{"id":622,"date":"2010-11-04T21:22:21","date_gmt":"2010-11-05T02:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gleewood.org\/seeking\/"},"modified":"2020-11-07T15:57:53","modified_gmt":"2020-11-07T20:57:53","slug":"sabbats","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gleewood.org\/seeking\/doing\/sabbats\/","title":{"rendered":"Sabbats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many people get a little confused about how the Sabbats fit together. There’s a good reason for this, which is that different traditions use different ways to connect and join them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Doing:<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sabbat dates:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start with the commonly used names and dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samhain is often considered the end of the old year. Some traditions consider it also the beginning of the new year, while others consider the time between Samhain and Yule to be a fallow time, with Yule as the beginning of the new year with the return of the light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solstices and equinoxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Four of the dates are easy to determine: the solstices and the equinoxes are celebrated when those astronomical events occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve given the dates below as ‘around [month] 22nd.’ –\u00a0 the solstice or equinox can fall anywhere between the 20th and the 23rd in a given year. Any good calendar will probably tell you the dates and times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fire festivals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The other four Sabbats come from Celtic tradition, and they’re sometimes referred to as the fire festivals. <\/strong>Originally, they were probably celebrated as specific seasonal markers showed up (buds on the trees, lambing season, etc.) but these days, people commonly celebrate on what have become traditional dates (listed below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people celebrate on the\u00a0 day that the sun is in the 15th degree of the relevant sign (for example, Samhain is celebrated when the sun reaches the 15th degree of Scorpio, which is usually November 6th, 7th, or 8th. Here’s one way to calculate it<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For people in the southern hemisphere:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people choose to reverse the Sabbats, so that they fall in the logical seasons. Thus, when the northern hemisphere is celebrating Samhain, people in the southern hemisphere will be celebrating Beltane. Among other reasons, this means that you have the longest day on the day with the most daylight, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brief overview:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below, I’ve listed the Sabbats, their most common dates, and a few sentences about each one. (Later in this article, I’ll talk more about different ways to connect each Sabbat.) Some groups use different names, though I’ve included the most commonly used ones here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yule, Midwinter, or Winter Solstice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around December 22nd.\u00a0<\/strong>(Yool)
The return of the light and the spark of hope in the darkness. A time to make a choice about a particular goal or desire for the coming cycle. In many traditions, this is the birth of the Sun King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imbolc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

February 2nd.\u00a0<\/strong>(IM-bolc or IM-olc)
The end of winter, and the planting of the seeds for spring. It’s obviously a bit too early for actual planting in Minnesota or Maine, but we can begin to lay the foundation for the work we want to do this year. Traditionally associated with Brigid. Milk and cream are common foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ostara<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around March 22nd.<\/strong>\u00a0(o-STAR-ah)
The spring has started to arrive in earnest, and we put more energy and attention into nurturing our plans and goals, seeing them take shape and begin to grow on their own. The God grows from childhood into young adulthood. Eggs are common here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beltaine or Lady Day:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

May 1st. <\/strong>(BEL-tayn)
This is often seen as the celebration of the love and fertility of the God and Goddess. The abundance of life and of the connections between different parts of our world. Early fruits are common here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Litha, Midsummer, or Summer Solstice:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around June 22nd.<\/strong> (LITH-ah)
The height of summer, the pause in the middle of the work of growing. We pause to reflect on what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, as well as to celebrate together. Sometimes seen as the wedding of God and Goddess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lammas or Lughnassadh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

August 2nd. <\/strong>(LAH-mass or Loo-NASS-ah)
The harvest of the grains. One of the possible times of the harvest and sacrifice of the God in some traditions. We often focus on the sacrifices we need to make to reach our goals. Traditionally associated with the god Lugh. Bread is a common celebratory food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mabon, Harvest Home, or Fall Equinox:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around September 22nd.\u00a0<\/strong> (MAH-bon or MAY-bon)
The time to focus more on what we’re harvesting and celebrate hard work to our goals. Is our harvest what we wanted? Another possible time for the sacrifice of the God. Later fall foods are common feast foods here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samhain:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

October 31st.\u00a0<\/strong>(SOW-in, most commonly)
This generally focuses on our ancestors and our beloved dead. Many groups consider the time between Samhain and Yule to be one of deep reflection and introspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of connections:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Different traditions – and different people – will pick different sets of connections between Sabbats to focus on. Sometimes this is based on the tradition, sometimes on the focus of the group, sometimes on the geography or seasons of the place the person is working. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s fine to try out some variations over time and see what works for you. Below, I’ve talked about some of the most common options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agricultural:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Each Sabbat focuses on a part of the agricultural year. You plant in the spring, nurture the crops through the summer, harvest, and then rest and reflect during the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This model is easy to connect with the world around you. However, it can be challenging to connect with an agricultural cycle in our daily lives, and the cycles commonly discussed work best for climates like northern Europe and the British Isles. If you live in Texas or California, or any other place with a different climate, you’ll need to make some significant adjustments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n