Sabbats (pronounced sab-et) are the holidays of a Pagan/Wiccan practitioner. There are eight of them divided into the four lesser Sabbats, (astrological), known as Midsummer, Mabon, Ostara, and Yule. Then there are the four greater sabbats, (agricultural), known as Beltane, Samhain, Imbolc, and Lammas. They each occur at equal distances throughout the year, and a lot of them occur around major federal and Christian holidays today.
Samhain, also known as November Eve, Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples, Hallowe'en, Hallows and All Hallows Eve, once marked the time for sacrifice. In some places this was the time when animals were slaughtered to ensure food throughout the depths of winter. The God-identified with the animals-fell as well to ensure our continuing existence.
Samhain is a time of reflection, of looking back over the last year, of coming to terms with the one phenomenon of life over which we have no control-death.
The wicca feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is thin.
Along a more mythological story-line, the God is reborn at Yule after sacrificing himself at Samhain's harvest. The Goddess has mourned him through the dark months of November and December, and now rejoices at his return. She is seen in her virgin, Maiden aspect at this time of year.
This idea of rebirth, is how Yule got tied in with the Christian story of the birth of Jesus. Though the holiday has become heavily Christianized, most of the traditions are based on older, Pagan beliefs.
This is a Sabbat of purification after the shut-in life of winter, through the renewing power of the Sun. It is also a festival of light and of fertility, once marked in Europe with huge blazes, torches and fire in every form. Fire here represents our own illumination and inspiration as much as light and warmth.
Imbolc is also known as Feast of Torches, Oimelc, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Snowdrop Festival, Feast of Waxing Light, Bridid's day and probably by many other names. Some female Wiccans follow the old Scandinavian custom of wearing crowns of lit candles, but many more carry tappers during their invocations.
On Ostara the hours of day and night are equal. Light is overtaking darkness; the Goddess and God impel the wild creatures of the Earth to reproduce.
This is a time of beginnings, of actions, of planting spells for future gains, and of tending ritual gardens.
Beltane (also known as Mat Day) has long been marked with feasts and rituals. May poles, supremely phallic symbols, were the focal point of old English village rituals. Many people rose at dawn to gather flowers and green branches from fields and gardens, using them to decorate the May pole, their homes and themselves.
The flowers and greenery symbolize the Goddess; the May pole the God. Beltane marks the return of vitality, of passion and hopes consummated.
May poles are sometimes used by Wiccans today during Beltane rituals, but the cauldron is a more common focal point of ceremony. It represents, of course, the Goddess- the essence of womanhood, the end of all desire, the equal but opposite of the May pole, symbolic of the God.
Lughnasadh, also known as August Eve, Feast of bread, Harvest Home and Lammas, wasn't necessarily observed on this day. It originally coincided with the first reaping.
As summer passes, Wiccans remember its warmth and bounty in the food we eat. Every meal is an act of attunement with nature, and we are reminded that nothing in the universe is constant.
Nature declines, draws back its bounty, ready for winter and its time of rest. The Goddess nods in the weakening Sun, though fire burns within Her womb. She feels the presence of the God even as He wanes.
*much of the information about each Sabbat was found at the Magickal Musings website*
