light (sun) warming the earth Goddess.
We are also give wishes to the things that have not been born yet.
What can I do??
Honor the Goddess Brigid as she represents light.
The is a good time of year to clean all of your magical tools.
Send blessings and your wishes into some seeds. Then plant them in a pot.
Remember that the God is still growing and getting stronger every day.
Look outside...do you see any plants starting to bloom?
Question...why do we use Milk at Imbolc
Ostara- March 21st (this is a equinox, so the day may change)
Other names Spring Equinox
Why we celebrate?
The first day of spring!! This is also a time when the sunlight in the sky is equal to the amount of nighttime in the sky.
**Why it is called equinox?
.. because the day and night are Equal.
What can I do??
Time to wake up the Goddess with song and dance.
Color 'Easter' eggs.
The God is getting older and he is helping the Earth Goddess to wake up.
Good time to spring clean... find a magical broom
Beltane-May 1st
Other names May day!
Why we celebrate?
Spring is in full bloom. We begin to feel magic in the air.
This is the time for the marriage of the God and Goddess so for them we celebrate love and happiness.
What can I do??
Weave a maypole!
Make some ribbon swirls and dance around in a circle. (You can sprinkle an outline of your circles with flowers.)
Pay respect to the fairies and sprits by making a special place for them outside. ( Do research to see what they like)
Hint...flowers, milk, honey...shinny objects. But most of all, they like that you remember them!
What else do they like?
This is our Spirit Altar that we made for our fairies, and woodland friends at our Beltane Celebration! You should try it... it was FUN!!
There are more holiday's for you to learn about..... Click on more Sabbats!
© Copyright- Spiral Tree Grove 2001 (updated 2007)
