Celebrating the Seasons
Lore and Rituals by Selena Fox
Excerpts from a work in progress 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 get 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.

About Seasonal Festivals at Circle Sanctuary

Wheel of the Year: Circle of Sun and Seasons by Selena Fox
Study Group Guide for Pagan Paths Workshop
© 1995, Selena Fox, PO Box 219, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572 USA

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

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