SAMHAIN - (sow-when) Celebrated on October 31, this was the Celtic fire festival to celebrate the final harvest and to officially begin the Winter season. It is celebrated much like how the people of Mexico celebrate "The Days of the Dead" when Witches may erect altars of memorium to their ancestors and set out plates of food as symbols of welcoming and hospitality to the spirits who may visit on this Great Sabbat night, for it is said, the veil between the worlds of the spirit and the living is at its thinnest. This is a night of remembrance and thanksgiving for the wisdom of our ancestors which enables us to continue on our family traditions and pass these onto our children and thus - keep the ancestors alive. Modern day Witches do allow their children to "trick or treat", however costumes are meant to represent positive and creative themes moreso than gory, violent or negative.

YULE - (yool ) December 21 or 22 , marks the night of Winter Solstice, called "Yule" from the Nordic word meaning "WHEEL", when Witches celebrate the darkest and longest night of the year. From the solstice, here in the Northern Hemisphere, we gain small increments of light every day that will give us our Spring and Summer months - this begins the new "turn of the Wheel". On this night, we are reminded that our God is re-born in order to bring light and warmth back to the Earth. Modern day Witches may bring evergreen trees into their homes as decor to symbolize the return of the sun and as a blessing of light and prosperity in the new year. The wreath reinforces this symbolism in the form of the "wheel" and a Yule log is burnt upon the hearth fire to symbolize the promise of life in the returning sun. The Oak King has defeated the Holly King. The lightening half of the year begins from here,

IMBOLG - (im-molg) Also known as "Candlemas" and the "Festival of Light" falls on February 2nd. The word,"imbolg" is said to translate as 2 phrases: "in the belly" and "first milk" - both referring to birth. This Sabbat recognizes the first stirrings of the Spring and the birthing of animals. It is a fire festival that emphasizes the light returning to the world. It is the honoring of the Celtic Goddess, Brighid ("breed" - renamed "Brigit" and later St. Bridget) who is a Goddess of blacksmiths, bards and poets - thus She is a Goddess of inspiration and re-birth through creativity. Modern day Witches may celebrate Imbolg with large suppers of rich foods like stews and "stone soups" and rejoice in the promise of the forthcoming Spring amongst friends and family.

OSTARA - (oh-star-uh) Believed to be named for the Spring Goddess - Eostre (where "Easter" comes from). This occurs on the Vernal (Spring) Equinox - March 21 or 22. On this Sabbat, we are reminded that light and dark are in perfect balance, however at this time, light is mastering dark. The days are growing longer while the nights are growing shorter. Modern day Witches may celebrate this festival by colouring eggs - symbols of the rebirth & fertility of the Earth - and decorating the eggs with certain symbols or "runes" that represent wishes they want to come to fruition in this new year. The eggs may be buried in the Earth, like seeds, to symbolically plant wishes into Mother Earth in hope that She will grant them come Fall.

BELTANE - (bell-tane) Falling on May l, otherwise known as "May Day". This holiday falls directly opposite of Samhain on the Wheel of the Year. As Samhain began Winter this was considered the Celtic first day of Summer. The original meaning of the word has a Gaelic derivation of "Bel-fire". Bel is the name of the Celtic God of the Sun - Light and Fire. Bel, or Balor is known as "the Bright One". Fires were lit on hills to commemorate the return of life and fertility to the world. This day has been adopted by many other cultures and today many people still perform the Maypole Dance, as the Witches still do. It was believed that the Maypole connected the Sun to the land to "fertilize" the Earth and it is where the idea of the Witches' flying broomstick came from. Traditionally it is at Beltane that people gather to celebrate the warmth of the season by picnicking, dancing the Maypole, camping and of course falling in love or marrying.

LITHA - (lih-thuh) Also called Midsummer. This is the Summer Solstice, this Sabbat occurs on June 21 or 22. Witches acknowledge the peak of the God's light and warmth on the day when He shines the highest, brightest and longest. But after night falls, His reign will end and His light will begin to wane. From sundown on the Summer Solstice, we begin to lose small increments of sunlight, which will eventually give us our Fall and Winter months. This is a time to rejoice in the full flood of the Summer's abundance. Traditionally a time of barbecues, bonfire dances, camping trips and of gathering St.John's wort. The Holly King has defeated the Oak King. The darkening half of the year officially begins from here on out.

LAMMAS - (lah-mahss) From the English "Loaf Mass". Sometimes this Sabbat is called LUGHNASADH (loon-na-sah). On August l, the land reminds us that it is time for harvesting and preparation for the winter. The Celtic God and Warrior Lugh, spared the life of his enemy in exchange for the Secrets of Agricultural Prosperity. Therefore, Lammas is the first of three harvesting celebrations. The first being the harvest of wheat and corn. Traditionally at this time, the first loaves of bread to be baked from the harvested grains would be considered blessed by the Grain Goddess. At this time, athletic events may take place in the forms of outdoor games and sports based upon the Celtic "Tailltean Games" in honor of Lugh's foster mother, Tailte.

MABON - (mah-bon) The Autumnal Equinox, September 21 or 22, is the day that recognizes the equal hours of light and dark. However, this time, the darkness is the master over the light. This day is also the celebration of the second harvest - the Witches' Thanksgiving - as the fruits of the harvest are at their most abundant peak of ripening. It is from Mabon where we get the "cornucopia" or the "horn of plenty". The horn represents the "Horned God" of Nature of the Witches and He represents fertility and strength. From His union with The Earth Goddess in Spring, we now reap the bounty of their "fruitful union" and at this Sabbat we give thanks. Modern Day Witches celebrate this Sabbat much like how Americans celebrate their country's "Thanksgiving" with a great supper w/ traditional foods of the season such as poultry, pumpkin, squash, potatoes, apples and nuts. From here, the Wheel of the Year comes to a close with the third and final harvest at Samhain which will bring us to the beginning of the New Year at Yule with the rebirth of the sun.