Celebrating the Seasons
Lore and Rituals by Selena Fox
The Solstices, Equinoxes, and mid-points between - - also known as the Cross Quarters - - have been celebrated by a variety of Nature peoples around the world and across the ages. Today, Wiccans and other Pagans often blend together ancient as well as contemporary approaches to celebrating these seasonal festivals. For each of these holidays, I give a brief overview and share some associated customs. I have had direct experience with all of these. The Sabbat cycle I describe here reflects the climate zone in the Northern hemisphere where I live as well as my own multi-cultural, spiritual approach with a Wiccan emphasis. Feel free to adapt these customs to reflect your own environment and spiritual path.
Click HERE to learn how you can celebrate these Festivals at Circle Sanctuary!
Imbolc Also called: Candlemas, Oimelc, Brigid's Day; merged with Lupercalia/Valentines Day dates: February 2, early February colors: white, red tools: candles, seeds, Brigid wheel, milk energy: conception, initiation, inspiration goddesses: Brigid, Maiden gods: Groundhog, other creatures emerging from hibernation; young Sun rituals: creative inspiration, purification, initiation, candle work, house & temple blessings customs: lighting candles, seeking omens of Spring, cleaning house, welcoming Brigid
Spring Equinox Also called: Ostara, St. Patrick's Day, Easter dates: around March 21 colors: green, yellow tools: eggs, basket, green clothes energy: birthing, sprouting, greening goddesses: Ostara, Kore, Maiden gods: Hare, Green Man rituals: breakthrough, new growth, new projects, seed blessings customs: wearing green, egg games, new clothes, egg baskets
Beltane Also called: May Eve, May Day, Walspurgis Night dates: April 30, early May colors: rainbow spectrum, blue, green, pastels, all colors tools: Maypole & ribbons, flower crowns, fires, bowers, fields energy: youthful play, exhuberance, sensuality, pleasure goddesses: May Queen, Flora gods: May King, Jack in the Green rituals: love, romance, fertility, crop blessings, creativity endeavors customs: dancing Maypole, jumping fire, mating, flower baskets
Summer Solstice Also called: Midsummer, Litha, St. John's Day dates: around June 21 colors: yellow, gold, rainbow colors tools: bonfires, Sun wheel, Earth circles of stone energy: partnership goddesses: Mother Earth, Mother Nature gods: Father Sun/Sky, Oak King rituals: community, career, relationships, Nature Spirit communion, planetary wellness customs: bonfires, processions, all night vigil, singing, feasting, celebrating with others
Lammas Also called: Lughnassad dates: August 2, early August colors: orange, yellow, brown, green tools: sacred loaf of bread, harvested herbs, bonfires energy: fruitfulness, reaping prosperity goddesses: Demeter, Ceres, Corn Mother gods: Grain God, Lugh, John Barleycorn rituals: prosperity, generosity, continued success customs: offering of first fruits/grains, games, country fairs
Fall Equinox Also called: Mabon, Michaelmas dates: around September 21 colors: orange, red, brown, purple, blue tools: cornucopia, corn, harvested crops energy: appreciation & harvest goddesses: Bona Dea, Land Mother gods: Mabon, Sky Father rituals: thanksgiving, harvest, introspection customs: offerings to land, preparing for cold weather, bringing in harvest
Samhain Also called: Halloween, All Hallows Eve, All Saints & All Souls, Day of the Dead dates: October 31, early November colors: black, orange, indigo tools: votive candles, magic mirror, cauldron, pumpkins, divination tools energy: death & transformation; Wiccan new year goddesses: Crone, Hecate gods: Horned Hunter, Cernnunos, Anubis rituals: honoring ancestors, releasing old, foreseeing future, understanding death and rebirth customs: jack o'lanterns, spirit plate, ancestor altar, divination, costumes
Winter Solstice Also called: Yule, Jul, Saturnalia, Christmas, solar/secular New Year dates: around December 21 colors: red, green, white tools: mistletoe, evergreen wreath, lights, gifts, holly, Yule log, Yule tree energy: regeneration & renewal goddesses: Great Mother, Isis, Mary, Tonazin, Lucina, Bona Dea gods: Sun Child, Horus, Jesus, Mithras, Santa/Odin, Saturn, Holly King rituals: personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends customs: wreaths, lights, gift-giving, singing, feasting, resolutions
