Samhain: {Oct. 31}
The witch's new year. It is considered by most Wiccans to be one of the most important of the four 'greater Sabbats'. It is generally observed on October 31st in the Northern Hemisphere, starting at sundown. Samhain is considered by most Wiccans as a celebration of death and of the dead, and it often involves paying respect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets and other loved ones who have died. In some rituals the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities. It is seen as a festival of darkness and death, which is balanced at the opposite point of the wheel by the spring festival of Beltane, which Wiccans celebrate as a festival of life and fertility.
Yule: {Dec. 21}
This holiday falls on the winter solstice. It is the longest night of the year, and we celebrate the rebirth of light. In early human civilization, as the days grew colder and the nights grew longer and darker, candles and fires were lit to lure back the sun. At this "time of darkness", while the Earth was sleeping, many did not survive. Winter was a time of death and stagnation. Shelter was drafty, disease was common and food was scarce. The night of the sun's "rebirth" was celebrated with much joy. From this day forward, the days would become longer. Even though the cold and darkness still prevailed, hope was renewed and the people began to look forward to the warmth of summer.
Imbolc: {Feb. 2}
It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools as well. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Groundhog Day), and in many places, the first Crocus flowers begin to spring forth from the frozen earth. It is a originally one of the Celtic high holy days, and celebrations are primarily centered around the Celtic Goddess Brighid.
Ostara: {March 21} Ostara is known as the Spring Equinox, this is a time when the Mother Goddess awakes from her slumber. Everything is new and fresh at this time, flowers, baby animals, new plants and all kinds of like spring up at this time. The Mother Goddess is replenishing the earth at this time. Many pagan customs still exist, such as the egg. It is commonly called an Easter egg but infact it is a pagan symbol used to represent fertility and new life. The eggs were normally painted red or scarlet symbolize the rays of the sun, these beliefs stream from the idea that the sun rays would warm the egg and from it would spring life. Beltane: {May 1st/2nd} This sabbat is the Fertility festival in which the Goddess and the Green Man perform the Great Rite. It is tradition to have large outdoor festivals with large feasts and bon fires. Tradition has young couples jumping over the bonfire together in hopes that they would be fertile in order to reproduce. Commonly this holiday is known as May Day. On this day people would erect a large pole that would have colorful ribbons tied to it. Children would hold onto the ribbons and circle around the pole as they danced. The pole was a symbol of the phalus. to honor the Green Man Some pagans use a cauldron during this festival as a symbol of the female womb to honor the Mother Goddess
Mabon: {Sept. 21}
This is the Autumn Equinox, or known as the harvest festival.This marks the dividing of the day and night equally. Herbs, wines, ciders, fertilizers are all used as offerings to the Goddess. The Horned God prepares himself for the upcoming death and rebirth that he will soon experience. During this time the Goddess makes the transition from Mother to Crone as well. Most of the yearly crops are harvested during this time.
Litha: {June 20/21}
This is the Summer Solstice and the sun is at its highest power. This is the longest day of the year and at some point the sun moves into 0 degrees Cancer. The Mother Goddess is sometimes reffered to as the Queen of Summer as the Horned God matures and comes into his full rite. It is believed that She is the earth and He is the heat radiating form the earth, hence the heat that radiates into the air.
Lammas: {Aug. 1}
This is the celebration of the funeral games of Lugh the Irish sun God. The funeral games are not to honor his own funeral but the funeral of his foster-mother Tailte. This day also marks the very beginning of the harvests. It is said that the Horned God begins aging rappidly as the winter approaches.