WHEEL OF THE YEAR

Welcome back to Witchy Wednesday! Spooky season is upon us, which means Samhain is coming. Samhain is considered to be the witch’s new year. It begins October 31st, and ends November 1st.

Samhain is a very special time for us witches. It means the veil between the spirit world and our world is at its thinnest, which allows easier contact with the dead. But this isn’t all about Samhain, it’s about the Wheel of the Year!

Every religion has different holidays. Christianity has New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas, Halloween, etc. Witches have these too, and we have our own celebrations that go along with them as well.

The Wheel of the Year begins with Samhain and then goes on to Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and ends with Mabon. Each of them mean different things, with different types of celebrations.

A quick rundown:

Samhain:

• October 31st- November 1st. 
• The wheel is starting again
• Spirit work, pumpkins, renewal

Yule:

• December 22nd- January 2nd
• Celebration of the winter solstice
• Yule tree, yule log, reflection

Imbolc:

• February 1st
• Celebration of spring
• Flowers, cleaning, visiting nature

Ostara:

• March 19th
• More celebration of Spring
• Fertility, gods/goddesses

Beltane:

• May 1st
• Celebration of summer
• Bonfires, feasts, blessings

Litha:

• June 24
• Celebration of midsummer
• Time of reckoning, gardening, enjoying the sun

Lammas:

• August 1st
• Celebration of wheat
• Bread making, honoring, harvesting

Mabon:

• September 21-29
• Autumn equinox
• Time to reap what you sow, harvest, reflect

The celebrations of these sabbats vary due to different cultures and locations. If I went on to describe the rituals for each sabbat, this would be a book. Because of this, I’d rather focus on the sabbats individually.