Sabbats
Sabbats are solar festivals, markers on the Wheel of the Year. They are times of celebration rather than times of magick as a rule.
Samhain
Feast of the Dead. October 31st or first full Moon of Scorpio. A
time to commune with the Ancestors, as the Veil Between The
Worlds is this at this time. This the final harvest, the harvest
of beasts, when in olden times the herds were culled before
winter. The beginning of the dark half of the year, it's time to
reap the last of the year's works.
Yule
Winter Solstice. Called Alban Arthuan by the Druids. The rebirth
of the God, a time of rebirth.. Time to let things rest and lay
fallow in preparation for the next season of growth.
Imbolc
February 1st or 1st full Moon of Aquarius. Meaning "In the
belly", this is a fire festival celebrating the quickening
of life within the Earth, the preparation for growth and renewal.
This day is sacred to the Goddess Bride.
Ostara
About March 21st. Called Alban Eiles by the Druids. Spring
equinox, a day of balance between light and dark. Festival of
plant and animal fertility, sowing time, new beginnings.
Beltane
May 1st or the first full Moon of Taurus. The fire festival of
fertility, time of the mating of the Goddess and her Consort,
bringing new life into bloom on the Earth. The start of the light
half of the year. A time of Maypoles, parties, all-nighters with
your lover...Fingle's Favorite Festival! Most auspicious day for
handfastings, too!
Mid-Summer
About June 21st. Called Alban Heruin by the Druids. Also called
Litha. The Sun is at the peak of his powers. Auspicious day for
self dedications. Mid-Summer's Eve is traditionally the night for
communing with the Sidhe. Eat or drink naught while you're
amoungst the Good People, at peril of remaining with them.
Lughnassadh
August 1st, or the first full Moon of Leo. Also called Lammas. As
Lughnassadh, in legend it was set by the Tuatha De Dannan deity
Lugh in memory of his foster mother Taillte. This fire festival
is the first of the harvests, the harvest of grain. The Sun God's
powers begin to wane, and it's a time to contemplate the mystery
of how death, by feeding the living, is in service to life. A
time to begin to reap what we have sowed in the year.
Mabon
About September 21st. Called Alban Elved by the Druids. Autumnal
equinox. The second day of balance between light and dark, this
time shifting towards darkness. The second harvest, the harvest
of fruits. Time to gather in what we have worked for during the
year.
Esbats
Esbats are Lunar festivals based
on the phases of the Moon. They are generally held around the
time of the Full Moon, as there is plenty of energy to put into
spell work, but they may be held at the New Moon for new
beginnings, anytime during a waxing Moon for growth and
fertility, occasionally during a waning moon to do spells for
reduction and decrease (as in illness or to remove some other
negative influence) and (rarely) during the dark of the Moon to
invoke the Crone for justice and honest judgement.
There are thirteen esbats in a year's time, added to eight
sabbats making twenty one days (or nights) to honor the Old Gods
and generally party. This is a happy religion, a faith of joy
rather than fear, of service rather than sacrifice. Does the
trick for me, ay-yuh!