Samhain

October 31

Popularly known as Halloween, this is the Witches' New Year.

Yule

Around December 21

      The Winter Solstice is the longest night ot the year - and so we celebrate the fact that the Goddess gives birth to the Sun God and hope for new light to be reborn (longer days).

      Yule closely coincides with the Christian Christmas celebration because the early Church sought to win the allegiance of the populace by placing its festivals at or around the time of existing Pagan festivals.  The Christian tradition of a Christmas tree has its origins in the Pagan Yule celebration.  Pagan families would bring a live tree into the home so the wood spirits would have a place to keep warm during the winter months.  Bells were hung on the limbs so you could tell when a spirit was present (the modern wind-chimes are now used for the same purpose).

Imbolc/ Candlemas

February 2

Candlemas involves celebrations of banishing the winter and welcoming the spring.  At the time of Candlemas, the newborn Sun God is seen as a small child nursing from his mother.

Ostara

Around March 21

The Spring Equinox is the point of equilibrium - the balance is suspended just before spring burst forth from winter.  The God and Goddess are young children at play and holiday festivals use brightly-coloured eggs to represent the child within.  (The Christian church converted this festival into Easter).

Beltane

April 30

Beltane is the time of  the sacred marriage which honours the fertility of the Earth, it represents the divine union of the Lord and Lady.  Celebratoins include weaving a web of life around a Maypole and leaping the Beltane fire for luck.  (May Day is 1 May)

Litha

Around June 21

The Summer Solstice, the longest day, is a time of triumph for the light.  The holiday represents the Sun King in all his glory.

Lammas

August 2

This is the celebration of the first fruits of the harvest.

Mabon

Around September 21

At the Autumn Equinox, the days and nights are equal.  It is a time of balance, but light gives way to increasing darkness.  It is the second harvest, and the Goddess mourns her fallen consort, but the emphasis is on the message of rebirth that can be found in the harvest seeds.

      A further thirteen celebrations are also added to the Wicca's year in the form of the full moon.  A close watch is always kept on the moon (which represents the Goddess) as the many phases will affect spells and emotions - the effect that the moon has on the tides of the sea are well-known, and our bodies are also water-based and will therefore be closely-linked (emotionally and mentally) with the lunar cycles.

      The Earth is, indeed, a beautiful and magical place - all you have to do is open your eyes and look at it - AND live in harmony with it (something which I feel that human-kind in general has forgotten how to do)....