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.
 
 

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.
 
 

Northern Hemisphere Wheel	Southern Hemisphere Wheel

Ok, so how do you pronounce those?
 

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.