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Sabbats are the
name given to the 8 seasonal celebrations in the Pagan year. Where
other religions have a day as their holy day, a pagan would consider these
times of year to be holy. They mark the Equinoxes and Solstices,
as well as other festivals, such as the First, second and third harvests
and the Celtic New Year. Most Sabbats have 2 names, One being the
Celtic name, and the other being the common name, for example Samhain is
also known as Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve. Yule is also known as
the Winter Solstice.
The Sabbats
started out as a way for the Ancient Pagans to celebrate the changes in
Mother Earth, and to acknowledge the seasons. It may not seem relevant
to modern Pagans to pray over a loaf of bread, and ask that your family
be well fed over the winter months, as these days we do not have those
same concerns. But our Pagan Ancestors did, and the celebrations
we do today reflect the concerns of those times, as well as celebrating
the seasons and the changing wheel of the Year/Life.
Some Sabbats
coincide with other religious festivals, such as Christmas and Easter.
Part of this reason is said to be because as Christians were seeking to
convert Pagans to Christianity, they added their own celebrations at the
same time of year, borrowing some customs. Presumably this would
have been done to ease the transition into Christianity or simply to try
and entice the Pagans into Christianity. With the story
of the birth of Christ, many people (including Christians) are saying that
this did not take place in December. The Pagan symbolism of the birth
of the Sun God is certainly a similar concept, so it is not surprising
that we celebrate Yule at Christmas time (Well, in the Northern Hemisphere
anyway).
Southern
and Northern Hemispheres
As Paganism
was first practiced in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sabbat dates relate
to seasonal changes on their calender, which occur at different times to
the Southern Hemisphere. Winter is in December in the Northern Hemisphere,
but it is in June in the Southern Hemisphere. A Southern Hemisphere Pagan
will have to decide whether to change the Sabbat dates to relate to Southern
Hemisphere dates, or to keep them in the “Traditional” dates. Celebrating
the seasons when it is actually that season where you are, is the best
way to go in my opinion, but there are pagans who follow the Northern Hemisphere
dates and find that works for them. Of course it may be a little
odd celebrating Yule (Winter Solstice) in December when it's summer, yet
Trick or Treating in April will bring you some odd looks indeed!
So many Southern hemisphere Pagans choose to distinguish things like Halloween
and "Christmas" as the modern commercialised celebration, and Beltane and
Litha as the seasonal (Sabbat) celebration. So for example they might
have a Halloween party on Oct 31 as well as celebrate Beltane as a Sabbat.
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The Wheel
of the Year
The Wheel
of the year refers to the way in which the seasons occur in a cyclic fashion.
Summer rolls into Autumn, Autumn into Winter and so on.
If you look
at the seasons on a wheel, In the Southern Hemisphere, summer/January falls
at the top of the top of the wheel, and winter at the bottom. If you reverse
the wheel, so that Winter is at the top, then you would have the Northern
Hemisphere wheel. |
When you place
the Sabbats into the Wheel at their corresponding month/season, you get
the wheel of the year. The Solstices and Equinoxes fill in the North,
South, East and West points, with the remaining Sabbats in the spokes between
them.
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Northern Hemisphere Wheel
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Southern Hemisphere Wheel
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(wheel Pictures courtesy of Bren)
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The Sabbats
occur on the following dates (This is a rough guide, the actual solstice
and Equinox dates may change from year to year) For a truly accurate
date, consult a calendar which marks the solstices and Equinoxes.
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The Sabbats
dates for the Northern hemisphere:
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The Sabbats
dates for the Southern hemisphere:
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| Yule- Winter
Solstice (December 21) |
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Yule - Winter
Solstice (June 21 ) |
| Imbolc - Candlemas
(February 2) |
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Imbolc- Candlemas
(August 1) |
| Ostara- Eostar/Spring
Equinox (March 21) |
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Ostara- Eostar/Spring
Equinox (September 21) |
| Beltane- May
Day (April 30) |
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Beltane- May
Day (October 31) |
| Midsummer-
Litha/Summer Solstice (June 21) |
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Midsummer-
Litha/Summer Solstice (Dec 21) |
| Lughnasadh-
Lammas (August 1) |
|
Lughnasadh-
Lammas (February 2) |
| Mabon-
Autumn Equinox (September 21) |
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Mabon-
Autumn Equinox (March 21) |
| Samhain- Halloween
(October 31) |
|
Samhain- Halloween
(April 30) |
Ok, so how
do you pronounce those?
Yule = yool
Litha = Li-th-a
Lammas = Laa-muss
Mabon = May-bon
Imbolc = im-bulk
im-bowl-c or im-bowl-g |
Ostara = o-star-a
Eostar = E-o-star
Beltane =
Bell-tane
Lughnasadh
= Loo-na-sa or lug-na-sa
Samhain =
sam-hane or sow-een |
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Information
On The Sabbats
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The following
is some information about the Sabbats and some correspondences.
The "Pagan
belief" tells of the mythology for the Wheel of the Year and the Deity
in some traditions.
Samhain
Samhain celebrates
the eve of the Celtic New Year. It is also known as the “Festival
of the Dead”, because Samhain is a time to honour the Spirit world.
This is a time to reflect the cycle of Life and Death. Samhain is the festival
of the final harvest and marks the beginning of Winter (by traditional
reckoning). It was believed that any foods left uncut in the fields after
Samhain would be taken by the Phookas (nasty hob-goblins) . Samhain
is Gaelic and means "Summer's End". In ancient times the day began
at sunset, which is why many Pagan festivals start on the last day of a
month - as they would begin the celebration at sunset. As the
darkness symbolised a beginning rather than an ending, the darkness in
Pagan festivals and traditions is usually thought to be a beginning also.
At Samhain the veil between the spirit realm and the realm of man is at
its weakest, and it is a good time for all sorts of magic, divination,
and inner workings. It is customary to leave a plate of food
outside your house for the souls of the dead as they journey to the underworld,
or to bury an apple as a symbolic gesture to feed the souls who are travelling
to the underworld. It is also customary to light a candle/lantern
and place it in a window to help guide the Souls of the dead in their journey.
Some typical Samhain activities are bobbing for apples, scrying, making
masks, visiting graves and making Jack-o-lanterns. Bobbing for apples is
actually a prosperity/fertility custom. If you catch one it was believed
that a soul of your soul would enter the apple, and you could either eat
it for prosperity, or bury it to give continued bounty to the fields over
the winter. Mask making was possibly done to frighten off evil spirits,
or as a form of sympathetic magick to aid the travelling souls. Jack-o-Lanterns
were first made in Ireland, where they were used while travelling to frighten
off evil spirits that followed the deceased loved ones, blocking their
entry into the land of the dead. It is a time for remembering those
who have passed over. Some Pagans consider Samhain to be the most
sacred of all Sabbats.
Plants
for Samhain
Chrysanthemum,
Wormwood, Apples, Pears, Hazel, Thistle, Pomegranates, All grains, Harvested
fruits and Nuts, Pumpkin, Corn, Marigold.
Foods for Samhain:
Beets, Turnip, Apples, Squash, Corn, Nuts, Cider, Gingerbread, Mulled wine,
Pumpkin dishes, Meat dishes, Pomegranates.
Stones:
Ruby.
Colours:
Red, black, orange.
Planet:
Mars.
Zodiac:
Scorpio.
Pagan Beliefs:
Time to say Farewell to the God. God is now Lord of the Underworld,
the Goddess is a crone
Samhain Goddesses:
Bast, Cerridwen, Eris, Bast, Cailleach, Cassandra, Fortuna, Frigga, Innana,
Kali, Macha, Mari, Psyche, Hecate, Ishtar, Lilith, The Morrigan, Rhiannon.
Samhain Gods:
Hades, Horned God, Loki, Pluto, Woden, Kronos, Odin, Sekhet.
Yule
Yule is celebrated
at the winter solstice (Or the midpoint of winter). It is the shortest
day of the year, and the longest night. Yule comes from the Germanic "Iul"
meaning "Wheel." Yule celebrates Winter, and the rebirth of the Sun God.
As Yule is the shortest day of the Year it marks the Suns low point, as
after this the Sun will begin to grow stronger again. It is customary to
have a Yule log – this is a log (Traditionally Oak or Pine) that you burn
during this time, and keep it through the year for protection, and add
it to the fire of the following year’s Yule log. If you do not wish
to have a fire, you can use a log with holes drilled into it as a candle
holder which will represent the Yule fire. It is also customary to
light many lights and candles as sympathetic magick to bring the Sun back,
persuading him to emerge from the womb of the Earth mother.. Holly
is traditionally worn by men, and Ivy by women at this time. The
Yule tree (Also known as the Christmas tree) was a wishing tree, the wishes
for the new year hang in the arms of the universe. You can make a
Pagan Yule tree by making decorations from Rose Buds, Cinnamon Sticks,
Pop Corn, Bags of Herbs, Crystals suspended from wire, Apples, Oranges,
Lemons etc. After you have made the tree, dance around it Deosil,
singing and making wishes. A time for Rebirth, reflection, new ideas, dreams,
hopes and giving.
Plants for
Yule: Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Evergreens,
Pine, Cedar, Bay, Juniper, Rosemary, Pine, Apples, Oranges, Nutmeg, Lemon,
Cinnamon, Frankincense.
Foods of Yule:
All "Christmas" foods (eg. Turkey, Roasts, Potatoes etc.), hearty Winter
foods (Stew etc.), Nuts, Apples, Pears, Caraway, Pork, Hibiscus or Ginger
tea.
Stones:
Onyx, Obsidian, Jet.
Colours:
Red, Green, Orange, White.
Element:
Earth.
Planet:
Saturn
Zodiac:
Capricorn.
Pagan belief:
The Goddess gives birth to the God. Some traditions have a Holly
King and an Oak King as the God, and they fight at Yule with the Oak King
winning, and ruling until Litha.
Yule Goddesses:
Fortuna, Gaia, Heket, Lilith, Frey, Ma’at, Pandora, Shekinah, Tiamat.
Yule Gods:
Apollo, Balder, Cronos, Helios, Janus, Lugh, Oak King, Holly King, Ra,
Sol, Attis, mithras, Odin, Saturn.
Imbolc
Imbolc means
"In the Belly", it is the time of the first evidence of the return of life.
The holy day of the Goddess Brigid or Bride. Imbolc is the first
day of Pagan’s Spring. It represents the renewed life of the Earth after
winter and the growing strength of the Sun. It is traditional to light
many candles or turn on all the lights in your house at sunset for this
Festival. This is said to help bring back the Sun, and honour the
return of the Sun. Imbolc is also called Candlemas for this reason.
Imbolc is a time when the ewes began lactating – symbolising the end of
winter, so all dairy foods are used at Imbolc. Some Pagans also celebrate
the Goddess recovering from the birth of the God in Yule. The Bride
doll is often used at Imbolc to symbolise the Goddess Brigid, and as a
symbol of fertility. A doll (usually made of corn husks or wheat
sheaths) is placed in a bed (waiting for her lover) on the Altar, or, some
traditions place the doll in their own bed, and tell it stories of childbirth/child
rearing. The American custom of Ground Hog day is (apparently)
derived from a Pagan festival. A Ground Hog is released at dawn on Imbolc.
If the Ground Hog doesn't see its' shadow it is believed that winter will
end shortly. If the Ground Hog does see its' shadow it is believed that
winter will last longer. It is also traditional to make a wreath
to wear on your head with candles in it (Be careful if you do this though,
as candle wax can drip on you and on the carpet etc.). You can carry
it if you do not wish to wear it. Items you might like to put on
an Altar are: Melted snow (representing a quick end to winter), snowflake
symbols, Wishing well symbol, crossroad symbol. Imbolc is a time
for blessings, healing, purification, rebirth transformation, initiation.
Plants
for Imbolc: Snowdrop, Rowan, Apples,
Potatoes, Corn, Lavender, the first flowers of the year
Foods for Imbolc:
Dairy foods, Spicy foods, White foods, Full-bodied foods, Curries, Peppers,
Onion, Garlic, Raisins, Cinnamon
Stones:
Turquoise
Colours:
White, lavender, Silver.
Element:
Water.
Planet:
Uranus.
Zodiac:
Aquarius.
Pagan belief:
The Goddess is resting after the birth of her child. The God is a
small child.
Imbolc Goddesses:
Anu, Arachne, Arianrhod, Athena, Branwen, Bridgit, Diana, Innana, Selene,
Vesta, Aradia, Brigid, Februa.
Imbolc Gods:
Cupid, Eros, Pax, Februus.
Ostara
Ostara is
celebrated at the Spring Equinox, when day and night are equal. Ostara
is sometimes called "Eostar" (Named after the Goddess Eostre) from which
we get "Easter" (Although not if you are changing the seasons for
the Southern Hemisphere, as Ostara would then be celebrated in September,
not in March). Ostara celebrates renewed life in many forms; eggs,
a symbol of rebirth, are painted in bright colours and used in sacred rites
before being eaten. Baby animals, especially chickens, ducks, and rabbits,
are symbolic of the season. It celebrates the returning fertility after
the dormant winter months. It is customary to take walks through
parks, make daisy chains and celebrate nature. Place a small pot
plant on the Altar and decorate yourself with fresh flowers during Ostara
rituals. An Old Teutonic custom has people wearing new clothes that
they have made to Ostara festivals. A good time to plant new crops.
Ostara is a time to start anew. One traditional spell to do a week
before Ostara is to write down of all injustices you have done to family
and friends. Spend the week trying to set them right and restore
balance. Pay back debts, apologise etc. When you have done
them, burn the paper and symbolically “wipe the slate clean”. Keep an acorn
from the previous Mabon and plant it at Ostara. This represents that
which you wish to see grow with the turning of the Wheel of the Year.
A time of new beginnings.
Plants
for Ostara: Daffodil, Woodruff, Violet,
Gorse, Olive, Peony, Iris, Narcissus, All spring flowers.
Foods for Ostara:
Easter Eggs to symbolise creation and fertility, Seeds, Pine Nuts, Sprouts,
Leafy Vegetables, Flowers (the edible ones), Honey, Eggs.
Stones:
Ruby.
Colours:
Light Green, Lemon yellow, Pale pink.
Element:
Fire.
Planet:
Mars.
Zodiac:
Aries.
Symbols:
Easter Eggs, Eggs, Rabbits, Lambs, Flowers, Things that are new or represent
new beginnings or fertility
Pagan belief:
The Goddess blankets the earth in fertility, the God and Goddess are both
youthful.
Ostara Goddesses:
Aphrodite, Athena, Cybele, Eostre, Gaia, Hera, Juno, Melusine, Vesta, Astarte,
Ishtar, Isis, Persephone, Venus.
Ostara Gods:
Adonis, Cernunnos, Dagda, Horned God, Odin, Osiris, Pan.
Beltane
Beltane is
the beginning of Pagan’s Summer. Beltane is the opposite of Samhain
and is known as the Festival of Life. Beltane (which is also spelled Beltaine
or Bealteinne) comes from the Gaelic word "La Bealteinne" (pronounced
"Law BALL-tuh-nuh), and refers to the sacred Balefires which were lit in
ancient times for the God Bel, or Belenos. Beltane celebrates the union
of Goddess and God which creates a child who is then born at Yule.
Traditional festivities include weaving and plaiting, as these symbolise
union. The May Pole is a Beltane tradition, with the ribbons representing
Goddess (white) and God (red). Women hold the red, men hold the white.
The red ribbons go clockwise and the white ribbons go anti-clockwise.
(Please note: I am not sure if this is reversed in the Southern hemisphere)
Morris dancing is also a traditional Beltane activity, using the Goddess
and God colours, and the bells are to drive away evil. At Beltane,
menstruating women would ride broomsticks (hobby horse style) across fields
to bring fertility to the crops. Beltane is a time of fertility,
so if you are wanting children, now is a good time to try to conceive.
But remember that fertility doesn’t just include physical fertility (making
babies), fertility can be emotional fertility (Bringing to birth
what we wish for). It is believed that if you wash your face in the morning
dew of Beltane morning it will increase beauty.
Plants
for Beltane: Hawthorne, honeysuckle,
St Johns wort, Woodruff, All flowers.
Foods for Beltane:
Dairy foods, Marigold custard, Vanilla, Ice cream, Oatmeal cakes.
Stones:
Emerald, Jade.
Colours:
Bright blue, lavender, Warm pink, Lemon yellow, White, Red.
Element:
Earth.
Planet:
Venus.
Zodiac:
Taurus.
Pagan belief:
The God grows into manhood, the Goddess & God unite.
Beltane Goddesses:
Aphrodite, Artemis, Diana, Rhea, Cybele, Erzulie, Freya, Rhiannon, Shiela-na-gig,
Venus.
Beltane Gods:
Bel, Cernunnos, Cupid, Frey, Orion, Puck, Faunus, Herne, Odin, Pan.
Litha
Litha, or
Midsummer, is celebrated at the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the
Year, and the shortest night. Litha celebrates the very height of
the powers of the Sun and of Life. But it also acknowledges that after
this date the Sun will begin to weaken and the days to grow shorter. Litha
is a time of purification. An Example of a purification Litha spell
is to take a small herbal bag filled with Litha herbs/flowers, put all
your problems, worries etc. into the bag, and drop it into the Litha fire
to burn all those worries away. Litha is also a time to pay attention
to your dreams, as these could contain messages for the future. This
Sabbat is a good time to perform any Magickal workings, and jumping over
a Litha balefire will increase the Magickal energy and give purification
Herbs and plants for ritual use can be harvested at Litha to make use of
the high level of Magick power at this time. Litha is also a time
to make protection amulets, and bless people or animals.
Plants
for Litha: Mugwort, Vervain, Chamomile,
Rose, lily, Oak, Lavender, Ivy, Yarrow, Fern, Elder, Wild thyme, Daisy,
Carnation, St John’s Wort.
Stones:
Moonstone, Quartz, Pearl.
Colours:
Green, Orange, Yellow, Gold.
Element:
Water.
Planet:
Moon.
Zodiac:
Cancer.
Pagan Beliefs:
The Goddess is mature. The God prepares for his death. Some
traditions have the Holly King and the Oak King fighting again, but this
time the Holly King wins, and rules until Yule.
Litha Goddesses:
Athena, Bona Dea, Freya, Hathor, Isis, Juno, Nuit, Artemis, Dana, Eos,
Kali, Sekhmet, Vesta.
Litha Gods:
Apollo, Baal, Dagda, Balder, Helios, lugh, Oak king, Holly King, Prometheus,
Ra, Thor, Sol, Zeus.
Lughnassadh
The name "Lughnassadh"
comes from the Gaelic word "La Lughnassadh," pronounced "Law LOO-nuh-suh,"
and means "Marriage of Lugh." Lugh is the Celtic God of the Sun,
vegetation and the cultivated fields. The "marriage" of Lugh refers to
the Harvest. Lughnassadh is the first harvest. It is traditional
to plant the seeds from any fruit you eat at this time. Some say
Lughnassadh is the Pagan form of Thanksgiving, others say it is Mabon.
Where celebrations honouring the fertility and bounty of the Earth are
performed. Baking bread and planting seeds is a simple way to celebrate
Lughnassadh. You can make corn dollies and hang them in your home, or place
them on the Altar. “Corn” in America is apparently another name for
wheat, so when they talk about Corn Dollies would appear to mean dolls
made from wheat. Lughnassadh is a time for justice, rights, wisdom, feasting
and transformation.
Plants
for Lughnassadh: All grains, grapes,
heather, blackberries, crab apples, pears, sloe, Wheat, Corn, Barley,
Foods for Lughnassadh:
Bread, blackberries, berries, acorns, grains, cake, cider, Wheat, Corn,
Barley, Fruits, Bread.
Stones:
Topaz.
Colours:
Golden yellow, Red.
Element:
Fire.
Planet:
Sun
Zodiac:
Leo.
Pagan Beliefs:
The God dies, the Goddess is with Child.
Lammas Goddesses:
Ceres, Demeter, Frey, Ishtar, Persephone.
Lammas Gods:
Bes, Bran, Lugh, Odin.
Mabon
Mabon is celebrated
at the Autumn Equinox, when day and night are again equal. Mabon is the
second (middle) harvest and marks the mid point of Autumn. You might like
to have a basket of autumn leaves on the Altar to remind you of the things
which were once green and growing, dying off to make way for the new shoots.
Some say Mabon is the Pagan thanksgiving, others say it is Lughnassadh.
The equinoxes represent balance, as the day and night are equal, so therefore
the Goddess and God are at equal strength, which creates a balance in the
Yin and Yang energies. It was traditional to start making patchwork
quilts at Mabon, in preparation for the coming winter months. You
could make a patchwork pillowcase, cushion cover or tablecloth if you do
not wish to make a quilt. Mabon is a time for completion, abundance,
giving thanks and feasting. Take a walk in the wild places, forests
etc. Gather seedpods and dried plants.
Plants for
Mabon: Hazel, corn, Aspen, Acorns, Oak
sprigs, Autumn leaves, Wheat stalks, Cypress cones, Pine cones.
Foods for Mabon:
Grains, fruit, vegetables, corn, corn bread, beans, cider, harvest foods.
Stones:
Emerald, Jade.
Colours:
Red, Orange, Yellow, Brown.
Element:
Air.
Planet:
Venus.
Zodiac:
Libra.
Pagan beliefs:
The Goddess is the mother of Earth, God is a shadowy presence
Mabon Goddesses:
Morgan, Epona, Lilitu, The Muses, Sophia.
Mabon Gods:
Dionysus, Bacchus, Hermes, Horned God, Mabon, Thoth.
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