Samhain -
October 31st The Wiccan New Year, and our most important religious holiday. The basis of the modern Halloween, this celebration of our ancestors and mourning of the death our God is by far the most well known of the Wiccan holidays. This is the time to speak with the deceased, and honor those that have gone to the next world. Spirits walk and Jack-o-lanterns frighten them away from our homes.
Yule
Winter Solstice About December 21st Many of the traditions of Christmas were originally borrowed from the Festival of Yule, which is why you may notice many similarities. Yule celebrates the rebirth of the Sun God (this varies by tradition) from his mother and wife the Earth Goddess. Traditionally presents were exchanged for this holy birthday and pine trees were decorated (NOTE: They were probably not cut down, more likely the people woud decorate a living tree outside as they were seen as a holy sign that life continued in the death of winter).
Imbolc -
February 2nd This Holiday honors the growing strength of the sun. It reminds us that spring is right around the corner. This is a time of introspection and finding the light within ourselves. This is the childhood of the Sun God when his light is not strong enough to melt the snow but he grows everyday. This is a great time to plant seeds that will blossom into new life in a short while, both literally and figuratively.
Ostara -
Spring Equinox About March 21st This Holiday celebrates the beginning of spring. The festival is similar to Easter which like Christmas retains many pagan traditions. This is a celebration of fertility whose symbols are rabbits and eggs, both of which were sacred to the Goddess Esotre with whom this holiday is often associated. A time of new beginnings flowers begin to push their way out of the ground, and animals start to preform the dance of new life.
Beltain
May 1st This is the major spring festival in Wicca. This is the time for May poles which are a fertility and love symbol. This is the time of celebration of life, it is the 2nd most important festival in modern Wicca (some people would say it is the most important). This is also the major Faery festival, when the Fae folk are willing to participate in celebrations. For more information about Faeries and other Astral beings see my Astral Beings page.
Litha
Summer Solstice About June 21st This is the festival of summer, the sun is at it's peak and warmth reigns over the land. This is a time of luck, health, and wishes. There is a great happiness at this time however as it is the peak of the sun's power it brings with it the knowledge that winter will be returning soon, and that the God's self-sacrifice is soon to come.
Lughnasad
August 1st The first harvest of autumn occurs at Lammas, during which foods like apples are harvested for winter. This is a time in preparation for the coming winter and the death of life. This time is also a time of reflection on the eventuality of death.
Mabon
About September 22nd The final harvest, this is a time of celebration and feasting. The deadly winter will soon be coming and for the ancients that meant that many would never again celebrate life. In addition the God will soon sacrifice himself so that life may continue in it's cycles, leading to the coldness and death of many things.
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