The wheel of the year is a representation of the different celebrations (sabbats) that mark the pagan year. There are 8 in total and they are distributed throughout the various seasons of the year, 4 of them being the lesser sabbats and the other 4 being the greater sabbats. As in all religions/beliefs, there are festivities with more importance than others, however, the value attributed to the celebrations is different for each person, just as there are people who like Easter more than Christmas. The celebrations are based on Mother Nature and her worship, focusing on the different attributes that she presents throughout the year.
Yule
The pagan year ends and begins with Yule, also known as the winter solstice and one of the lesser sabbats. This sabbat takes place between the 21st and 23rd of December on which the sun dies and is reborn to give life to a new year. The 21st is the day with the least hours of sunshine, in other words, it's the smallest day of the year. At this time of year, everything involving nature is either dead or in hibernation. With the rising of the sun also comes the hope that life will return to earth and that light will predominate over darkness. It is therefore a plea for greater days and life around us.
Yule has several symbols associated with it:
Plants and spices:
Pine cones;
Laurel;
Cinnamon;
Holly;
Cloves;
Sage.
Foods and drinks:
Mulled wine;
Roasted meats and vegetables;
Oranges;
Nuts and dried fruit cakes.
Colors:
Gold;
Silver;
Red;
Green.
Imbolc
The second sabbat of the year is Imbolc, one of the greater sabbats. It's celebrated on February 1st and although it's still winter, on this day we give thanks for the life and light that little by little are coming back into our lives. Imbolc is a celebration in honor of the pagan goddess Brigid, the patroness of nursing, poetry and, craftsmanship. It's a festival to attract abundance of life, health and goods. It is the perfect time for a new beginning. Although much of nature is still dormant, there are already signs of life, the first offsprings of the year are born and the flocks are ready for their second pregnancy. The flowers begin to bloom and pave the way for bigger and warmer days.
Plants and spices:
Chamomile;
Acorns;
Ginger;
Angelica;
Violets.
Foods and drinks:
Milk;
Poppy-seed cakes and biscuits;
Cheese.
Colors:
Brown;
Green;
Yellow;
Ostara
Ostara is the third sabbat of the year and one of the lesser sabbats, the celebration of the Spring Equinox. This festivity takes place between the 21st and 23rd of March and it is on the 21st that light equals night and everything is in balance. From here onwards the days begin to prevail over the nights and make way for spring. The sabbat takes its name from the goddess Ostara/Eostre, the goddess of fertility and new beginnings. This festival is a prayer to the goddess for the coming times to bring light and fertility into our lives. This season is also associated with the hare and eggs. The hare is strongly related to the cycles of the moon, and like the moon, she is "born" every night and "dies" every morning, becoming "immortal". Thus the hare represents the rebirth of nature. The eggs represent the seeds that we intend to plant, whether they be love, fortune, health, etc. The eggs are painted according to each person's wishes and are then "planted" for their realization.
Plants and spices:
Jasmine;
Ginger;
Honeysuckle;
Tulips;
Cloves.
Foods and drinks:
Honey;
Eggs;
Homemade bread;
Seed cakes.
Colors:
Every pastel color.
Beltane
Beltane, the fire festival and one of the greater sabbats. It's celebrated on the 1st of May and marks the beginning of summer. In this festival, many bonfires are lit as fire is a symbol of purification and also symbolizes the rising power of the sun. This is a celebration of fertility and worship of the human body. In ancient times, it was common practice for people to spend the night celebrating each other's bodies in prayer for the marriage between the goddess and the sun god. On this day, in addition to bonfires, people danced around the Maypole, acting as a transition to the next stage of life, where boys became men and girls became women. One of the main symbols of this day is the famous May bread.
Plants and spices:
Dandelion;
Oak;
Birch;
Roses.
Foods and drinks:
May bread;
Cheese;
Strawberries;
Salads;
Oats.
Colors:
Pink;
Green;
Gold;
White.
Litha
Litha, the summer solstice. We are at the peak of summer, the days are predominantly hot, and it's on the 21st of June that the sun reaches its maximum power, becoming the biggest day of the year. From here onwards the days begin to shorten and we start to prepare ourselves for the colder times. At this time it is customary to have a feast to give thanks to the sun and what it has brought us during the spring and summer months. Dances and picnics are part of the activities to celebrate mother nature and the power of the sun.
Plants and spices:
Lavender;
Basil;
Sunflower;
Marigold;
Verbena;
Thyme.
Foods and drinks:
Honey;
Lemonades;
Fruit salads;
Sweet potato bread.
Colors:
Orange;
Yellow;
White;
Red;
Blue;
Green.
Lammas
Lammas is the first harvest festival of the year and is celebrated on the 1st of August. At this time we become aware that the days are getting shorter and the plants begin to dry up and drop their seeds for the next year. Farmers begin to harvest their crops and store them for the winter months. The grain that is gathered is used to make bread that is later shared among the community to give thanks for what the sun has brought. The wheat and corn stalks are used to make dolls that are kept over the winter and planted the following year.
Plants and spices:
Sunflower;
Corn;
Wheat;
Garlic;
Bay leaves;
Elder.
Foods and drinks:
Bread;
Grapes;
Apples;
Berries;
Potatoes
Colors:
Orange;
Brown;
Gold;
Tan.
Mabon
Mabon, the second harvest of the year and the autumn equinox, is celebrated from the 21st to the 23rd of September. Once again light is in balance with darkness, however, from now on, the night becomes longer. On this sabbat we give our respect to the darkness that starts to dominate our days, we honor the sun and offer part of our harvest to the gods. Usually, this sabbath is celebrated with a great feast that includes hot cider, pies, roasted meats and vegetables. It's a festival to celebrate family and quiet times, as work in the fields will come to an end. It is a time to finish unfinished projects and leave everything done before winter.
Plants and Spices:
Cinnamon;
Rosemary;
Patchouli;
Sage;
Yarrow.
Foods and Drinks:
Apples;
Pumpkins;
Baked potatoes;
Hot cider;
Chestnuts;
Walnuts;
Carrots.
Colors:
Red;
Brown;
Burgundy;
Gold.
Samhain
The last harvest of the year is celebrated with Samhain, on the 31st of October, which many know as the witches' night. It celebrates the end of summer and welcomes winter and the cold weather when everything goes into hibernation. It is not a festival to ward off witches and creatures, but rather a celebration in honor of the people who have left us and passed to the other side of the veil. It is therefore a very good time to get in touch with the ones who passed. It is customary at this time to leave food on the altar of our loved ones as an offering and a request for protection for the dark days of winter. It is time to kill the cattle to save their meat for the cold months and bonfires are built where their bones are burnt as offerings to the gods for abundance in the following year.
Plants and spices:
Cinnamon;
Calendula;
Mint;
Nutmeg;
Sage.
Foods and drinks:
Pumpkin and apple pie;
Roasted meats;
Mulled wine;
Turnips.
Colors:
Black;
Orange;
Silver;
Gold.
The sabbats have more to them than this, they are more complex, nevertheless, they are still an adoration of mother nature and all that she brings us. Life is made of good and bad and there must be balance in everything we do.
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