What the hell is the Wheel of the Year?
Since it’s the holiday season, I thought it might be a good idea to post some things on witchy holidays- otherwise known as the Wheel of the Year. You know how witches love cycles- even our holidays form a circle!
What is the Wheel of the Year?
The Wheel of the Year is the cycle of 8 Sabbats (holidays) that are celebrated by many Pagans, Wiccans, and other witchy people throughout the year.
Do you have to observe the Sabbats to be a witch?
Nope. Witchcraft is like Subway- build your craft the way you want to. Personally, I like celebrating the Sabbats because they have a lot to do with nature and that is a big part of my craft. If you’re a discreet witch, it may be a good idea to learn about some of these Sabbats so you can integrate them into the holidays people around you commonly celebrate.
Alright, so what are the 8 Sabbats? (Dates are for Northern Hemisphere)
Yule AKA the Winter Solstice is from Dec 21 2016 to Jan 1 2017. (Ever heard 12 days of Christmas?) This is the peak of winter, so after Yule, we will slowly have more and more daylight. Get a ton of Yule ideas here. Super great for discreet witches around Christmas time.
Imbolc is celebrated on Feb 1 2017. As the days get warmer, we’re getting closer to Spring and saying farewell to Winter. Many pay tribute to the element of fire. This is very popular in Celtic paths. Imbolc ideas here.
Ostara AKA Spring Equinox is March 20 2017. Spring is officially here! This is when fertility is a big deal. (Easter eggs, anyone?) This is also the last time we will have equal night and day before summer starts and the days get longer. Ostara info here.
Beltane is celebrated on May 1st (my bday month) and Spring is in full swing. Beltane is also super duper about fertility as well, and hoping the crops are productive throughout the summer. A time for growth and change. Cool Beltane things here.
My favorite Sabbat, by far, is Litha which is on June 20 2017. This is the height of summer, where we have the most daylight we will have all year. Lots of celebrations of the Earth and the sun. Fun outdoor things for Litha here.
Lammas, or the Dog Days of summer, is August 1 2017. Definitely a preparation Sabbat. The next ones are about the harvest, and preparing for the winter cold. Lammas is about relaxing and enjoying the fruits and abundance of the summer season before it ends. Lammas things here.
On September 22 2017, the autumnal equinox or Mabon is celebrated. We are beginning the fall season, and the focus becomes on thankfulness and abundance of the harvest. Like Ostara, we have equal hours of night and day before the night starts getting longer. Awesome fall/Mabon crafts here.
Last, but not least, it’s time to get spooky! Samhain is Oct 31-Nov 1st. This is where fall begins to come to a close and winter creeps in. It is widely thought to be a time of connection with the dead. Many believe that the veil between our world and the next is thinned on this day. If all else fails, at least you can buy a lot of cool witchy things without looking weird. Like these.
Did you make it this far? Well not only are you super awesome, but now you know all the Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year. Not going to bore you with more things. Feel free to ask any questions.
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