The Wheel of the Year
We have an inseparable partnership to Mother Earth and celebrate Her turns of the wheel as Sabbats and Esbats. The Wheel of the Year marks the Sun's journey across the sky, the solstices, equinoxes and the Earth's changing seasons. Each spoke of the wheel marks an important moment of progression and change in the Earth. We will celebrate the holiday starting the day before until the day after the Sabbat date.
Our religious calendar contains 13 Full Moon celebrations and 8 Sabbats or days of power. The Sabbats are solar rituals, marking the points of the Sun’s yearly cycle, and are but half of the ritual year. The Esbats are the Full Moon celebrations. There are 12-13 Full Moons yearly, or one every 28 1/4 days. The Moon is a symbol of the Goddess as well as a source of energy. Thus, after the religious aspects of the Esbats, we often practice magick, tapping into the larger amounts of energy which are thought to exist at these times. Most rites are held at night. The eight Sabbats represent seasonal birth, death, and rebirth.
Yule/Winter Solstice
From December 21st through December 31st. The shortest day of the year and the longest night. The Goddess gives birth to a son, the God. The festival of the Sun’s rebirth, and a time to honor the God. Love, family, togetherness and accomplishments of the past year are also celebrated. It is celebrated by fire and the use of the Yule log. A portion of the Yule log is saved to be used in lighting next year’s log. (Should be oak.) This piece is kept throughout the year to protect the home. The Yule log is burned to give life and power to the Sun. hang mistletoe over doorways, decorate the Yule tree and exchange gifts. Bayberry candles are also burned to ensure wealth and happiness throughout the following year. The reindeer stag is also a reminder of the horned God.-Traditional Pagan foods-roasted turkey, nuts, eggnog and mulled wine.
-Incense-bayberry, cedar, pine and rosemary
-Candles-gold, red, green and white
-Sacred Gemstones-cat’s eye and ruby
Candlemas/Imbolc
February 2nd. Marks the time to welcome spring. The recovery of the Goddess after giving birth to the God. A festival of light and of fertility. A good time for self-dedication rituals (performed or renewed). Represents new beginnings and spiritual growth, and the "sweeping out of the old." This is also a good time to look over you magickal cabinet.-Foods-sunflower seeds, poppyseed breads and cakes and herbal Teas
-Incense-basil, myrrh and wisteria
-Candles-brown, pink and red
-Gemstones-amethyst, garnet, onyx and turquoise.
Ostara/Spring Equinox
March 21st. Marks the 1st day of true spring. The Goddess blankets the Earth with fertility, bursting forth from Her sleep, as the God stretches and grows to maturity. He walks the greening fields and delights in the abundance of Nature. This is a time of beginnings, of action, of planting spells for future gains, and of tending ritual gardens. Eggs are colored and placed on the altar as magickal talismans. The familiar Easter Bunny is a Pagan derivative, as are baskets of flowers. The colors light green, lemon yellow and pale pink are traditional for this holiday.-Foods-hard boiled eggs, honey cakes and the 1st fruits of the season.
-Incense-african violet, jasmine, rose, sage and strawberry
-Candles-gold, green, yellow
-Gemstones-amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone and red jasper.
Beltane/Mayday
May 1st. Celebrating the union of the Goddess and God, and thus is also a fertility festival. Also celebrates the returning sun (or Sun God). The traditional colors for Mayday are red and white. Flower petals can be strewn about the circle and later swept into a pole and distributed around the perimeter of the house for protection.-Foods-red fruits, herbal salads, red or pink wine punch, and large, round oatmeal or barley cakes.
-Incense-frankincense, lilac and rose
-Candles-dark green
-Gemstones-emerald, orange carnelian, sapphire and rose quartz.
Summer Solstice/Midsummer
June 21st. Marks the longest day of the year. Midsummer is a classic time for magick of all kinds. Believed that whatever is dreamt of on this night will come true for the dreamer. A celebration of passion and success.-Foods-fresh vegetables, summer fruits, pumpernickel bread, ale and mead.
-Incense-frankincense, lemon, myrrh, pine, rose and wisteria
-Candles-blue, green, gold and red
-Gemstones-all green stones (emerald and jade).
Lammas/Lughnasadh
August 2nd. The time of the first harvest. The God losses His strength as the Sun rises farther in the South each day and the nights grow longer. The God is dying, and yet lives on inside the Goddess as Her child. We are reminded that nothing in the universe is constant.-Foods-homemade breads (wheat, oat and corn bread), nuts, wild berries, apples, rice, berry pies, elderberry wine, ale and meadowsweet tea.
-Incense-aloes, rose, sandlewood
-Candles-orange, yellow
-Gemstones-aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx
Autumn Equinox/Mabon
September 21st. Marks the completion of the harvest. Day and Night are equal. God prepares to leave His physical body toward renewal and rebirth of the Goddess. A time for thanksgiving and meditation. River and stream stones gathered over the summer can be empowered for various purposes.-Foods-corn bread cakes, wheat products, breads, nuts, vegetables, apples, cider, carrots, onions, potatoes and pomegranates.
-Incense-benzoin, myrrh and sage
-Candles-brown, green, orange, yellow
-Gemstones-carnelian, lapis lazuli, sapphire, yellow agate
Halloween/Samhain "sow-en"
October 31st. The Wicca say farewell to the God. A temporary farewell. He isn’t wrapped in eternal darkness but readies to be reborn of the Goddess at Yule. It is said to be the time when the veil between the worlds is very thin, when souls that are leaving this physical plane can pass out and souls that are reincarnating can pass in. This holiday is considered the Witches’ New Year, representing one full turn of the seasonal year. A time of reflection, of looking back over the last year. Remembering our ancestors and all those who have gone before. It is said that lighting a new orange-colored candle at midnight on Samhain and allowing it to burn until sunrise will bring one good luck; however, bad luck will befall those who bake bread on this day or journey after sunset. Black candles are used to ward off negativity. Wiccan traditions- rune-casting, making Jack-o-lanterns and standing before a mirror and making a secret wish.-Foods- apples, pumpkin pie, hazelnuts, corn, cranberry muffins and breads, ale, cider and herbal teas.
-Incense-apple, heliotrope, mint, nutmeg and sage
-Candles-black, orange
-Gemstones-all black gemstones (jet, obsidian and onyx).
This information taken from Catala's Wicca Page