The Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), or Samhuinn (as some Druid groups call it) is the Celtic New Year’s Eve. It is celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on 1 November. The Welsh call it Calan Gaef or Nos Galan Gaeof.
Samhain was the end of the summer season and the beginning of […]
Yule, the Winter Solstice (December 21), is a Lesser Sabbat in the Wiccan calendar, also known as Alban Arthuan. The word “Yule” first appeared in its modern spelling in 1475 CE. Circa 1450 CE it was spelled “Yoole” and circa 1200 CE it appeared in The Ormulum as “Yole”. Before 899 CE it appeared in […]
Imbolc, which means “in the belly”, marked the beginning of the lambing season for the ancient Celts. This is why one of the names for Imbolc is Oimelc (“sheep’s milk”). Imbolc was the time of year when the ancients began looking for signs of the return of spring, which is where the modern Ground Hog […]
Eostre, the Spring or Vernal Equinox, is a Lesser Sabbat on the Wiccan calendar. In Old High German its name was “Ostarun”, becoming “Ostern” in Modern German, which is why some modern Wiccans call it Ostara. In Bede’s Ecclesiastical History it was spelled “Eastre”, as it was in Old English before 899. By 1103 it […]
Beltaine is a Greater Sabbat of the Wiccan calendar, celebrated April 30. Beltaine (literally “fires of Bel”) was the beginning of the summer season for the Celtic peoples, named for the solar deity known in various parts of the Celtic world as Beli, Bile, Belenos, Bel and Belenus. Beltaine marks the beginning of the Spear […]
Wiccans call the Summer Solstice Litha. The Druids call it Alban Heruin. This is a “Lesser Sabbat” in the Wiccan calendar, marking the midpoint in the Spear Season. It was originally a Saxon solar celebration incorporated into the Wiccan calendar as a celebration of the first fruits of the season. In some traditions, this day […]
Lughnasad is one of the Celtic fire festivals or cross quarter days, celebrated August 1. This Greater Sabbat marks the beginning of the final Season of the Year: The Cauldron Season of Autumn. It is a time of year when this Cauldron becomes a cornucopia. Lughnasad is named in honor of the Celtic Sun God […]
Wiccans call the Autumnal Equinox Mabon, after the Celtic deity Mabon, son of Modron (“mother”), who is mentioned in the story of Culhwch and Olwen. His name translates simply as “son”. Mabon is a Lesser Sabbat which is the third and last harvest festival of the Wiccan calendar, which started at Lughnasad. It marks the […]