Holidays

Wicca and Magecraft are rooted in a relationship with nature and its various expressions in plant and animal life, the elements, and the turning of the seasons. The living, breathing Divine Mind is vibrantly present in nature, perhaps more obviously so than in most of the human-made, modern, “developed world.” Those interested in Wicca and Magecraft will benefit from consciously observing the natural world around them and developing a more intentional relationship with it. Mages who live in climates with four distinct seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter) have an excellent opportunity to closely observe the Wheel of the Year.

Sabbats are the best time to note the changes on the Earth and in the sky over the last several weeks, and Esbats also provide occasions for marking the seasons’ effects in our everyday lives. The more you pay attention to the space “in-between seasons,” the more the movement of the Earth becomes apparent—even in Winter. If you live in a climate with less seasonal variety, or even none at all to speak of, you can still observe the effects of natural forces in subtle ways. The sun still casts different qualities of light throughout the day. The air tends to change just before a rain. Becoming practiced in the habit of observing small details in your natural environment helps cultivate your openness to the unseen energies inherent in all of the Universe. If you can, go out for walks, hikes, picnics, etc. in places with soil and vegetation. Or go swimming, canoeing, or rock-skipping across a pond. Build a snowman or sculpt your own creation in snow. Do whatever you can to spend some quality time outdoors on a regular basis. If you live in a very urban environment and have little in the way of access to natural areas, you can still create ways to interact with the underlying forces of the Universe. Parks can be suitable, but so can indoor plants and windowsill gardens.

You can grow herbs for magical use and healing as well as cooking. Open a window at sunrise and study whatever you can see of the sky. Stand in the rain for a minute and embrace the feeling of it on your skin. Even nature shows and photographs or art depicting natural scenes can help put you in touch, as well as recordings of nature sounds and meditation music. When Sabbats come around, make a point of gathering a few of the seasonal gifts of the Earth—flower petals in Spring months, leaves shed from deciduous trees in Autumn, pine needles from evergreens in Winter. Use these in ritual, or simply as decorations on your kitchen table or somewhere else where you’ll see them often. As you practice these ways of observing the Wheel of the Year, you’ll find your relationship with the seasons (even your least favourite ones) becoming more attuned and rooted in gratitude.

## Esbats

In addition to the Sabbats, the Wiccan year contains 12 (sometimes 13) Full Moon celebrations, known as the Esbats. While the Sabbats tend to focus celebration on the God and his association with the Sun, the Esbats honour the Goddess in her association with the Moon. Covens traditionally meet on the Esbats to celebrate a particular aspect of the Goddess, such as Aphrodite, in a celebration of abundance, or Persephone, in a ritual for renewal. They work with the Goddess to bring about healing and assistance for their members and communities, and often work for the good of the wider world as well. The Full Moon is also seen within the context of the Wheel of the Year, with names and seasonal attributions for each. For Wiccans working with particular aspects of the Goddess, the specific goddess called upon during an Esbat will often correspond with the time of year. For example, Aphrodite is an appropriate goddess to celebrate abundance under a Summer Moon, whereas Persephone, with her underworld associations, is more appropriate to work with under a late Autumn or early Winter Moon. The names for each Moon may vary from tradition to tradition, but are generally related to the time of year and the corresponding level of abundance and activity of life on Earth, as well as the Sun’s point in its journey around the Earth
Many Mages consider astrological influences in addition to seasonal influences and will work according to the particular sign the Moon is in while full. They will refer to the Moon accordingly, such as the “Gemini Moon” or the “Aquarius Moon.”When more than one Full Moon occurs in a given calendar month, it’s called a Blue Moon. Occurring roughly once every two and a half years, this is considered a particularly powerful time in many Wiccan traditions, and special attention is paid to working with the rare energy of a Blue Moon.

## February

### Imbolc/Candlemas: February 2nd

Imbolc is a celebration of the efforts of the God to charm the Goddess out of her wintry sleep. This day is important for Christians to honour the Virgin Mary by burning candles in a procession on this date.

**Common theme**: Devotion to the Goddess

**Ritual practice**: Imbolc or Candlemas is a day to honour the Sacred Feminine by either burning candles or offering flowers at a shrine in honour of the Sacred Feminine. Imbolc also coincides with the feast day of St. Brigid, a Druid who dedicated her life to tend to women’s health in particular during childbirth.

## March

### Ostara/Easter: March 21st

Ostara Easter can be celebrated on March 21st as well as the first Sunday after the full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox. Ostara is the celebration of the coming of spring and the return of life after winter. Easter shares this theme by celebrating the resurrection of Jesus after his descent into the realm of the dead.

**Common theme**: Rebirth

**Ritual practice**: There are many ways to celebrate life. One way that links both the Pagan and the Christian beliefs is the blessing of the elements this involves the blessing of water and fire while burning incense to sanctify the altar. Flowers are also laid around the altar. The blessing of the elements can also be performed in your own home with your own personalized ritual and the holy water can be used to bless yourself and your home.

## May

### Beltane/May Day: May 1st

May Day is a festival that has been somewhat lost with time. On May Day young girls walked behind the statue of the Virgin Mary to indicate that they were old enough to get married. Beltane is a fertility festival where people perform the May Pole dance.

**Common theme**: Fertility

**Ritual practice**: A way to commemorate fertility is through a symbolic representation of the copulation of the God and Goddess to bring life back on earth. Any two items that represent feminine and male virility that can be combined into a state of completeness works for this. It is a day to be more relaxed, a little frivolous, as well as going out with someone special or to try and fight that special someone.

## June

### Litha: June 21st, St. John the Baptist: June 24th

Litha and the feast day of St. John the Baptist commemorate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and the beginning of the harvest season.

**Common theme**: It is a time when the sunlight and solar energies are the most potent and is a time to commemorate the strength of the sun and to soak up its energies and gifts.

**Ritual practice**: A common practice is the lighting of bonfires.

## August

### Lammas/Loaf Mass: August 1st

Loaf mass dates back to the early Church, when it was common to make an offering of the first fruits of the harvest as a sign of thanksgiving though it is no longer celebrated in the church. On August 1st, people brought bread that was baked with the freshly harvested wheat so it could be blessed during the church service. Like Loaf Mass, Lammas celebrates the harvest and the blessing of livestock.

**Common theme**: Giving thanks for the wheat harvest

**Ritual practice**: Baking and sharing bread is a common practice and relates to Christians commemoration of the Eucharist.

## September

### Mabon/Thanksgiving: September 21st

**Common theme**: Giving thanks for the harvest

**Ritual practice**: Preparing a meal for friends and family and giving thanks for a bountiful harvest as well as our other blessings.

## October

### Samhain/Halloween: October 31

Samhain is a holiday to celebrate our ancestors. It is believed that on this day the veil between the world of the living and the dead is thinner and the dead are able to crossover and interact with the living.

**Common theme**: Remembrance of our ancestors

**Ritual practice**: It is a day to make offerings to the ancestors and interact with the spirits like when they were a live. It is a day that teaches that just because someone has passed doesn't mean they are gone.

## December

### Krampusnacht: December 5th

It is a holiday where men dress up as Krampus, drink a bunch of alcohol before running through the streets scaring children and frightening delinquents.

### Yule: December 21 Christmas: December 25

Yule is celebrated on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. The date for Christmas was chosen by the Roman Emperor Aurelian in the third century, to coincide with the feast of the Unconquered Sun and it is because of this that there is a strong association with the power of the sun. Many pagan traditions were incorporated into Christmas. The Christmas tree, which was a Germanic tradition, was introduced by Boniface. It is also believed that Santa Claus is an amalgamation of St. Nikolas and the Norse god Odin.

**Common theme**: Encouraging light in times of darkness. This light is represented in various ways: the unconquered sun, the star of Bethlehem, Jesus as the light of the world, or simply by the ritual use of candles.

**Ritual practice**: Burning candles throughout the night is a practice shared by both Pagans and Christians and a midnight mass is still performed by Christians.