Yule - Winter Solstice - The Wheel Of The Year
Herbs: Holly, mistletoe, pine cones, pine needles, oak leaves, Yule log ashes, fir, birch, hazel bark, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, wintergreen Colors: Red, green, white, gold, silver The winter solstice, the rebirth of the Sun, is an important turning point, as it marks the shortest day. Yule is deeply rooted in the cycle of the year, it is the seed time of year, the longest night and the shortest day, where the Goddess once again becomes the Great Mother and gives birth to the new Sun King.
Litha - Summer Solstice - The Wheel Of The Year
Incense: Sage, mint, basil, Saint John's Wort, sunflower, Lavender Decorations: Dried herbs, potpourri, seashells, summer flowers, and fruits. Colours: blue, green, and yellow Midsummer or the Summer Solstice is the most powerful day of the year for the Sun God. Because this Sabbat glorifies the Sun God and the Sun, fire plays a very prominent role in this festival. The element of Fire is the most easily seen and immediately felt element of transformation.
Beltane - The Wheel Of The Year
Incense: Lilac, Frankincense Decorations: Maypole, Flowers, Ribbons Colours: Green, Rainbow Pastels This festival is also known as Beltane, the Celtic May Day. It officially begins at moonrise on May Day Eve, and marks the beginning of the third quarter or second half of the ancient Celtic year. It is celebrated as an early pastoral festival accompanying the first turning of the herds out to wild pasture. The rituals were held to promote fertility.
Lammas - The Wheel Of The Year
This is an Irish Gaelic name for the feast which commemorates the funeral games of Lugh, Celtic god of light, and son of the Sun. In the mythological story of the Wheel of the Year, the Sun God transfers his power into the grain, and is sacrificed when the grain is harvested. So we have a dying, self-sacrificing and resurrecting god of the harvest, who dies for his people so that they may live. Sound familiar?
Imbolc - The Wheel Of The Year
Incense: Rosemary, Frankincense, Myrrh, Cinnamon Decorations: Corn Dolly, Besom, Spring Flowers Colours: White, Orange, Red This is the seasonal change where the first signs of spring and the return of the sun are noted, i.e. the first sprouting of leaves, the sprouting of the Crocus flowers etc. In other words, it is the festival commemorating the successful passing of winter and the beginning of the agricultural year.
Ostara - Spring Equinox - The Wheel Of The Year
Incense: Jasmine, Rose Decorations: Yellow Disk or Wheel, Coloured Egg's, Hare Decorations, Spring Flowers Colours: Yellow This marks the Spring Equinox. This is the Pagan "Easter" - or rather, this is the day that Christians borrowed to be their Easter. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter nor the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder. Painted eggs, baskets of flowers and the like are generally used to decorate the house.
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Mabon - Autumn Equinox - The Wheel Of The Year
Incense: Pine, sage, sweetgrass or myrrh. Herbs: Rue, yarrow, rosemary, marigold, sage, walnut leaves and husks, mistletoe, saffron, oat leaves, apple Mabon marks the middle of harvest, it is a time of equal day and equal night, and for the moment nature is in balance. It is a time to reap what you have sown, of giving thanks for the harvest and the bounty the Earth provides. Time for finishing up old projects and plans and planting the seeds for new enterprises or a change in lifestyle.
Samhain - The Wheel Of The Year
Herbs/Food: Apples, pumpkins, gourds, corn, rosemary, sage, mullein, mandrake Stones: Obsidian, smoky quarts, jet, amber, garnet Samhain (Summer's End) is one of our four Greater Sabbats, the highest holy day of witches. Samhain is a major festival with several aspects. It is new year's eve for witches, as well as our third and final harvest festival. Samhain inaugurates Winter, is the final chance to dry herbs for winter storage, and a night when fairies supposedly afoot working mischief.