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Sabbats and Esbats

Fire Festivals and Full Moons

About Sabbats	Northern Hemisphere Sabbats	Southern Hemisphere Sabbats
Paganism and Wicca	Esbat Moons	Rites for Seasons and Sabbats - altar decorations, rites and customs

Paganism and Wicca

For Pagan Wiccan practitioners, the turning of the wheel of the year is celebrated with eight fire festivals called Sabbats. Celebrations and magic also takes place at each each full moon (Esbat). Honour of the goddess and god in their many aspects holds special significance during the Sabbats and throughout the year, with spiritual growth at the forefront of practice. Practice is deeply rooted in connecting and working with Nature and following the natural cycles of birth, death and rebirth.

The word pagan, originally 'Paganus', is from the Latin meaning 'country dweller'. In ancient pre-Christian times, paganism thrived. Paganism is a polytheistic religion that includes neo-paganism, a branch of modern nature worship and spirituality that includes *Wicca, *Witchcraft and Druidism.

Pagans then and now, rejoice in the female aspect of divinity as being equally as important as the male aspect. Both the masculine and feminine are celebrated. The two empower one another. Pagans throught the ages have held a deep respect for women's wisdom as teachers and healers, a gentle tolerance and respect of other paths, and a rooted connection with all seekers on the path to spiritual growth. Pagans work with and explore the sacred mysteries of life through the natural world and the turning of the year.

Polytheistic – the worship or belief in more than one deity.
The word Wicca, comes from the Anglo-Saxon word, Wicce. Wicce was pronounced Witche; and means a practitioner of the Old Religion (the Craft).

Sabbats

Each Sabbat brings new ideas and inspiration about the turning of the year and the Triple Goddess in her many appearances; from the Virgin, to Marriage and Motherhood, to the Crone, the goddess embodies the cycle of nature, birth, death and rebirth. At each Sabbat we recognise and honour the appearance of the Triple Goddess and the teachings of the season, from the birth of Spring to the growth of Summer, from the harvests of Autumn to Winter sleep and darkness. Our Pagan ancestors celebrated the turning of the year with fires at the hearth, outdoor balefires, feasts and decorations symbolising the season. Today at each Sabbat we continue this tradition, decorating our altars in recognition of the circle of life with the fruits of the earth, offering thanks for the turning of the year, asking blessings and luck for the coming season, and looking within for the lessons of the season passed.

Northern Hemisphere Dates.

Major Sabbats/Major High Days (Fire Festivals) Northern

Samhain (Oct 31-Nov 1)

Imbolc (Feb 1-2)

Beltane (Apr 30-May 1)

Lammas (Aug 1-2) Go to Lammas Article

Equinoxes/Minor High Days (Fire festivals) Northern

Spring Equinox - Ostara (Mar 20-21)

Autumn Equinox - Mabon (Sep 21-22)

Solstices/Minor High Days (Fire festivals) Northern

Summer Solstice - Midsummer (Jun 20-22) Go to Midsummer Rite

Winter Solstice - Yule (Dec 21-23)

Southern Hemisphere Dates.

See Also Sabbats Down Under

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere your seasonal cycle is directly opposite that of the Northern Hemisphere. Trying to follow Northern Hemisphere dates when celebrating the turning of the year will have you celebrating harvest time when you are just starting your planting if you live in the Southern Hemisphere! Southern Hemisphere dates for Sabbats are as follows:

Major Sabbats/Major High Days (Fire Festivals) Southern

Samhain (May 6)

Imbolc (Aug 1)

Beltane (Nov 1)

Lammas (Feb 1-2) Go to Lammas Article

Equinoxes/Minor High Days (Fire festivals) Southern

Spring Equinox - Ostara (Sep 21-22)

Autumn Equinox - Mabon (Mar 20-21)

Solstices/Minor High Days (Fire festivals) Southern

Summer Solstice - Midsummer (Dec 21-31) Go to Midsummer Rite

Winter Solstice - Yule (June 21-23)

Esbats.

Also see Spells Timing, Moon Magic

Each full moon is named for the month and brings it's own unique energy to spellwork, magic and meditation. If Sabbats are our rites for the turning of the year then Esbats are our monthly opportunities to enjoy working a little pagan magic into our lives. Each moon has a different name according to culture, here are just a few:

Full Moon Names

source: wikipedia

Month	English names	Native American names	Other names used	Hindu names
January	Old Moon	Wolf Moon	Moon After Yule , Ice Moon	Paush Poornima
February	Wolf Moon	Snow Moon	Hunger Moon, Storm Moon, Candles Moon	Magh Poornima
March	Lenten Moon	Worm Moon	Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sugar Moon, Sap Moon, Chaste Moon	basanta(spring) purnima, dol purnima(holi)
April	Egg Moon	Pink Moon	Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, Seed Moon, Waking Moon	Hanuman Jayanti
May	Milk Moon	Flower Moon	Corn Planting Moon, Corn Moon, Hare's Moon	Buddha Poornima
June	Flower Moon	Strawberry Moon	Honey Moon, Rose Moon, Hot Moon, Planting Moon	Wat Poornima
July	Hay Moon	Buck Moon	Thunder Moon, Mead Moon	Guru Poornima
August	Grain Moon	Sturgeon Moon	Red Moon, Green Corn Moon, Lightning Moon, Dog Moon	Narali Poornima, Raksha bandhan
September	Fruit Moon	Harvest Moon	Corn Moon, Barley Moon	Bhadrapad Poornima
October	Harvest Moon	Hunter's Moon	Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Blood Moon	Kojagiri or Sharad Poornima, lakshmi puja
November	Hunter's Moon	Beaver Moon	Frost Moon, Snow Moon	Kartik Poornima
December	Oak Moon	Cold Moon	Frost Moon, Long Night's Moon, Moon Before Yule	Margashirsha Poornima

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