Wheel of the Year
Date Name Summary
31st April Samhain (The name Samhain means 'end of summer'.) Also known as All Hallows Eve. Pronounced Sown (rhymes with clown) The Pagan New Year. The begining of winter. The festival of the dead. At Samhain we recognise that life must be limited by death, and yet we have the hope of rebirth. This is not a time of fear, but a time to understand more deeply that life and death are part of a sacred whole. It is a time of reflection, to look back over the past year
21st June Yule is the Winter Solstice (The shortest Day). Pronounced Yula. Yule represents the rebirth of light. Related to the Druidic festival of Alban Arthan, or Arthurs light, when gifts are given to those less fortunate than yourself.
2nd August Imbolc (comes from the Celtic word for lamb). Also called Oimelc and Candlemas It celebrates the start of spring & the banishing of winter. The time when new lambs are born. This is a time to plant seeds and bulbs. Imbolc's themes are renewal and purification. It is a regeneration from Dark to light. Candles are placed in windows to symbolise the return of the sun.
21st September Ostara is the Spring equinox. Also called Eostre (the Anglo- Saxon Goddess of fertility.) Ostara symbolizes balance of energies and resurrection. The point of equilibrium. Our lives quicken with the fertility of the land. This is a time of beginnings and of action. I time to tend the garden. The rabbit & eggs are symbols of fertility. The Sun grows in power and the land begins to bloom.
1st November Beltane is the beginning of Summer. Beltane has often been marked with May poles, symbolizing the mystery of the sacred marriage of Goddess and God. A time to celebate new life in all its forms. This is the festival of the hunt, fire and fertility. A time of self discovery, love, union and personal growth.
21st December Litha is the Summer solstice- the longest day. The midpoint of Summer. Litha's themes are abundance and diversity. The Earth is at her most friutful. Midsummer is a good time for magic. It is also a time of reflection, as the sun will decline from now on.
1st February Lughnasadh, pronounced Loo-nassa. Also called Lamass This is the festival of the 1st harvest. It is the end of summer and the beginning of Autumn. The themes are sacrifice and transformation. It also celebrates the joy of willing sacrifice and it's rewards. We remember that nothing is constant and remember the joys and warmth of the Summer. A celebration of the fruits of the first harvest & all that is in bloom, life and fertility, baking bread, beginning new goals and new ideas, and sharing your knowledge with others. 
            It is said there is a 3 day window during which you can celebrate any festival. The day before, the day and the day afterwards.
           The wheel of the year is divided into 8 seasonal festivals. 4 of these festivals have fixed dates: Beltane, Lughnasadh, Samhain, Imbolc.
           The other 4 festivals are quarter days Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mabon. These days vary according to the Sun and Moon. They are the
           equinox and solstice days. These festivals are also known as sabbats. It is certain that these modern festicals are not celebrated
           on the same days as the pre-calender festivals. The Major Sabbats (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh) would have been
           celebrated according to events taking place in the world around. The major sabbats are fire festivals with Samhain being the most
           important, followed by Beltane. Samhain and Beltane are known as intercalary days (days outside the calender). On these days the
           veil between the spirit world and our world are thinnest and this is why they are used for divination purposes. Imbolc would have been
           celebrated when the 1st buds appeared on trees and lambs were born. Beltane when the May blossom appeared. Lughnasadh at the
           start of harvest and Samhain with the first frost. Yule and Litha are solstices. At Yule the days are shortest and at Litha the days are
           longest. Ostara and Mabon are equinoxes. At these times day and night are of equal length. These dates vary due to the movement
           of the sun. These festivals are the minor sabbats. Many of these dates coincide with dates of Christian festivals. This is due to the
           fact that most religions have roots in Celtic or Summer times. Both these people believed many of the concepts witches hold to be
           true. Also new religions found it easier to try and maintain holiday dates when taking over from an older religion. Pagan religions were
           happy to celebrate side by side with newer religions.