Wiccan Sabbats and Pagan Holidays Index. Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays. The date varies from December 20 to December 23 depending on the year in the Gregorian calendar. Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Yule Ritual. Winter Solstice Ritual Tools: In addition to your usual m'jyk-l tools, you will need: A Green Altar Cloth A Cauldron w/Lid or Cover Plate Holly Sprig Wreath Mistletoe Sprig Wreath 12 Low Vibration Stones (flat oval river rock work well) 1 Black Votive Candle, 1 Green 12" Taper Candle, 1 White 12" Taper Candle, 1 Gold (12hr) Pillar Candle Pine Incense Bowl of Water w/ Pine Sprig in it Plate of Sand Athame Other Personal Items of choice Preparation: This ritual showed be performed right after sunset. About an hour before, sweep area moving in a deosil manner. Yule symbols such as Poinsettias, Pine Cones, and even a decorated Yule Log nearby (if too big for altar) adds to the ambiance.
N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Samhain Lore. Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat. It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Samhain Ritual. Snuff the black votive candle and replace it. Remove the white pillar candle from the cauldron and place it in the center of your altar.
Stare in to the flame and think about the goals that you are setting for the upcoming year. When done, say: As you say "Blessed Be! " stretch out your arms over your alter as if to embrace all of your ancestors, your departed loved ones, and everyone on Earth. It is now time for meditation and spellworking. ***This Samhain Ritual and Planner are dedicated to MyztkM'jyk as she begins her Year and a Day study. --Adapted by: Akasha Ap Emrys for all of her friends and those of like mind.-- Copyright © 1997-99 Akasha, Herne and The Celtic Connection wicca.com. Rituals Index. N Traditions and Lore, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Sabbats Mabon.
Mabon Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. N Sabbats, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Mabon Ritual. It is now time for meditation and spellworking.
N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., July 31st. "Lughnasadh" or "Lammas" At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it's time to celebrate the first harvest of the year, and recognize that the hot summer days will soon come to an end. The plants of spring wither and drop seeds to ensure future crops. Grains are ready to be harvested and the fruits are ripe for picking. We can give thanks for the food on our tables. Lughnasadh means the funeral games of Lugh (pronounced Loo), referring to Lugh, the sun god. However, the funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts in honor of his foster-mother Tailte. As autumn begins, the Celtic Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead. The Christian religion adopted this theme and called it 'Lammas ', meaning 'loaf-mass ', a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar.
N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Lughnasadh/Lammas Ritual. Lammas Ritual Lughnassadh, First Harvest, August 1st Tools: In addition to your m'jyk-l tools, you will need: Golden Yellow Center Cloth 1 Gold Candle 1 Silver Candle Summer Blend Incense (recipe from Litha Ritual) Harvest Vegetables Golden Stones or other Sun Symbols Cornbread Cupcakes Cauldron Apple Cider Any other personal items of choice Preparation: Sweep area moving in a deosil manner. Outline the perimeter of your Circle cornmeal or yellow sand. Pagan Holiday, Wicca Sabbat Litha. Although the name Litha is not well attested, it may come from Saxon tradition -- the opposite of Yule. On this longest day of the year, light and life are abundant. At mid-summer, the Sun God has reached the moment of his greatest strength. Seated on his greenwood throne, he is also lord of the forests, and his face is seen in church architecture peering from countless foliate masks.
The Christian religion converted this day of Jack-in-the-Green to the Feast of St. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holiday Ritual for Litha. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., April 30th, Beltane. Many Wiccans and Pagans celebrate Beltane. It is one of eight solar Sabbats. This holiday incorporates traditions from the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, but it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as May pole dancing). Some traditions celebrate this holiday on May 1 or May day, whiles others begin their celebration the eve before or April 30th.
Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. The name means fire of Bel; Belinos being one name for the Sun God, whose coronation feast we now celebrate. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., March 21st, Ostara. As Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals. Hold an Ostara Ritual for Solitaries. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., February 2nd, Imbolc. As with all Old Tradition observances, this holiday is usually celebrated beginning at sundown on February 1 and continuing through the day of February 2.
Imbolc means in the belly of the Mother because that is where seeds are beginning to stir as it is Spring. N, Pagan and Witchcraft Holidays., Imbolc Ritual. Imbolc Ritual (Candlemas, February 2nd) Tools: In addition to your m'jyk-l tools, you will need: A White Altar Cloth Light Green Taper Goddess Candle Light Yellow Taper God Candle 13 White 4" Stick Candles Brideo'ga* Small Woven Basket with White Flowers Pentacle Candle Wheel Handful of Acorns Cauldron Snow/Crushed Ice Small White Pillar Candle Potpourri Holder Tea Lite Basil, Bay, Heather Flowers, Cinnamon and Vanilla Potpourri Blend Long Wooden Stick Matches Preparation: Sweep area, moving in deosil direction. Outline your circle with white cord Angelica leaves. Place Pentacle Candle Wheel in the center of altar. Place the lt. green taper Goddess candle to the top left of altar and the lt. yellow taper God candle to the top right of altar.
Put the white flowers in the basket as bedding for the Bride's Bed, then place the Brideo'ga atop the flowers. Cast circle by holding out your right hand and tracing over the cord or leaves in a clockwise direction.