An Introduction To The Sabbats and The Wheel of The Year

Witches celebrate eight seasonal festivals or Sabbats:

Samhain, 31 October. The beginning and therefore the end of the Pagan year. The time when the Goddess returns as the Crone or Wise One.

Yule, the Winter Solstice, 21 December. The time when the days begin to lengthen and the rebirth of the Sun is celebrated.

Imbolg, 2 February. The time when the first buds are seen on the trees; the return of the Goddess as Maiden.

Ostara, the Spring Equinox, 21 March. The time when the day and night are equal. A time of balance and of throwing out the old and taking in the new.

Beltane, 1 May. The time when the marriage of the Goddess and the God is celebrated. The Goddess becomes the mother and the God returns to reign beside her.

Litha, the Summer Solstice, 21 June. The height of the Sun King’s power, when the days begin to shorten again.

Lammas, 1 August. The time when the first harvest is brought in; the feast of the sacrificial God.

Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, 21 September. Again day and night are equal, again this is a time if balance. This is the height of the harvest and a time of returning things to the way they should be.


Given that there are many witches around the world it is also important to include the Southern Hemisphere Wheel dates.

Sabbats are as follows

Samhain - May 1

Winter Solstice - June 21

Feast of Bride - August 2

Spring Equinox - September 21

Beltane - October 31

Summer Solstice - December 21

Llughnassad - February 2

Autumn Equinox - March 21

Essential Symbolism of Solstice and Equinox

Winter - Rebirth of the Sun God. The boyhood and training of the once and future king.

Spring - Symbolic and the actual mating of the sun king with the daughter and priestess of the Moon. His inititation as both priest and King.

Summer - Sacrifice of the Sun King, leading to the harvest of his regin. Transformation.

Autumn - His descent into the realms of the Underworld. Power from the Dark Lord to the Virgin Queen of Initiation.