Though leading Wiccan Gerald Gardner (1884-1964) called this ‘greater sabbat’ Hallowe’en, for many pagans - perhaps wanting to distance themselves from the popular trappings of modern Halloween - it is Samhain. At dawn on the longest day, at Stonehenge, the two stones which are located outside of the main circle, called the Heel Stone and the Slaughter Stone (now prone), channel the sun in alignment and the first rays hit the centre of the circle. Lughnasadh Carl McColman (2002). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha. p.121. ISBN 9780028642666.

Lughnasadh is the third Celtic fire festival we celebrate — but the first harvest festival on the Wheel. The alternate name of the Sabbat, Lammas, translates to Loaf Mass. If nothing else, that gives us an inkling of how pagan celebrations of the harvest seeped into Christian practices. How to pronounce Imbolc or Imbolg: You pronounce this holiday like IM-BOHLK or IM-BOHLG (/ˈɪmbɑlk/,/ɪˈmɑlɡ/). Well, believe it or not, the Wiccan Sabbats are a result of decades, if not centuries, of modern interpretations of ancient rites. In fact, some pretty famous scholars unknowingly participated in the creation of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, c. 1837. This work is in the public domain.Asherah was a mother goddess, and she even leaves her mark in the Old Testament of the Bible with the mentions of Asherah poles that were erected as signs of fertility.

Then again, some Wiccans choose to follow completely different deities, notably from the Greco-Roman pantheons. But you don’t have to honor them if you don’t have a personal connection to them. Remember, most cultures across the world have deities that may fit in with the themes of Wiccan Sabbats. So look into your past and explore until you find the pantheon that feels significant to you! A Study of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year When I was growing up, I always thought Beltane was the coolest, but that’s because I thought of it only as the holiday in which you lit a bonfire and went and made love in the woods. Beltane's significance lies in its focus on life's abundance and the renewal of the land. Pagans celebrate the Earth's fertility, the blooming of flowers, the return of butterflies and the ripening of crops, embracing the season of growth and vitality. Hume, Lynne (1997). Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522847826. The slideshow begins with handy slides explaining ‘What is Paganism?’ and ‘What is a Solstice?’ and there are lots of keywords used in context which children can note down and later use in independent writing tasks.When we live in harmony with her, we can get more done by doing less. We can create a balance between doing and being. We can speed up when the time is right, then slow down when we’re called to. And we can eat what is most nourishing for our bodies. We can sow seeds when the earth is most fertile, then lovingly tend to our garden and, in time, watch as the flowers bloom. The 8 witch, wiccan & pagan holidays of the wheel of the year Samhain – October 31st to November 1st It’s the transition from the archetypal energy of the Crone to the Maiden. That means transitioning our focus from inward to outward, reigniting our passion, creating, and moving into action again. Mabon – The Witchipedia. (2016). Retrieved 6 August 2020, from https://witchipedia.com/festivals/mabon/ The summer solstice, or Litha, is when the days are the longest. Nature is at it’s peak and the sun is at the highest point in the sky. Pagans give thanks for all of this and at this time, ask for a rich harvest. For Wiccans, this is also when the god is at his full power.