Sabbats

While I'm still umming and ahhing about declaring myself as a Wiccan, I'm interested in the wiccan sabbats and have found it a bit tricker to find information on the southern hemisphere dates (since we're opposite to the northern hemisphere). So, after stumbling on this little gem, I thought I'd paste it in for my future reference!

Samhain - May 1
Pronounced "sow-in" and is Irish-Gaelic for "summer's end".
Other names: Samhuin, All Hallow's Eve, Samhraidhreadh, Halloween, (Old) Hallowmas, Witches' New Year

Lore: The God is dead, having given His energy to the Earth in return for our harvests. He has become Lord of the Underworld, resting there and waiting to be reborn, while the grieving Goddess has become the wise Crone - She is preparing Herself for the rebirth of the infant God at Yule. Winter begins and the Earth goes into hibernation - this is a time of death and darkness.

Keywords: Third harvest, death, the circle of life, wisdom, old age, sleep, hibernation.

Botanicals: Pumpkins, apples, thyme (associated with departed souls), rosemary (for remembrance), mugwort, allspice, catnip, deadly nightshade, mandrake, oak leaves, sage, poppies, straw, turnips.

Colours: Orange, black, dark purple, gold.

Samhain is the Witches' New Year and the first of the balefire holidays. Originally, Samhain was a Celtic festival marking the end of the summer and the coming of the barren winter - for Wiccans, it marks the death of the Lord and the start of a new rotation of the Wheel of the Year. This is a time for fireworks, sparklers, bonfires and night-time celebrations, and a time to both say farewell to the old year and welcome the new. The Druids would kindle bonfires in which the people would symbolically burn away symbols of frustrations or anxieties they had experienced in the preceding year. The ancient Celts believed that on Samhain night fairies would be out and about making mischief - people left treats on their doorstep for these sprites in the hope of avoiding their tricks, and this is the basis of the traditional Halloween 'trick or treat'.

On this sabbat, we hold celebrations to honour the dead and the Ancestors. At midnight on Samhain, the veil between the land of the living and the realm of the dead is said to be at its thinnest: the Ancestors can pass through this veil to walk upon Earth once more, so it is common to prepare a Feast for the Dead on Samhain night, when extra places for the dead are set at the table and offerings of food and drink are left for the spirits. Some Witches also hold a 'dumb supper', a meal during which no-one speaks - the time is used instead to remember loved ones that have passed on. Candles are traditionally burned at each window of the house, to guide friendly spirits home and keep away unfriendly souls.

Wreaths are also commonly found on Witches' doors, as a marker to wise ones that a Witch dwells within.

The powers of divination (particularly scrying) and supernatural communication are strengthened on Samhain night, and it is considered a powerful but dangerous time to communicate with lost loved ones. Samhain is a good time for banishing and sorting out unfinished business.

Altar decoration: Jack-o-lanterns, gourds, and autumn foliage are ideal, as are the barks of trees that are 'awake' (non-deciduous trees), photos of dead loved ones, black candles.

Yule - Between June 20 and 23
Yule comes from the Nordic word "iul" meaning "wheel”.
Other names: Jul, Alban Arthan, Yuletide, Fionnain, Solstice Night, Feill, Winter Solstice

Lore: The Lady labours through the longest night of the year, giving birth to the Lord at dawn and beginning her recovery. Lights and candles are left burning to guide the Lord from the Goddess' womb and to symbolise the return of the Sun, bringing light to the Earth. The long, cold nights are shortening and the days are getting longer and warmer.

Keywords: Rebirth, reincarnation, depth of darkness, turning point, remembering light in darkness, festivity, generosity, merriment, warmth, mother & baby, wonderment, joy, mystery.

Botanicals: Holly (masculine), ivy (feminine), mistletoe (fertility), cinnamon, pine cones, cloves, nutmeg.

Colours: Red (the Goddess' menstrual blood), white (the God's semen), green (plant kingdom), gold (the Sun).

The second balefire holiday, with the fire usually taking the form of a Yule log - from a special species of tree, or part of the Maypole from Beltane. Yule logs are burned from dusk on the Winter Solstice till dawn on the following day to symbolise the return of the Lord and the Sun. The log should traditionally be from a hardwood tree and in Australia mallee roots, Victorian ash, Tasmanian oak and Eucalyptus (to name a few) are ideal for this purpose. The Yule log is burned down until only a small piece remains, which is saved and kept to be used as a lighter for the following year's Yule fire - in doing this, the Yule fire is symbolically reborn each year as well.

This is a turning point, a point of change, where the tides of the year turn. At this time of the year, no matter how cold it may be, there is a glimmer of spring in the distance. The shortest day of the year has come and the next festival on the calendar is Imbolc, which marks the beginning of Spring.

At Yule, homes are decorated with evergreen, non-deciduous trees, and gifts are given to all family members and all who pass the threshold to symbolise the gift the Lady has bestowed upon the Earth.

A good time to do workings for peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Altar decoration: A small white candle inside a cauldron on the altar (symbolises the return of light from within the Goddess' womb), pine cones, symbols of the Sun, wreaths, nativity scene (representing the Mother, Father and infant Sun God), red/green/white candles, evergreens, acorns, nuts, apples, cinnamon sticks, reindeer.

Imbolc - August 1
Pronounced "im mol'c" and means "in the belly" (Gaelic) as life begins to stir in the belly of Mother Earth.
Other names: Candlemas, Imbolg, Oimelc, Brigantia, Bride's Day

Lore: The Lady continues her recovery. The Maiden is awakening within Her as spring blooms upon the warming Earth. The God is the Prince - young and growing. The Sun is brightening and chasing away the last of winter's cold.

Keywords: Light, bright, change, initiation, infancy, dawn, new growth, creativity, learning, purity, cleansing, new beginnings, hope, spring cleaning, banishing winter season.

Botanicals: Violet, lavender, wattle, basil, blackberry, heather, iris, cedar, leaves from evergreen trees.

Colours: White, green, lavender, yellow, pink, brown. Imbolc is the celebration of the imminent arrival of spring.

Homes are decorated with garlands and fresh native flowers and thanks are given that warmth is returning to the Earth. The buds and new growth of spring are starting to become visible. Imbolc is a celebration of all that is fresh, new and young.

Appropriate rituals for this holiday include celebrations of the Sun or Brigid and the light and inspiration they provide (such as lighting every room in the house for a short period of time after dark), as well as initiation and Goddess dedication rituals. The goddess Brigid has three spheres of influence - inspiration, healing, and smithcraft - which She shares with Her followers on this holiday. This is an ideal time to divine your future through tarot, runes or trance. You may also draw upon the growing strength of the Sun to provide inspiration for your growth.

Light and candles should adorn the ritual area - celebrate, the Earth is awakening from Her winter sleep!

Altar decoration: Red/pink/brown candles, bread, corn dollies, spring flowers, seeds.

Ostara - Between September 20 and 23
Pronounced “oh-stah-rah” (’oh’ like “hostage”).
Other names: Alban Eiler, Eostr, Lady's Day, Spring Equinox

Lore: The God and Goddess are both youthful, vibrant and innocent. Everything is growing and maturing. As the days grow longer, the God and Goddess begin to wonder about each other.

Keywords: Awakening, strong growth, resurgence, renewal, transformation, change, energy, hatching, budding, egg, rabbit, bilby.

Botanicals: Daffodil, primrose, lemongrass, honeysuckle, spearmint.

Colours: White, pastel yellows and greens.

Ostara is a celebration of life and fertility. Symbols include fertile animals (rabbits) and eggs - a symbol of new life and new beginnings. The festival is associated with Venus, the Goddess of Love and also with childhood and new life. Ostara is the Norse Goddess of fertility and she is also honoured on this day.

It is one of the two annual points of equilibrium and balance. Ostara is a time for collecting wildflowers, and baskets of flowers are traditional. Also traditional are hats and bonnets decorated with flowers and feathers.

During this time, the snow begins to melt away, the days are warmer and longer. Looking around we see new birth everywhere, from homes on the hillside to the animals in the fields. Life has begun again. This is the time to plant the seeds of flowers, herbs and veggies and to buy a new ritual broom.

Altar decoration: Spring flowers, nests, decorated eggs, nuts, seeds.

Beltane - November 1
Pronounced "bell-tayn". The word either means "Bel-fire" in honour of Belanos the Sun God or it breaks down tobel ("bright, shining") and tane ("fire").
Other names: Bealtaine, Bealtainne, Festival of Flowers, Beltain, Beltaine, Walburga

Lore: The God and Goddess have matured, becoming young adults. The Lord and Lady fall in love and They enter into marriage and sexual union - as a result of this, the Lady becomes pregnant by the Lord. The Earth is fertile - full of growing things in abundance.

Keywords: Excitement, desire, fulfilled anticipation, sensual, sensuous, abandoned, sexual passion, creativity, fertility, life, liveliness, creation, warmth, promise, beauty, blossom, exultation, the growth of bright sunshine, the intoxication of the senses, aspiration, expansion, greenery.

Botanicals: Apple, jarrah, oak, lilac, rose, strawberries.

Colours: Green, warm pink, bright blue, lemon yellow, red, white.

The third balefire holiday. Beltane is the festival of the Sacred Handfasting, and is the time of the year when sexuality and fertility are recognised and most revered. This is the festival of the Great Rite - of sexual union between Goddess and God. At Beltane balefires it is traditional to leap the fire for luck, especially for young couples and newlyweds. Other festivities at Beltane include bobbing for apples, and sharing in seasonal fruit. As the season of fertility, a Maypole is erected and bright ribbons are hung on and wrapped around it. The Maypole is a phallic symbol and represents the masculine, while the soft coloured ribbons are the feminine. The union of the two symbolises the union of the God and Goddess. It is legend that children conceived at Beltane were gifted by the Gods.

Beltane is a great time for new beginnings, and an excellent time to start a coven, or initiate new members. Consider this time for wiccanings and handfastings, as well as new beginnings generally. This is the time to fertilise your dreams with action.

Altar decoration: Symbols of fertility, candles in the fresh pastel colours of spring, large candles (represent balefires).

Litha - Between December 20 and 23
Pronounced “lee-tah” (Saxon). It is translated to either 'light' or 'moon' refers to the 'opposite of Yule'.
Other names: Midsummer, Feill-Sheathain, Summer Solstice, Alban Helfin

Lore: The Lord and Lady are at the height of Their powers. The Goddess is pregnant and glowing and the God is the majestic, protective King - They are King and Queen of the lush, fertile Earth. The days are at their longest and the weather its warmest.

Keywords: Peak, warmth, light, sweetness, flowers, colours, fullness, joy, turning point, beginning of descent.

Botanicals: Lavender, chamomile, rose, daisy, lily, Sturt Desert Pea, lemon.

Colours: Gold, yellow, red, orange.

The fourth and last balefire holiday. Litha falls on the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year, and a time of joy and strength of light - as such, balefires were lit to celebrate the light of the blazing Sun. This is also the time when the inevitable journey towards the darkness begins again, as the days can only get shorter now.

It is a time when all things are possible, and the sprites and faeries of Midsummer Night can cause mischief in the mortal world. It is considered that the veil between the immortal and mortal worlds is thin at Midsummer, and that time can be stretched and twisted as the worlds are drawn closer together.

A good time to perform love, growth, empowerment and healing magick and to communicate with faeries and sprites.

Altar decoration: Sun images, candles or votives, fresh fruits, gold/orange/yellow flowers, roses, symbol or picture of Earth, dried herbs, potpourri, seashells.

Lammas - February 1
Pronunciation is as it sounds and is Anglo-Saxon for "loaf-mass".
Other names: Lughnasadh, Cornucopia, The Feast of Bread, Thingtide

Lore: The Lord grows old and ethereal, becoming the Elder - as the crops are cut down, so are the days of His life. He is weathered and beginning to weaken. The Goddess is the Mother, heavily pregnant with the infant God to be reborn at Yule. All the growing is over and the harvesting has begun.

Keywords: First harvest, abundance, richness, fruitfulness, afterglow, the beginning of the end, generosity, celebrating gifts, lazy, sacrifice (something must die in order for something to be born), turning towards darkness.

Botanicals: Sandalwood, rose, grapes, heather, sunflowers, grains.

Colours: Red, gold, orange, brown.

Lammas is the traditional time of Harvest, and preparation for the coming winter months. Lammas is awareness of the approach of winter, and thanksgiving for the year's harvest. All crops associated with bread are sacred to this time, in particular barley. The drinks of the season are beer, ale, cider, and all things brewed.

Lammas begins what is called "the chase of Lugh". Lugh is the Celtic Sun God and He grows within the crops, living within the golden fields. This is the time of the first harvests. At this celebration we give thanks to the Earth for its bounty and beauty. It is from these harvests that we eat through the upcoming winter. Honouring the God Lugh, games and sports are played to celebrate strength and good health. This is a time to harvest the dreams planted earlier in the year.

While Lammas can be considered a time of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest, the overriding theme is one of sacrifice - in that something has to give to make way for something else. The Sun's strength begins to wane and the plants of spring begin to wither and drop their fruits or seeds for our use, as well as to ensure future crops.

Altar decoration: A loaf of handmade bread, a wooden bowl filled with fruits and vegetables, rice, grains.

Mabon - Between March 20 and 23
Pronounced "may-bon" and is a Welsh word meaning 'son'. Usage of this word is apparently recent and not attested historically.
Other names: Harvest Home, Modron, Autumn Equinox, Winter Finding, Alban Elfed

Lore: The God has died and the Goddess, growing old and becoming the Crone, mourns His loss. The Earth has received His body and given up the last of the harvest - He has sacrificed Himself, giving His energy to the Earth, so that we may enjoy the fruits of the harvest. Leaves are falling from the trees and the Earth is preparing for the long, cold winter without the light of the Sun.

Keywords: Second harvest, delicacy, mystery, crossroads, full storerooms, fading, preserving, selecting, turning inwards, dreaming, mists, migration of birds, giving thanks, planning farewells, gathering, reflecting, "know thyself".

Botanicals: Apples, wheat, blackberries, nuts, hazel, corn, oak, wheat, maple syrup.

Colours: Orange, dark red, yellow, brown.

Mabon falls at the Autumnal Equinox, when nights and days are of equal length, but light bends increasing towards darkness, and winter is on its way. It is a time of balance, and a time of looking forward to and preparation for the winter. Now the "chase of Lugh" ends with the felling of the last shaft of grain.

At this time food is prepared for storage, jams and pickles are made, and fruits are candied and preserved. Long-keeping plant foods are a traditional food for Mabon. It is also a time to walk among the gum trees, smelling the resin and the eucalyptus oils in the air, and gathering oils, barks, plants and herbs to be dried for culinary, medicinal and magickal purposes.

Altar decoration: Acorns, pomegranates, pine cones, cypress cones, baskets of fallen leaves, water, bark, root vegetables.

2009
Autumn Equinox (Mabon) - March 20 @ 11:44
Winter Solstice (Yule) - June 21 @ 05:45
Spring Equinox (Ostara) - September 22 @ 21:18
Summer Solstice (Litha) - December 21 @ 17:47

2010
Autumn Equinox (Mabon) - March 20 @ 17:32
Winter Solstice (Yule) - June 21 @ 11:28
Spring Equinox (Ostara) - September 23 @ 03:09
Summer Solstice (Litha) - December 21 @ 23:38

2011
Autumn Equinox (Mabon) - March 20 @ 23:21
Winter Solstice (Yule) - June 21 @ 17:16
Spring Equinox (Ostara) - September 23 @ 09:04
Summer Solstice (Litha) - December 22 @ 05:30

2012
Autumn Equinox (Mabon) - March 20 @ 05:14
Winter Solstice (Yule) - June 20 @ 23:09
Spring Equinox (Ostara) - September 22 @ 14:49
Summer Solstice (Litha) - December 21 @ 11:11