Sabbats / Holidays
The Witch's calendar marks eight holidays during the solar year, called Sabbats. In addition, the thirteen full moons which occur each year are also seen as Holy days and are called Esbats, honoring the Goddess as the Great Mother.
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Samhain (Oct. 31) is the Celtic new year and celebrates both the passing of the old and the beginning of the new, death as well as life. Samhain marks the third and final harvest, when the Goddess as Crone takes the God to the Underworld, where he waits to be reborn at Yule. Because of the God's crossover, Witches believe that the veil separating life and death disappears on Samhain and the dead can cross over to join their living relatives in the festivities.
| Herbs | Incence | Color | Decorations | Foods |
| Pumpkin, Apple, Nuts, Thistle, Chysanthemum, Broom, Oak Leaves, Sage | Apple, Nutmeg, Sage, Mint | Black and Orange | Jack-o-Lantern, Photos of Deceased Loved Ones, Apples, Fall Leaves, Autumn Flowers, Squashes | Apples, Corn, Nuts, Cider, Mulled Wine, Pumpkin Dishes, Cranberry Muffins, Herbal Teas |
Yule (Winter Solstice, around Dec. 21) is the day the Mother Goddess gives birth to the Sun-God. The Yule log is burned and the candles are lit on the trees to celebrate the sun's return. Light and dark do battle and light emerges victorious as the days once again grow longer.
| Herbs | Incence | Color | Decorations | Foods |
| Holly, Mistletoe, Rosemary, Oak, Pine Cones | Bayberry, Pine, Cedar, Rosemary, Juniper | Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold | Yule log (Oak or Pine), Mistletoe, Wreaths, Strings of dried flowers and cinnamon sticks, Apples, Oranges, Yule tree | Nuts, Apples, Oranges, Caraway rolls, Mulled wine, Roast turkey |
Imbolc (Feb. 1 or 2) is a celebration of the waxing sun as the days grow warmer. Candles are traditionally lit all over the house to help the sun grow stronger. The Goddess is now the young maiden soon to be wed to the young God.
| Herbs | Incence | Color | Decorations | Foods |
| Snowdrop, Bay, Heather, First Flowers of the Year | Rosemary, Cinnamon, Westeria, Frankincense | White, Orange, Red | Lamps, Besom (Witch's Broom), Yellow Flowers | Dairy Products, Onions, Garlic, Spiced Wines, Seeds, Herbal Teas |
Ostara (Spring Equinox, around March 21) is a day of balance between light and dark, but light is the stronger. Life is re-emerging and the signs of the earth's fertility are abundant. The young God and Goddess are also awakening to their own sexuality and desire for one another
| Herbs | Incence | Color | Decorations | Foods |
| Honeysuckle, Iris, Peony, Violet and All Spring Flowers | Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry | Green, Yellow | Colored Eggs, Green and Yellow Jellybeans, Rabbit Decorations, Spring Flowers | Seeds, Leafy Green Vegetables, Spiced or Flower Cupcakes, Fruits, Hard-Boiled Eggs |
Beltane (May 1) celebrates the Sacred Marriage of the God and Goddess and from their union will be born the bounty of the Autumn harvest. Beltane marks the transition of the Goddess from Maiden to Mother as the God's seed takes root in her womb.
| Herbs | Incence | Color | Decorations | Foods |
| Honeysuckle, St. John's Wort, Hawthorn, All Flowers | Frankincense, Lilac, Rose | Green, Soft Pink, Blue, Yellow | Maypole, Strings of Beads or Flowers, Ribbons, Spring Flowers | Dairy, Oatmeal cakes, Cherries, Strawberries, Wine Punches, Green Salads |
Litha (Summer Solstice, around June 21) marks the sun at the peak of its power, the Sun-God in full strength. Light and dark again battle, but this time the dark forces win as the sun begins to wane.
| Herbs | Incence | Color | Decorations | Foods |
| Lavender, Chamomile, Roses, Daisy, Lily | Frankincense, Lemon, Rose, Wisteria, Lavender | Blue, Green, Yellow | Dried Herbs, Potpourri, Seashells, Summer Flowers, Fruits | Summer Fruits, Ale, Mead, Fresh Vegetables |
Lammas (Aug. 1) is a celebration of the first harvest and a day to enjoy the earth's abundance with feasts of bread and grains.
| Herbs | Incence | Color | Decorations | Foods |
| All grains, Grapes, Heather, Blackberries, Sunflowers | Sandalwood, Rose, Aloes | Yellow, Orange, Green, Brown | Corn Dollies, Any Wheat Weaving Crafts, Shafts of Grain | Breads, Cider, Blackberry Pies and Jellies, Rice, Meadowsweet Tea, Berries |
Mabon (Autumn Equinox, around Sept. 21) marks the second of the three harvests and is celebrated with fruit harvesting and wine-making. Like Ostara, Mabon is a time of balance between light and dark, but the dark prevails until Yule.
| Hazel, Corn, Acorns, Oak, Wheat Stalks, Cypress Cones, Pine Cones | Myrrh, Sage, Pine | Orange, Dark Red, Yellow, Brown | Acorns, Pomegranates, Pine Cones, Baskets of Fallen Leaves | Breads, Corn, Cornbread, Beans, Squash, Apples, Roots (Carrots, Potatoes, Onions), Cider |