Imbolc {im' molc} or {im' bolc} - Categorised as a High Cross Quarter Sabbat
15 Degrees of Aquarius, or Feb 1st

Wiccan Mythology: The Goddess recovers from child birth. Becomes a Maiden.
Imbolc is the start of Spring. The child God continues to devlop, as can be witnessed in the lengthening of days, and festivals frequently centre around light and luminescance. The old crone Goddess of Winter gives way to the Maiden, who having recovered from the child birth prepares the earth to start its growth cycle yet again.

Imbolc is really also a fetival of purification rite, stripping away of the aged and the old in expectation of the fresh and new.

Symbolism: Historically Imbolc was an gaelic festival dedicated to Brigid or Bride the goddess of healing, creativity, and blacksmithing.

Beltaine - Categorised as a High Cross Quarter Sabbat
15 degrees of Taurus - May 1st
Wiccan Mythology: Marriage and Sexual union of the Goddess and God
Beltaine.

Beltaine is really regarded as the most important Sabbat after Samhain. The commencement of Summer. It is a sabbat of fertility, but mostly it is a sabbat of joy and quickening. Named from the Celtic god of flame Bel, the ignitor of fires is a regular element of Beltaine sabbats. It's association of flame also makes Beltaine a sabbat of purification and cleansing.

Please do not forget that our modern interpretations of these sabbats are based on age old sabbats celebrated at a time when the year was marked by seasonal alterations, not a calendar on the wall or computer as it is today.

In the continent, where they bowed and knelt before the great Eostre, the earth has generally sprung to quickening by the vernal equinox.

However, in the Celtic British Ilses, the ground may still be very cold in March, and thus Beltaine becomes the foremost sabbat of life, when Goddess and God have matured and lay together in sexxual union.

Symbolism: On Beltaine, the great God of light and flame has grown to the age of rulership and takes over from the God of darkness. The Goddess now heavy with child becomes a mother.

Matrimony high time... Wiccan weddings are often held on or around the sabbat of Beltaine.

Lughnassadh (loo- na-sah) or (loon-sah) - Categorised as a High Cross Quarter Sabbat
Also known as Lammas

15 degrees of Leo, or August 1st
Wiccan Mythology: Elderly God in twighlight of existence

Lughnassadh is the beginning of Autumn and was the time of the initial harvesting. and so this is a sabbat of bringing forth fruit as well as setting store and making provision for the winter ahead. It is also viewed as the time to prepare for God's inevitable demise. The Goddess enters her era as Crone. It is a time of showing gratitude for what we have, and all that we will have, and all that others have sacrificed for us.

Samhain (sow- en) - Categorised as a High Cross Quarter Sabbat
15 degrees of Scorpio. - November 1st

Wiccan Mythology: The overthrow and death of God
Banquet of the Dead. Samhain is also the Wiccan New Year. It is a sabbat to honour and to bid farewell to loved ones who have died, especially if they passed away within the last year.

Samhain is additionally a sabbat for reflection upon the previous twelve months and also for crafting plans for the next twelve months.

 

It is a time to invoke rites and ritual to rid ourselves of our negative aspects and weak points ready for the new year.

Symbolism: How is it we commence the year with a sabbat focusing upon death? Death is vital for rebirth, and the two frequently occur simultaneously. In many pagan cultures, the new year was celebrated with chaotic festivities bringing on a symbolic end of the world. The Roman Saturnalia is one very apt example.

The Goddess enters her dark phase as she mourns for her son and consort, and the dark God takes up the rulership of Winter, leading the wild hunt of the fey over the earth.

Eostara (os-tar'a) - Categorised as a Cross Quarter Sabbat
Vernal equinox (approximatley March 22nd)

Wiccan Mythology: Usually the sexual union of the God and Goddess
Eostara is a sabbat of fertility and regeneration, and conception.

The earth heals after winter and begins to blossom. Darkness is banished and subdued by light... until Litha days will be longer than the nights.

Yesteryear in the time of our ancestors Eostara was an occassion of sowing and setting seed.

 

Eostara is a time for embarking and setting into operation visions and ideas, sowing the seed of plans that may not produce fruit until later in a time of another sabbat.

The name Eostara is erroneous. It's named after goddess Eostre, but her sabbat strictly speaking wasn't associated with the equinox. In fact, there may never really have ever been a sabbat called Eostara at all.

The union of Goddess and God varies according to regional tradition. A few date it as early as Imbolc. Some attribute it to Eostara, while others to Beltaine. Eostara has the benefit of being nine months prior to Yule, when the Goddess actually produces child.

Litha - Cross Quarter Sabbat
Often referred to as Midsummer
Summer solstice (around June 22nd)
(Leicester UK - Sunset on Wednesday 20th June 2007 is 2126 hrs (9.26pm)
(Leicester UK - Sunrise will occur at 0458 hrs (4.58am) on Thursday 21st June 2007)

Wiccan Mythology: The zenith and epitome of the God's life Celebrating God's life and existence, Litha is also another festival of flame and fire .

Symbolism: Sabbat of transition and change, when the God evolves from youthful warrior to aged sage and wise being. Also a time for of great rejoicing, but also of introspection, and analysis in making sure objectives are still on track and addressing the negative attributes in our lives.

In modern times Litha is a name for this Sabbat.

Historically origin record of the name is lost to time and apocrypha.

Mabon - Categorised as a Cross Quarter Sabbat

Autumnal Equinox (around September 22nd)
Wiccan Mythology: Life of the God in wane and decline.

Mabon was the second harvest, and as such becomes another holiday of thanksgiving. It is also the day when darkness once more overtakes light, and so it is a day of planning, reflection, and the contemplation of mysteries.

While a cross quarter sabbat (minor) as opposed to a high cross quarter sabbat, Mabon is named after a Celtic, not Germanic, god who was incarcerated only to return at a later date. The name does not appear to have been historically attributed to any festival.

Yule - Categorised as a Cross Quarter Sabbat
Often also called Midwinter
Winter Solstice (around December 22)

Wiccan Mythology: The God Birth
Yule is primarily a sabbat of life emerging from darkness and is honored with the exchange of gifts.

Symbolism: Evergreens such as holly, ivy and mistletoe can symbolise the God, still alive, vigourous and verdant in the depth of winter.