The 8 Sabbats

 

         Witches have there own festivals,the witches calander, which takes place at 8 key points in the year. Each of the sabbats has its own definate place in the earths cycle and its own place in the Wheel of the Year. 

         The witches year starts at Samhain, Oct 31st, which is also the celtic new year when  the cold of winter approaches, the trees are bare and the nights are draker. Samhain become the christain festival of halloween On this night witches believe that  the vail between the world of the living and the world of spirits is very close together and contact between the two is more esay. which is why the night has sometimes become known as the night of the dead.

Below are the 8 saabats and a small bit about each of them.

SAMHAIN  (October 31st) - This is the night when spirits and people are at thier closest. It is tyhe offiicial end of summer and the beginning of winter. it is a night of mischief.

YULE (December 21st) - This is the longest night of the year. its is a time for present giving, festivities, rejoicing, decorating the house and putting up and decorating a tree to celebrate the enduring force of life and to encourge the sun back. Yule is also the time when the oak king and the holly king do battle with the oak king being victorious and ruling until midsummer.

IMBOLC (January 31st) - The sun becomes visible in the sky again, candles are lit to heasten its journay back to full strength. Its a time for turning inward to clear the way for personal and spiritual rebirth.

SPRING EQUINOX (March 21st) - The days and nights are now equal in length and spring begins to quicken the new growth of trees and plants. New born animals begin to emerge and explore the world.

BELTANE (April 30th - May 1st) - The weather becomes warmer and the plants blossom witch growth. This is the time people dance around a maypole to celebrate the lands fertility and growth. This is said to be a time of great magical power.

MIDSUMMER (June 21st) - The longest day of the year, light and life are abundent. Its a time to look outwards and a time to experience the joys of plenty and to celbrate the fulness of the season. Midsummer is also the time when the holly king and oak king once again do battle with the holly king being victorious this time, ruling until Samhain.

LAMMAS (July 31st) - The feast of loaves at which the first grain harvest is comsumed and is also the time of the fire festival. Lammas is the time to give thanks for the earth's bounty to be taken at  havest time.

AUTUMN EQUINOX (September 21st) - This is the only other time of year when day and night are of equal length. Harvest festivals ar held to again give thanks for the crops and produce that earth has provided.