Imbolc, also known as Imbolg, is one of the Greater Sabbats. It is also called Brigid’s Day or Candlemas. Brigid’s Day is one of two pagan holidays associated with a specific God or Goddess. The other one is Lughnasadh. Pagans celebrate Imbolc between February 1st and 2nd, roughly halfway between Yule and Ostara. Saturnalia – The most popular of all ancient Roman holiday’s. The Agriculture God Saturn is honored from the 17th through the 23rd. Many of the traditions of this holiday are considered the source of modern-day traditions of Christmas, including wreaths, candles, feasting and exchanging of gifts.

Bonewits, Isaac (2006). Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism. New York, New York: Kensington Publishing Group. pp.179, 183–4, 128–140. ISBN 0-8065-2710-2. Yule (Christmas) , Ostara (Easter), and Samhain (Halloween) are the most well-known. But there are other celebrations throughout the year that bear great importance to witches, wiccans, and pagans. Diwali – One the most important holidays of Hindu, Jainism, and Sikhism, commonly known as the festival of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. This festival can be celebrated in many ways. No matter how informal or festive you wish your celebrations to be, it is up to you. There are many ways to celebrate. You can celebrate it with family and friends, or you can be more introspective and observe it on your own.Raven Grimassi (2000). Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft. St Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn Worldwide. p.219. ISBN 9781567182576. Let’s take a look at the traditional four seasons and the energies they bring to us during the Wheel of the Year. Observing the cycle of the seasons has been important to many people, both ancient and modern. Modern pagan festivals that rely on the Wheel are based to varying degrees on folk traditions, regardless of actual historical pagan practices. [2] Some Wiccans use the term sabbat ( / ˈ s æ b ə t/) to refer to each festival. [3] Origins [ edit ] Farrar, Janet and Stewart (1988). Eight Sabbats for Witches, revised edition. Phoenix Publishing. ISBN 0-919345-26-3. Wiccans celebrate Imbolc as the first day of Spring. It’s also known as Candlemas, Saint Brigid’s Day, and Imbolg. This festival is all about marking the growing of the light. As Wiccans, we often mark it by lighting candles. The Goddess, who has been sleeping since she gave birth during the Yule sabbat, now awakens.

Mabon coincides with the final harvest of the year. This is a time to recognize the bounties of summer giving way to the stillness of winter.Many Wiccan, modern Druids, and eclectic modern pagans incorporate a narrative of the Holly King and Oak King as rulers of the waning year and the waxing year respectively. These two figures battle endlessly with the turning of the seasons. At the summer solstice, the Holly King defeats the Oak King and commences his reign. [57] :94 After the Autumn equinox the Oak King slowly begins to regain his power as the sun begins to wane. Come the winter solstice the Oak King in turn vanquishes the Holly King. [57] :137After the spring equinox the sun begins to wax again and the Holly King slowly regains his strength until he once again defeats the Oak King at the summer solstice. The two are ultimately seen as essential parts of a whole, light and dark aspects of the male God, and would not exist without each other. [13] [58] [59] [60]

Full Wolf Moon (4:08 PM, MST) – January’s full moon is called the Wolf Moon. The very cold air carried the howling of hungry wolves across many miles. Other names include the Spirit Moon, Greeting Moon, Cold Moon, Hard Moon, Frost Moon, and the Center Moon.a b c d e f Drury, Nevill (2009). "The Modern Magical Revival: Esbats and Sabbats". In Pizza, Murphy; Lewis, James R (eds.). Handbook of Contemporary Paganism. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill Publishers. pp.63–67. ISBN 9789004163737. Beltane is May 1. It is the Gaelic start of Summer. There is little doubt that this is why Christians adopted Easter to be around this time (to be in sync with Pagan “rebirth” rites). Bonfires are a widely practiced tradition. Jumping over the fire is a way to bring blessings while sending animals through the smoke is believed to protect them. Another recognizable symbol is the maypole, decorated with greenery and ribbons and erected for you and your coven to dance around. Tarot Spread for Beltane Lammas – Many modern-day pagans interchange Lammas with Lughnasadh except that it only focuses on the harvest aspects.

Samhain is often considered to be the ‘Witches’ New Year.’ It usually falls on or around Halloween, All Hallow’s Day, and the Day of the Dead. Death and the spirit world are the focus of this festival, as well as mindfulness of the cyclical nature of life and the world. The God may be dying, but he will be reborn again at Yule.This spread is meant for you to reflect on your year and give thanks. Think about what you’ve been given, what you’ve accomplished, and what lessons you can take with you. Mabon gets its name from a prominent figure from Welsh literature and mythology, Mabon ap Modron, although the sabbat itself has little to do with the myth. Mabon is a festival of thanksgiving to the Earth for providing us with such a bounty. You can incorporate it into many aspects of your life. Depending on your preference, you can make your observances informal or festive.