1. Pagan Holidays & Their Relation to the Seasons The Wheel ofthe Year
2. Pagan holy days are known as Sabbats – from the same root as “Sabbath.” There are four major sabbats, often classified as fire festivals: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine, and Lughnasadh Between each of these rest four Lesser Sabbats called quarters: Yule, the winter solstice; Ostara, the spring equinox; Midsummer or Litha, the summer solstice; and Mabon, the fall equinox. SABBATS
3. (Sabbats con’t) In addition to following the natural changes of the seasons, the sabbats also reflect the mythological cycle of the Goddess and God, two traditionally celebrated deities in Paganism.
5. Pronounced “sow-en,” this sabbat begins the year. At this point, the god is dead and the goddess mourns her partner – however, in her belly grows the god’s child. Traditionally, the final harvest was made at Samhain; no fruit or grain harvested after was thought to be fit to eat. SAMHAIN
6. This is the time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest and the spirits of the dead can cross over into our reality: Honoring ancestors Contacting the dead “Dumb supper” Samhain Traditions
7. Colors: Black & Orange Nocturnal animals: cat, owl, bat Jack-O-Lantern: light inside represents white, pure energy through which fairies are seen, guiding the spirits to believers Broom or Besom Samhain Associations
8. Celebrated on the winter solstice Longest night, shortest day of the year The god is reborn as the days get progressively longer from here The goddess falls into a deep slumber as she approaches her old age YULE
9. Another story tells the battle between the Holly King and the Oak King; at Yule, the Oak King wins and rules til Midsummer. Re-enacting the battle is another traditional way to honor the gods Another Yule Myth
10. Christmas has many Pagan roots: Decorating wintergreen trees to look forward to the fruits of spring Burning the Yule log to give strength to the sun Hanging wreaths as a symbol of the Wheel Yule Traditions
11. Colors: Red, Green, Silver (color of the goddess,) Gold (color of the god) What are some other obvious symbols? Yule Associations
12. Imbolc is a Festival of Lights, also known as Candlemas The goddess has recovered from childbirth and returns to her maiden state, awakening from her slumber as the earth wakens with her The god is a young, growing boy “Imbolc” translates as “in the belly,” because Spring is in the earth’s womb It is traditional to burn candles in every window from sunup til sundown to welcome the sun IMBOLC
13. Corn dollies representing the maiden goddess preparing to wed; protects crops & fertility Candle making & blessing Imbolc Traditions
14. Colors: White - innocence & purity; goddess as maiden; snow, as snow is often still on the ground Warm foods Brighid – Brighid’s cross & bonfires God’s role is small Imbolc Associations
15. Spring Equinox, official beginning of spring Night & Day are of equal length – Mabon’s opposite Goddess is still maiden with no ties to any man or child The god still grows as the Laughing Lord of the Greenwood. Young & carefree, he maintains the wild spirit of youth & nature OSTARA
16. Many Easter traditions are adopted from Ostara: Decorating & hunting eggs Rabbits are a traditional symbol (fertility and dern’ cuteness of Spring) Colors: Pastels – Blue, Yellow, Pink, Green Lighting fires Planting seeds Lighthearted, carefree stuff! Ostara Traditions/Associations
17. FERTILITY FESTIVAL! Lustiest holiday of the year The god is a man and his courtship of the goddess has begun; the goddess conceives All forms of creativity & fertility are renewed Honors interconnectedness of life Balance of Samhain BELTAINE
18. Dancing the Maypole, a phallic symbol topped with a flowered wreath to represent the goddess’ womb Flower crowns & baskets Colors: Red & White Leaping over small fire to stimulate health & fertility Good ol’ fashioned love-making! Handfastings Beltaine Traditions/Associations
19. The Summer Solstice, longest day / shortest night of the year (first day of summer) God has reached the peak of his power Second battle between the Holly & Oak Kings: Holly King wins! Go team! (Until Yule, anyhow.) Fire Festival honoring the sun’s great power MIDSUMMER (LITHA)
20. MEAD-DRINKIN’! Colors: Yellows, Reds, Oranges, Golds Burning the wickerman, a symbol of the god, with wishes stuffed inside of it as a form of prayer More fire leaping & handfasting Contacting the fae Midsummer Traditions/Associations
21. “LOO-nah-sah” First harvest, or Grain harvest Time to honor the abundance of the earth Waking of the god who died at Midsummer or Samhain, in some traditions; also, the god’s power begins to wane LUGHNASADH
22. Fire festivals featuring contests, races, and feasts “Trial marriages” Colors: Browns, Reds, Oranges Grains such as barley & wheat; baked goods Lughnasadh Traditions/Associations
23. Autumn Equinox: day & night of equal length. Ostara’s opposite Harvest season is drawing to a close The god prepares for his death In Greek mythology, Persephone must return to the underworld. Her mother, Demeter, brings winter to the world until her daughter’s return at Ostara Named after Mabon, born on the equinox & kidnapped from his mother Modron at 3 days old MABON
24. “Harvest Home” Honoring fruit and gathering with friends & family for a feast of thanksgiving Color: Brown Yarrow, wheat, apples, acorns, amber, pomegranates Animals: owl & stag Dionysus Mabon Traditions/Associations
