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The Wheel of the Year: Wiccan Sabbats

by Lisa Chamberlain

Welcome to this brief introduction to the Wheel of the Year, which forms the basis of the Wiccan calendar. You will also find more information about each of the Sabbats at the links below.

Wicca is sometimes described as a non-organized religion. After all, there is no central holy text or designated place of worship in Wicca, and there are no standardized ritual proceedings to observe. All of these details are left up to individual traditions, covens, and solitary practitioners to decide on for themselves.

Despite all of this flexibility, however, there is one very important element of Wicca that does serve as a structural center for the religion: the Wheel of the Year. The eight holidays of the Wiccan year, also known as the Sabbats, provide regular occasions for practitioners to come together, whether it’s for coven rituals or more informal circle celebrations.

As for solitary practitioners, they know that as they perform their Sabbat rituals, they are joining their energy with that of the millions of other Wiccans worldwide who are celebrating these special days.

Wicca Sabbats

Days of Sun and Earth: the Sabbats

The Sabbats are comprised of four “solar holidays”—the two Solstices and two Equinoxes that mark the Earth’s annual journey around the sun—and four “Earth festivals,” which occur in February, May, August and October. This latter set of Sabbats mark the “cross-quarter days” between the solar points. For example, Beltane, usually celebrated on May 1, falls roughly halfway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.

Each of the cross-quarter Wiccan holidays—Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas and Samhain—is inspired by older traditional folk festivals which were celebrated in Western Europe before the rise of Christianity. (Depending on the form of Wicca being practiced, some of these festivals go by other names. Lammas, for example, is also known as Lughnasa by those who work with Celtic traditions.)

Many Wiccans refer to the cross-quarter days as the “greater Sabbats” and the solar days as the “lesser Sabbats,” as the Earth festival days are seen to be times of greater energy. This terminology is more about making a distinction between the two types, however, and doesn’t mean that the solar days (also known as “Sun Sabbats”) are any less important.

The sacred story behind the Wheel of the Year

It should be noted that these eight holidays do not belong to Wicca alone—many contemporary Pagan traditions also observe some or all of the Sabbats. However, the metaphorical mythology surrounding the God and the Goddess, and each Sabbat’s portion of the overall story, is what makes the Wiccan version unique. This divine pair is responsible for all creation in Nature, and each has crucial roles to play in the cycles of plant and animal life during the course of the year. As the God represents the Sun, and the Goddess the Earth, their relationship is seen in two ways: as mother and child, and as procreating lovers.

In this way, both the presence and absence of warmth and sunlight over the course of the seasons is explained: the God is born, grows up and reaches the height of his power, and then ages and dies, to be reborn again as the growth cycle is renewed. The Goddess, who is the Earth, is both mother and co-creative partner to the God, remaining steadfast and present throughout the year, even in the absence of warmth and light. She is the constant, which may be why her Sabbats—the Earth festivals—are considered to have greater power. But the overall vision of the endless birth/death/rebirth cycle is one of balance between the female and male Universal energies, and each Sabbat can be seen as representing a particular stage of the cycle.

Wicca

Celebrating Sabbats: ritual high points on the Wiccan calendar

So what happens at a Sabbat celebration? Like so much in Wicca, the details can vary widely, but generally speaking, there will be a ritual focusing on some element of the God and Goddess relationship and/or the time of year. For example, Spring and Summer Sabbats take themes of fertility and abundance, while Autumnal Sabbats are related to harvesting.

The formal ritual is usually followed by a feast of some kind. These proceedings may be simple or elaborate, and may involve just a solitary practitioner, a coven, or an informal Wiccan circle. Some covens and circles, as well as other Pagan groups, even hold their Sabbat rituals in public so that interested members of the community might come and observe and learn. Others maintain a tradition of strict secrecy and celebrate in private.

The details of the ritual, as well as the decorations and food, will likely depend on the particular Sabbat. Witches may devote their rituals to different aspects of the God and Goddess at different points along the Wheel of the Year, leave offerings appropriate to each season, and decorate the altar with seasonal themes.

You can find more details about each individual Sabbat by clicking on the links in the table below.  These are the most commonly recognized names for the eight Sabbats on the Wiccan calendar, and the traditional dates for observing them:

Sabbat Date
Yule / Winter Solstice December 20-23*
Imbolc February 1-2*
Ostara / Spring Equinox March 19-21*
Beltane April 30-May 1*
Litha / Summer Solstice June 20-22*
Lammas August 1-2*
Mabon / Autumn Equinox September 21-24*
Samhain October 31-November 1*

*Note: because the equinoxes and solstices happen at precise moments in time, they may fall on different dates in different parts of the world, and the date can vary from one year to the next. Therefore, a range of possible dates is given for the solar Sabbats.

Observing the Wiccan Wheel of the Year can be a profoundly spiritually rewarding practice. Having a Sabbat to celebrate every six weeks means we stay more in tune with Nature and are more consciously aware of the turning of the seasons. In fact, many Wiccans refer to their participation in Sabbat rituals as “Turning the Wheel,” as an acknowledgement of their co-creative relationship with Nature. Of course, every day provides opportunities to commune with the Goddess and the God. But it’s nice to always have another Witchy occasion to look forward to, just a few weeks away!

Learn More About the Wheel of the Year:

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Wicca Living
Menu
  • Home
  • Getting Started
    • Frequently Asked Questions About Wicca, Witchcraft, and Magic
    • What is Wicca?
    • What is Witchcraft?
    • Are Wiccans Really Witches?
    • What is Paganism?
    • What is Magic? (And Magick?)
    • What’s the Difference Between Black Magic and White Magic?
    • Is Wicca Connected to Satanism?
    • What is Known of the History of Wicca?
    • Close
  • Wiccan Magic
    • A Beginners Guide to Wiccan Magic
    • Candle Magic
      • A Beginners Guide to Candle Magic: A Wiccan Overview
      • Candle Magic Spell for Beginners
      • Magical Properties of Colors
      • Close
    • Crystal Magic
      • A Beginners Guide to Crystal Magic: A Wiccan Overview
      • Crystal Magic Spell for Beginners
      • Magical Properties of Crystals and Other Minerals
      • Close
    • Herbal Magic
      • A Beginners Guide to Herbal Magic: A Wiccan Overview
      • A Herbal Magic Spell for Beginners
      • Magical Properties of Herbs
      • Close
    • Oil Magic
      • A Beginners Guide to Magical Oils: Essential Oils Magic
      • How to Make Your Own Magical Oil Blends
      • Close
    • Moon Magic
    • The Book of Shadows: A Modern Grimoire
    • Magic and the Law of Attraction
    • Wiccan Guide to Tarot
    • The Ancient Runes
    • Close
  • Core Wiccan Beliefs
    • Introduction to the Core Wiccan Beliefs
    • Deities of Wicca
      • The Wiccan Goddess and God
      • Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, and Crone
      • The Oak King and the Holly King: Aspects of the God
      • Working with Ancient Deities
      • Close
    • The Classical Elements in Wicca
      • The Earth Element
      • The Water Element
      • The Fire Element
      • The Air Element
      • The Spirit Element (Akasha)
      • Close
    • The Wiccan Rede
    • The Threefold Law
    • Close
  • Wiccan Ritual
    • An Introduction to Wiccan Rituals
    • Tools of Magic: Ritual Tools and the Wiccan Altar
      • Wiccan Altar
      • Athame
      • Bell
      • Boline
      • Broom (Besom)
      • Cauldron
      • Chalice
      • Incense
      • Pentacle
      • Wand
      • Close
    • Setting Up the Altar and Casting the Circle
    • The Book of Shadows: A Modern Grimoire
    • Clearing and Charging Your Ritual Tools
    • Clothing and Ritual Attire
    • Close
  • Wheel of the Year
    • The Wiccan Sabbats
      • Yule (Winter Solstice)
      • Imbolc
      • Ostara (Spring Equinox)
      • Beltane
      • Litha (Summer Solstice)
      • Lammas / Lughnasadh
      • Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
      • Samhain
      • Close
    • Wiccan Esbats
    • Close
  • Wiccan Paths
    • Wiccan Traditions
    • Covens, Circles, and Solitary Practitioners
    • Wiccan Initiation and Self-Dedication
    • Close
  • Learn More
    • About
    • Recommended Reading List
    • Free Wicca Audiobooks
    • Books by Lisa Chamberlain
    • Contact
    • Close