Sabbats

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Sabbats

Sabbats are like holidays for Wiccans, each having it's own purpose. Below are some of these Sabbats.

IMBOLC: (pronounced EE-Molc)

February 2

This holiday is also known as Candlemas, or Brigid's (pronounced BREED) Day. It is the day that we celebrate the passing of Winter and make way for Spring. It is the day we honor the rebirth of the Sun and we may visualize the baby sun nursing from the Goddess's breast. It is also a day of celebrating the Celtic Goddess Brigid. Brigid is the Goddess of Poetry, Healing, Smithcraft, Midwifery. If you can make it with your hands, Brigid rules it. She is a triple Goddess, so we honor her in all her aspects. This is a time for communing with her, and tending the lighting of her sacred flame. At this time of year, Wiccans will light multiple candles, white for Brigid, for the god usually yellow or red, to remind us of the passing of winter and the entrance into spring, the time of the Sun. This is a good time for initiations, be they into covens or self initiations.

OSTARA:

circa March 21

This marks the Spring Equinox. This is the Pagan "Easter"--or rather, this is the day that Christians borrowed to be their Easter. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter or the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder. Painted eggs, baskets of flowers and the like are generally used to decorate the house. It is common to use this time to free yourself from things which hinder progress. As a day of equilibrium, it is a good time to perform self banishings and also perform workings to gain things we have lost, or to gain qualities we wish to have.

BELTANE:

May 1

This is a holiday of Union--both between the Goddess and the God and between man and woman. Handfastings are traditional at this time. It is a time of fertility and harvest, the time for reaping the wealth from the seeds that we have sown. Celebrations include braiding of one's hair (to honor the union of man and woman and Goddess and God), circling the Maypole for fertility and jumping the Beltane fire for luck. Beltaine is one of the Major Sabbats of the Wiccan religion. We celebrate sexuality (something we see as holy and intrinsic to us as holy beings), we celebrate life and the unity which fosters it. The myths of Beltane state that the the young God has blossomed into manhood, and the Goddess takes him on as her lover. Together, they learn the secrets of the sexual and the sensual, and through their union, all life begins.

MIDSUMMER

June 21 (Summer Solstice)

This is the time of year when the days begin to shorten, and the pagan marks the passing of the Sun father. The Goddess and the God have joined and She is now heavy laden with child. Wiccans traditionally pay homage to loved ones, throw parties for children and bask in the power of the seasons coming. The myth surrounding this holiday is that the Oak king has finally defeated the Holly King (who reigns from Yule until now) and the earth begins to enter a period of gestation--just as the Goddess and God have joined and the Goddess is now ripe with the seed of the new God, the Earth begins to gestate, to mimic the condition of the God and Goddess. This is the time of year when the veil that separates humans from the Faery folk is said to be its thinnest: therefore, this is the best night of the year to attempt to see or talk with a faery.

LUGHNASADH: (pronounced LOO-na-sah)

August 1

"Lughnasadh" means "games of Lugh". Lugh is a Celtic God, and this is his time to shine. Lugh is a hero God, a father God. HE is celebrated through feasting and games. This holiday is especially celebrated among people with talents for crafts, healing, smithing, music, and healing, and Lugh was the God of all these things (and others) This is a time of knowledge: of sharing what you have learned, of learning what other have to offer you. It was traditionally a time to celebrate the harvest, and the modern Pagan uses this time to celebrate the harvesting of fruits of knowledge. Students may use this time to concentrate on goals for the upcoming school year. However, it is important to note that this holiday is a festival. Care should be taken to dance, eat, drink, frolic and be merry!

MABON:

circa September 21

This is the Fall Equinox. This is the time when the nights are equal to the days. It is a time of reflection. It is a good time for gathering plants and herbs in the woods and strengthening your knowledge of herbal lore. Mabon is also a wonderful holiday to celebrate food. It is the last festival before the New Year (Samhain), and traditionally people were thankful for the fruits of the year, and for the food the the gods had blessed them with.Many pagans celebrate the passing of the year with great feasts: meats, breads, wine and mead are favorites.

SAMHAIN (pronounced SOW-in)

October 31

Samhain is the Wiccan's New Year. This is the time of year when the veil between the world of the dead and the world of the living is said to be it's thinnest. Spirits and souls of loved ones are said to have more power and ability to visit us.This is the most powerful night of the year to perform divination. This is the time of year for remembering and honoring our dead, and many people will leave a plate of food and a glass of wine out for wandering sprits. (This is often called the Feast of Hecate) Samhain is also a time for personal reflection, and for recognizing our faults and flaws and creating a method for rectifying them.Samhain is celebrated as the Dia de los Muertos in Mexico (Day of the Dead--usually held on November 1) and All Saints Day (also on November 1) by the Catholic church.

YULE

circa Dec. 21

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. The world has laid long periods of darkness, and it grows weary from the lack of sun. Yule is the day the Goddess gives birth to the Sun King. The old Oak King who has ruled the Earth since Midsummer gives his life so that the new infant sun king (or Holly King) can be reborn into the world, bringing the newness of life and rebirth. After this day, the days grow progressively longer, and we celebrate this return of the song through birthing rituals, gift giving (when the sun is born, it is a birth celebration for all of us, hence the tradition of gift giving). It is obvious to see how the Christian Church borrowed the Yule holiday and incorporated their own Deity into the story.


	Bite Me \| home Sabbats Sabbats are like holidays for Wiccans, each having it's own purpose. Below are some of these Sabbats. IMBOLC: (pronounced EE-Molc) February 2 This holiday is also known as Candlemas, or Brigid's (pronounced BREED) Day. It is the day that we celebrate the passing of Winter and make way for Spring. It is the day we honor the rebirth of the Sun and we may visualize the baby sun nursing from the Goddess's breast. It is also a day of celebrating the Celtic Goddess Brigid. Brigid is the Goddess of Poetry, Healing, Smithcraft, Midwifery. If you can make it with your hands, Brigid rules it. She is a triple Goddess, so we honor her in all her aspects. This is a time for communing with her, and tending the lighting of her sacred flame. At this time of year, Wiccans will light multiple candles, white for Brigid, for the god usually yellow or red, to remind us of the passing of winter and the entrance into spring, the time of the Sun. This is a good time for initiations, be they into covens or self initiations. OSTARA: circa March 21 This marks the Spring Equinox. This is the Pagan "Easter"--or rather, this is the day that Christians borrowed to be their Easter. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter or the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder. Painted eggs, baskets of flowers and the like are generally used to decorate the house. It is common to use this time to free yourself from things which hinder progress. As a day of equilibrium, it is a good time to perform self banishings and also perform workings to gain things we have lost, or to gain qualities we wish to have. BELTANE: May 1 This is a holiday of Union--both between the Goddess and the God and between man and woman. Handfastings are traditional at this time. It is a time of fertility and harvest, the time for reaping the wealth from the seeds that we have sown. Celebrations include braiding of one's hair (to honor the union of man and woman and Goddess and God), circling the Maypole for fertility and jumping the Beltane fire for luck. Beltaine is one of the Major Sabbats of the Wiccan religion. We celebrate sexuality (something we see as holy and intrinsic to us as holy beings), we celebrate life and the unity which fosters it. The myths of Beltane state that the the young God has blossomed into manhood, and the Goddess takes him on as her lover. Together, they learn the secrets of the sexual and the sensual, and through their union, all life begins. MIDSUMMER June 21 (Summer Solstice) This is the time of year when the days begin to shorten, and the pagan marks the passing of the Sun father. The Goddess and the God have joined and She is now heavy laden with child. Wiccans traditionally pay homage to loved ones, throw parties for children and bask in the power of the seasons coming. The myth surrounding this holiday is that the Oak king has finally defeated the Holly King (who reigns from Yule until now) and the earth begins to enter a period of gestation--just as the Goddess and God have joined and the Goddess is now ripe with the seed of the new God, the Earth begins to gestate, to mimic the condition of the God and Goddess. This is the time of year when the veil that separates humans from the Faery folk is said to be its thinnest: therefore, this is the best night of the year to attempt to see or talk with a faery. LUGHNASADH: (pronounced LOO-na-sah) August 1 "Lughnasadh" means "games of Lugh". Lugh is a Celtic God, and this is his time to shine. Lugh is a hero God, a father God. HE is celebrated through feasting and games. This holiday is especially celebrated among people with talents for crafts, healing, smithing, music, and healing, and Lugh was the God of all these things (and others) This is a time of knowledge: of sharing what you have learned, of learning what other have to offer you. It was traditionally a time to celebrate the harvest, and the modern Pagan uses this time to celebrate the harvesting of fruits of knowledge. Students may use this time to concentrate on goals for the upcoming school year. However, it is important to note that this holiday is a festival. Care should be taken to dance, eat, drink, frolic and be merry! MABON: circa September 21 This is the Fall Equinox. This is the time when the nights are equal to the days. It is a time of reflection. It is a good time for gathering plants and herbs in the woods and strengthening your knowledge of herbal lore. Mabon is also a wonderful holiday to celebrate food. It is the last festival before the New Year (Samhain), and traditionally people were thankful for the fruits of the year, and for the food the the gods had blessed them with.Many pagans celebrate the passing of the year with great feasts: meats, breads, wine and mead are favorites. SAMHAIN (pronounced SOW-in) October 31 Samhain is the Wiccan's New Year. This is the time of year when the veil between the world of the dead and the world of the living is said to be it's thinnest. Spirits and souls of loved ones are said to have more power and ability to visit us.This is the most powerful night of the year to perform divination. This is the time of year for remembering and honoring our dead, and many people will leave a plate of food and a glass of wine out for wandering sprits. (This is often called the Feast of Hecate) Samhain is also a time for personal reflection, and for recognizing our faults and flaws and creating a method for rectifying them.Samhain is celebrated as the Dia de los Muertos in Mexico (Day of the Dead--usually held on November 1) and All Saints Day (also on November 1) by the Catholic church. YULE circa Dec. 21 The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. The world has laid long periods of darkness, and it grows weary from the lack of sun. Yule is the day the Goddess gives birth to the Sun King. The old Oak King who has ruled the Earth since Midsummer gives his life so that the new infant sun king (or Holly King) can be reborn into the world, bringing the newness of life and rebirth. After this day, the days grow progressively longer, and we celebrate this return of the song through birthing rituals, gift giving (when the sun is born, it is a birth celebration for all of us, hence the tradition of gift giving). It is obvious to see how the Christian Church borrowed the Yule holiday and incorporated their own Deity into the story.