| The Sabbats were Celtic festivals, although they were not called Sabbats during the ancient times. There were four Celtic festivals in pre-Christian times, and after this time, the Romantic Druids (sometimes called "revivalist" Druids or Druidic Reconstructionists) incorporated observances of the two equinoxes and two solstices, creating an eight Sabbat calander. The Britons, who preceeded the ancient Celts, did celebrate on the equinoxes and solstices, but the Celts did not- as they did not even observe the four seasons- only Summer and Winter. Gerald Gardner brought the eight Sabbat concept into modern Wiccan practises. Although I am no longer a Wiccan, I still have rituals and celebrate on holidays when I feel compelled to do so. I decorate my homes with correponding herbs, colors, etc. I don't celebrate the Sabbats in the way they were originally celebrated, and I personalize my own corresponding herbs, incense, foods, and decorations for each holiday. My rituals consist, normally, of honoring the changing seasons, the god, and the goddess. You do not have to celebrate the Sabbats to be a Wiccan, or even to be a Pagan. I choose to use them to honor the spirits of the Earth, moon, and sun. I know some of you who visit these pages will be teenagers, or even adults, who are or will be unable to be open and public about your beliefs. In this case, you may not be able to be elaborate with your rituals, or leave your altar or decorations out for all to see. But, you can do some things to celebrate. You can set out and burn candles in appropriate colors to honor the Sabbats, make a satchel with corresponding herbs and hang it in the house or hide it in a drawer, etc. You will find ways to celebrate quietly, you just have to use your imagination. An elaborate ceremony isn't necessary when celebrating the Sabbats, simply saying a prayer to the god and goddess and lighting a candle would be a wonderful idea. But, if you live alone, or are able to be public about your beliefs, you should be able to decorate and celebrate as you wish. I must stress again: the Sabbats are not Wiccan in origin. They are Celtic-Druidic, and the ancient Celts were NOT Wiccan. Remember that Wicca is a new religion, founded in the early twentieth century by Gerald Gardner. Do you feel silly celebrating a holiday originally meant to bless the seeds that will be planted or bless agricultural tools and animals? We buy our food at the grocery store, so what is the point? Just remember that you can celebrate Sabbats how you wish, or don't have to celebrate them at all. Use the Sabbats to celebrate your relationship with the god and goddess and leave out the Celtic traditions if you wish. It's your decision. If your ancestors were Celts, maybe celebrating the Sabbats as they did feels natural to you. Just remember that Wiccans cannot claim the Sabbats as their own. Here, I list some basic information of each Sabbat. Please know that there is much, much more to learn about the Sabbats than what I have here. I encourage you to read more about them. |
| SAMHAIN (SOW-in) means "end of Summer." Samhain marks the first day of the Celtic new year. It is celebrated on November 1. Most consider October 31 to be the Eve of Samhain. Samhain is the "Feast of the Dead." The Celts would celebrate by placing food on tables to honor the spirits of the dead. On this night, the veil between the realm of the living and the realm of the dead is lifted, making communication with spirits easier. The Dark Mother- the crone- and her aging consort, the Dark Father (the god and goddess) were honored on this night also. Pagans today still celebrate Samhain both to honor the god and goddess, as well as the deceased. Decorations- pumpkins, jack-o-lanters, nuts, gourds, apples, candles, gourds Foods- apples, nuts, pumpkin, poultry, pork, wine Herbs- allspice, mugwort, oak leaves, sage, nutmeg, mint Colors- black, orange, silver, gold |
| YULE Yule is also known as Winter Solstice. It normally falls on December 21. This marks the end of the dark half of the year and the beginning of the light half. This is celebration of the birth of the Oak King, or Sun King, who warms the frozen Earth so that it can bring forth the seeds of life- ending the cold, dark winter season. This is a time to celebrate the Earth's turn from the dark seasons to the light, and celebrate the sun's warmth and the life that the Earth and Sun will bring forth in seasons to come. Decorations- holly, Yule logs, mistletoes, wreaths, boughs of evergreens, candles, poinsettias, evergreen trees decorated with lights Foods- cider, fruit, pork, turkey, nuts, eggnog, teas, cookies, wassail Herbs- bayberry, frankincense, holly, blessed thistle, oak, sage, pine Colors- red, green, white, silver, gold, yellow IMBOLC Imbolc is also known as Candlemas, and Oimealg by the Druids. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc," which means "ewe's milk." Imbolc was the festival of the lactating sheep. This, for the Celts, was a time when the herd animals were giving birth to their first offspring of the year, and was also a time for blessing the seeds and consecrating agricultural tools. Imbolc is a festival of the Maiden aspect of the goddess, for this is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. It is a time to honor her as the Bride of the Sun King, the god- for soon they will unite in sacred marriange. Imbolc is celebrated on February 1 or 2. Decorations- white flowers, besoms, sunflowers, candles Foods- sunflowers seeds, poppyseed cakes, breads, dairy products, peppers, onions, wine, and tea Herbs- basil, violets, white flowers, blackberry, myrrh, angelica, cinnamon, bay, wisteria Colors- white, pink, green, brown, red OSTARA Ostara is the Spring, or Vernal Equinox. It usually falls on March 21. Now, night and day are in balance, and the number of daylight hours are increasing. At this time, the Sun King is celebrating his sacred marriage to the Maiden Goddess, and she also conceives. At Yule, in nine months, she will again become the Great Mother Goddess. This is a time to celebrate fertility in all aspects- fertility of the land, humans, and of animals. It is a time to celebrate the union of the God and Goddess, and to celebrate the Earth and it's growth, and banishing winter. Decorations- daffodils, violets, white spring flowers, leaves of all kinds, grape vines Foods- green vegetables, nuts, sunflower seeds, dairy foods, bean sprouts Herbs- daffodils, jonquils, violets, all spring flowers, iris, peonies, olive, jasmine Colors- white, green, yellow, pink BELTANE Beltane means fire of Bel. It is also the Gaelic word for May. Belinios is the name of the Sun King, and Beltane is a celebration of his feast of coronation- or crowning. It is celebrated on April 30. At this time, the Earth was being warmed by the sun and bringing forth life- new flowers were blooming and baby animals were frollicking about. In Celtic times, May Day, or Beltane, was a time for married couples to shed their wedding vows for just one night. And it was a time of courtship and uninhibited sexuality for younger, unmarried people. Decorations- all spring and early summer blossoms Foods- pork, beef, any edible blossom, all vegetables, dairy foods and drinks, wine, and tea Herbs- violet, vanilla, and all spring flowes Colors- green, red, pink, orange, white LITHA Litha, or Mid Summer, is Summer Solstice and normally falls on June 21. It is the opposite of Yule. This is the longest day of the year, and at this time, the Sun God is at his peak and is most powerful. This is a time to honor the God and all his strength, and look foreward to the upcoming first harvest. Decorations- Oak leaves, lilies, ivy, lavender, ferns, yarrow, daisies, carnations Foods- all garden vegetables and fruits Herbs- lavender, thyme, lily, myrrh, pine, wisteria, mugwort, rose Colors- gold, yellow, brown, green LUGHNASADH Lugnasadh, or Lammas, is celebrated on July 31. This is usually the time of first harvest and marks the time when the spring plants wither and drop their fruits. It is a time for giving thanks to the God and Goddess for all positive happenings of the year. The Sun God is entering old age and is weakening, as the days become shorter and the nights longer. Decorations- grapevines, roses, any nuts or seeds, apple branches and apples Foods- apples, seeds, breads Herbs- carnation, grape, blackberry, all grains, sandalwood Colors- brown, yellow, white, blue MABON Mabon is the Autumn Equinox and the second harvest. It falls on September 21. Day and night are equal length, and this is time to look foreward to the coming dark of the year. The cycle of growth grows near its end and this is a time to give thanks to the sun, the God, for his light and warmth, and celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone. The Goddess steps aside and the God steps foreward and brings darkness. Also at this time, the God prepares for his death and re-birth. Decorations- wines, pinecones, acorns, corn, apples, gourds, horns of plenty, and ivy vines Foods- pomegranetes, potatoes, carrots, breads, nuts, apples, onions, garlic Herbs- myrrh, marigold, passion flower, rose, sage, thistle Colors- orange, brown, gold, red, maroon |
| The Sabbats |