Seasonal Celebrations

Samhain (October 31-November 1)
Samhain is the third harvest festival in the wheel of the year, and is often referred to as the
Celtic New Year. During this time of the year ancestors are honored and communed with, and
divinations are performed to foretell the coming year.
Other Names: Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), Third
Harvest, Martinmas, Celtic New Year, Festival of Pamona
Symbols: Jack-o-lanterns, Masks, The Cauldron, Waning Moon
Stones: Obsidian, Onyx, Carnelian
Colors: Black, Orange, Indigo
Foods: Apples, Squashes, Pork, all third harvest foods
Plants: Allspice, Apples, Gourds, Mugwort, Sage
Animals: Bats, Cats, Dogs
Gods: All Death Gods, Arawn (Welsh), Coyote Brother (Native American), The Great Horned
God (Eurpoean), Hades (Greek), Loki (Norse), Nefertum (Egyptian), Odin (Norse), Pluto
(Greco-Roman), Sekhet (Egyptian), All Underworld Gods
Goddesses: All Crone Goddesses, Babd (Irish), Bast (Egyptian), Baba Yaga (Russian),
Cailleach (Irish-Scottish), Cerridwen (Welsh-Scottish), Hecate (Greek), Kali (Indian), The
Morrigan (Celtic), Pamona (Roman), Rhiannon (Welsh), All Underworld Goddesses
Rituals/Magickal Workings: Change, Communing With/Honoring the Dead, Divination,
Protection, Reversing Negativity, Transformation

Winter Solstice (Around December 20-22)
This sabbat astrologically marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It marks the
death of the old Sun God and rebirth of new Sun God, as well as the Pagan New Year by many.
Other Names: Yule, Midwinter, Alban Arthan, Pagan New Year, Saturnalia, Yule Tide, Finns'
Day, Festival of Sol
Symbols: Bells, Candles, Elves, Evergreen Trees, Holly, Light, Eight-Spoked Wheel, Mistletoe,
Spinning Wheel, Wreaths, Yule log
Stones: Bloodstone, Ruby, Garnet
Colors: Red, Green, White, Gold
Foods: Beans, Candy Canes, Dried Fruit, Egg Nog, Ginger, Gingerbread, Pork, Poultry, Wassail
Plants: Bay, Mistletoe, Holly, Evergreen Trees, Ginger, Myrrh, Pine, Poinsetta, Valerian
Animals: Stag, Squirrels, Wren/Robin
Gods: Apollo (Greco-Roman), Baldur (Norse), Father Sun (Native American), Helios (Greek),
Lugh (Celtic), Mithras (Persian), Oak/Holly King (Anglo-Celtic), Odin (Norse), Ra (Egyptian),
Saturn (Roman), Sol (Roman), Yakimata-Hiko (Japanese)
Goddesses: All Spinning Goddesses, Changing Woman (Apache), Fortuna (Roman), Frey
(Norse), Gaia (Greek), Heket (Egyptian), Ma'at (Egyptian), Pandora (Greek), Spinning Woman
(Native American), Yachimato-Hime (Japanese)
Rituals/Magickal Workings: Rebirth of the God, Return of the Sun, Meditation, Introspection,
Success, Personal Renewal & Regeneration

Imbolc (Around February 2)
This time of the year marks the middle of winter and the first signs of the coming spring.
Traditionally this sabbat is associated with purification and (re)dedication to one's spiritual
path. This festival is primarily associated with the triple Goddess Brigid.
Other Names: Candlemas, Oimelc, Brigid's Day, Feast of Brigid, Festival of Light, merged with
Lupercalia/Valentines Day
Symbols: Candles,Brigit's Cross, Burrowing Animals, The Flame, Grain Dolly, Iron, The Moon,
Sun Wheels
Stones: Turquoise, Amethyst
Colors: White, Yellow, Pink, Red
Foods: Milk, Honey, Pork, Poultry, Lamb
Plants: Blackberry, Chamomile, Clover, Dill, Early Spring Flowers, Evergreen, Grain and Hops,
Oak Trees, Rosemary, Rowan, Willow
Animals: Boar, Burrowing Animals, Cows, Deer, Dragon, Lamb, Robin, Sheep
Gods: All Flame Gods, Young Sun Gods, Braggi (Norse), Cupid/Eros (Greco-Roman), Diancecht
(Irish), Februus (Roman)
Goddesses: Brigid, All Maiden/Virgin Goddesses, Arianhrod (Welsh-Celtic), Athena (Greek),
Vesta (Roman)
Rituals/Magickal Workings: Candle Magick (All Forms), Home Blessings, Honoring Brigid,
Healing, Cleansing (Home and Self), Divination, Initiation, Creative Inspiration, Puriication

Spring Equinox (Around March 21-23)
Typically referred to in neopagan/wiccan traditions as Ostara, this celebration is named after
the Germanic Goddess of Spring. This sabbat typically marks the beginning of light time of the
wheel of the year and is celebrated as the beginning of spring in many European cultures; after
this date there are more hours of daylight than night. This is a time of balance, rebirth, and
celebration of new life. The egg is a prominent symbol of rebirth, and many magical workings
are performed around this symbol, including egg divination.
Other Names: Ostara, St. Patricks Day, Oestre's Day, Bacchanalia, Vernal Equinox, Lady Day,
Alban Eiber
Symbols: Eggs, Baskets, Butterlies/Cocoons, New Moon, Spring Flowers
Stones: Aquamarine, Moonstone, Rose Quartz
Colors: Pink, All Pastels, Robin's Egg Blue, Spring Green, Yellow
Foods: Eggs, Honey
Plants: Columbine, Crocus, Daffodills, Ginger, Irish Moss, Jasmine, Snowdrop
Animals: Goats, Lambs, Rabbits, Rams, Snakes
Gods: All Gods of Love, Adonnis (Greek), Cernunnos/Herne (Celtic), The Great Horned God
(European),Odin (Norse), Osiris (Egyptian), Pan (Greek)
Goddesses: All Maiden Goddesses, All Goddesses of Love, Aprhodite (Greek), Cybele (Roman),
Gaia (Greek), Isis (Egyptian), Moon Mother (Native American), Ostara (Germanic), Persephone
(Greek)
Rituals/Magickal Workings: Breakthrough, New Growth, Seed Blessings, Sex Magick, Rebirth

Beltane (April 30, early May)
The name of this sabbat is derived from the word 'bale-fire', as balefires were lit on hilltops to
celebrate fertility and the return of life. Jumping balefires is a popular ancient custom; couples
jumped the fire for fertility, and cattle were driven through embers of the fire to ensure their
fertility. The gathering of flowers and their use in ritual is a custom from the Roman
celebration of Floralia. The most well-known symbol is the Maypole, a form of sympathetic
fertility magic.
Other Names: Floralia, May Day, May Eve, Rudemas, Walspurgis Night
Symbols: Balefires, Chalice, Flowers and Garlands, May Pole, May Baskets
Stones: Bloodstone, Sapphire
Colors: Red, Green, White, Dark Yellow
Foods: Dairy Foods, Honey, Oats, Sweets
Plants: Birch, Cowslip, Hawthorn, lilac, Primrose, Rose, Rosemary
Animals: Goats, Honey Bees, Rabbits
Gods: All Fertility Gods, Bel/Belanos (Celtic), Cernunnos (Celtic), Frey (Norse), Jack in Green,
May King, Pan (Greek), Puck (English)
Goddesses: All Fertility Goddesses, Aprhodite (Greek), Blodewedd (Welsh), Diana (Greek),
Flora (Roman), Freya (Norse),May Queen, Venus (Roman)
Rituals/Magickal Workings: Crop Blessings, Fertility, Love, Romance

Summer Solstice (Around June 21-23)
This time traditionally marks the beginning of summer, when the hours of daylight are the
longest and strongest. This is a fire festival when the power of the sun is evoked, and it is a
sabbat where the full power of life is celebrated. In some traditions, this is when the Oak king
is defeated by the Holly King, signaling the return of the dark time of the year.
Other Names: Alban Hefin, Litha, Midsummer, St. Johns Day, Vestalia
Symbols: Balefires, Herbs, Oak Trees, The Sun, Sun Wheels,
Stones: Amber, Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Tigers Eye
Colors: Gold, Green, Yellow, Blue
Foods: Lemons, Oranges, Summer Squash
Plants: Blackberry,Copal, Frankincense, Galangal, Heliotrope, Laurel, Lemon, Mistletoe, Oak,
Saffron, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang
Animals: Bee, Butterly, Cattle, Deer and Stag, Eagle, Falcon and Hawk, Geese, Horses,
Lizards, Summer Birds, Robin/Wren, Swan, Woodpecker (Flicker)
Gods: All Sun Gods, Sky Father/Father Sun, Apollo (Greco-Roman), Baldur (Norse), Dagda
(Irish), Gwydion (Welsh), Helios (Greek), Legba (Voudoun), Lugh (Celtic), Ra (Egyptian)
Goddesses: All Sun Goddesses, All Pregnant Goddesses, Mother Earth, Aine (Irish), Athena
(Greek), Damona (Breton), Eiru (Irish), Hathor (Egyptian), Inanna (Sumerian), Isis (Egyptian),
Kali (Indian), Mabd/Maeve (Irish), Olwen (Welsh), Vesta (Roman)
Rituals/Magickal Workings: Career, Community, Relationships, Nature Spirit Communion,
Planetary Wellness

Lughnasad(July 31st, Early August)
This is the first of the three harvest sabbats. The crops harvested are a manifestation of the
energies raised at Beltane. Although the power of the sun is waning, there is still more
daylight than night. Grains and summer vegetables are harvested. This sabbat honors the sun
God Lugh, when games of skill are played in his honor.
Other Names: August Eve, Ceresalia, Festival of the Green Corn, First Harvest, Lammas
Symbols: Corn, All Grains, Bread
Stones: Yellow Diamond, Citrine, Peridot, Topaz
Colors: Gold, Red, Yellow, Green, Orange, Citrine
Foods: Blackberries, Bread, Corn, Summer Squash, Summer Fruit
Plants: Apple, Ash, Basil, Blackberry, Corn, Hazel, Heather, Honeysuckle, Oak, Rice, Vine,
Wheat, Woad, Ginseng, Rye
Animals: Calves, Roosters
Gods: All Grain Gods, Bran (Welsh), John Barleycorn, Llew (Welsh), Lugh (Irish), Odin (Norse),
Osiris (Egyptian), Vulcan (Roman)
Goddesses: All Grain Deities, Corn Mother, Aine (Irish), Blodeuwedd (Welsh), Ceres (Roman),
Chicomecoatl (Aztec), Demeter (Greek), Frey (Norse), Isis (Egyptian), Qocha Mana (Hopi), Selu
(Cherokee), Uti Hiati (Pawnee)
Rituals/Magickal Workings: Continued Success, Generosity, Hunting Magick, Prosperity,
Sacrifice of the Corn God, Warrior Magick

Fall Equinox (September 21-23)
The Fall or Autumn Equinox marks the time of the year when the number of hours of day and
night are equal. It also is the second of three harvest festivals of the wheel of the year.
Traditionally this time of year is marked by harvest festivals celebrated by many different
cultures as a time of thanksgiving and the beginning of the dark time of the year.
Other Names: Autumn Equinox, Mabon, Second Harvest, Pagan Thanksgiving, Festival of
Dionysus (Greek), Wine Harvest, Alban Elfed (Druidic), Cornocopia
Symbols: Grapes, Wine, Vines, Garlands, Gourds, Burial Cairns, Rattles, Horn of Plenty, Indian
Corn, Sun Wheels
Stones: Amber, Citrine, Golden Topaz, Tiger-eye, Cats eye, Lapis Lazuli, Amthyst, Sapphire
Colors: Brown, Orange, Violet, Maroon, Russet, Deep Gold
Foods: Wine, Grapes, Nuts, Apples, Cinnamon, Cloves, Pomegranite, Pumpkin, Wheat
Plants: Acorns, Apples, Asters, Cinnamon, Cloves, Frankincense, Hazel, Ivy, Myrrh, Nutmeg,
Oak Leaves, Pine Cones, Rue, Sage
Animals: Blackbird, Butterfly, Eagle, Owl, Pig, Salmon, Snake, Stag, Turkey Vulture, Wolf
Gods: Bacchus (Roman), Cernunnos/Horned God (Celtic and Gaulish), Dionysus (Greek),
Dumuzi (Sumerian), Freyr (Norse), Green Man (Celtic), Mabon (Welsh), Osiris (Egyptian), Thor
(Norse)
Goddesses: Cerridwen (Celtic), Demeter (Greek), Freyja (Norse), Inanna (Sumerian), Isis
(Egyptian), Persephone (Greek), Pomona (Roman), Ranuta (Egyptian)
Ritual/Magical Workings: Harvest, Introspection, Prosperity/Abundance, Protection,
Thanksgiving