Category:Wheel of the Year
From Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers
The Wheel of the Year is a system of marking eight calendar-points, derived from the Solar calendar, for special festivals and commemorative rituals within the Pagan and Neo-Pagan Tradition, especially among those groups which descend from or are reviving Celtic, Gaulish, Gaelic, Anglo-Saxon, or Germanic religious practices of the past.
The concept of a Wheel of the Year, in which eight seasonal festivals are placed equidistantly throughout the year, was unknown in older Pagan religions, and actually originated in the modern Wiccan religion. Despite its relatively recent development, the Wheel of The Year system of marking eight holidays has found wide acceptance among a variety of non-Wiccan Modern Pagan and Neo-Pagan groups.
Some, but not all, contemporary Pagan and Neo-Pagan groups call the eight seasonal festivals Sabbats, a loan-word that derives from the Jewish sabbat or Sabbath, the weekly Day of Rest, which in turn comes from the Hebrew word sabat, meaning "to rest."
Four of the eight holidays are loosely based on or named after ancient Germanic festivals and fall on the solstices and equinoxes; these are known as the Quarter Days or the Lesser Sabbats. The other four holidays are similarly inspired by ancient Gaelic fire festivals and fall approximately midway between the solstices and equinoxes; they are commonly known as the Cross-Quarter Days, the Fire Festivals, or the Greater Sabbats.
Contemporary interpretations and observations of these ancient Germanic and Gaelic holidays vary a great deal from region to region and also within different Pagan and Neo-Pagan groups. Some may emphasize the historical nature of the festivals, while others celebrate them according to recently-created concepts.
The eight major Solar festivals or Sabbats are also distinct from the 13 (or 26) yearly Wiccan Esbats, which are additional, usually smaller, celebrations or coven meetings that are held according to the Lunar calendar, on Full Moon and / or New Moon dates. The word Esbat is borrowed from the Old French word esbattre meaning to frolic, amuse oneself, or beat a drum.
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The Quarterly and Cross-Quarterly Festivals
Each Pagan Festival has its own page:
- Samhain, All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en: Samhain or Sauin, also known as Last Harvest, Ancestor Night, Feast of the Dead, and Nos Galan Gaeaf is a seasonal Pagan and Neo-Pagan festival which is celebrated as one of the eight holidays on the Wheel of the Year, falling midway between Mabon at the Autumnal Equinox and Yule at the Winter Solstice. (Read More ...)
- Yule, Midwinter,Winter Solstice: Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, Midwinter, Yuletide, Cuidle, Alban Arthan, Winter Rite, Mothers Night, and Gŵyl Galan Gaeaf is a seasonal Pagan and Neo-Pagan festival which is celebrated as one of the eight holidays on the Wheel of the Year. (Read More ...)
- Imbolc, Candlemas, Brigid's Day: Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, Oimelc, Brigit, Brigid's Day, Bride's Day,Brigantia, and Gŵyl y Canhwyllau is a seasonal Pagan and Neo-Pagan festival which is celebrated as one of the eight holidays on the Wheel of the Year. (Read More ...)
- Ostara, Easter, Vernal Equinox: Ostara, also known as The Vernal Equinox, Lady Day, Earrach, Alban Eilir, Festival of Trees, and Gŵyl Ganol y Gwanwyn is a seasonal Pagan and Neo-Pagan festival which is celebrated as one of the eight holidays on the The Wheel of the Year. (Read More ...)
- Beltane, Beltaine, May Day: Beltane, also known as Beltaine, May Day, and Gŵyl Calan Mai is a seasonal Pagan and Neo-Pagan festival which is celebrated as one of the eight holidays on the The Wheel of the Year. (Read More ...)
- Litha, Midsummer, Summer Solstice:Litha, also known as Midsummer, Samradh, Alban Hefin, Aerra Litha, and Gŵyl Ganol yr Haf is a seasonal Pagan and Neo-Pagan festival which is celebrated as one of the eight holidays on the Wheel of the Year. (Read More ...)
- Lammas, Loafmass, Lughnasadh: Lammas, Lughnasadh, First Harvest, Bread Harvest, Festival of First Fruits, and Gŵyl Galan Awst is a seasonal Pagan and Neo-Pagan festival which is celebrated as one of the eight holidays on the Wheel of the Year. The name Lammas is a contraction of the Old English "Loaf Mass" or "Loafmas," which marks a sacred celebration of the grain harvest. The name Lughnasadh commemorates the Celtic god Lugh, whose sacrifice ensures the land's prosperity through the harvest of crops. (Read More ...)
- Mabon, Autumnal Equinox, Fall Equinox: Mabon, also known as The Autumnal Equinox, Fall Equinox, Mheillea, Foghar, Alban Elfed, Harvest Home, Second Harvest, Fruit Harvest, Wine Harvest, Feast of the In-Gathering, and Gŵyl Ganol yr Hydref, is a seasonal Pagan and Neo-Pagan festival which is celebrated as one of the eight holidays on the Wheel of the Year. (Read More ...)
How to Date the Eight Festivals by Calendar and Zodiac
The dates of the eight Pagan festivals can be calculated by using a secular calendar or, more accurately, by means of the astrological signs of the zodiac:
Credits
This page is brought to you by the AIRR Tech Team:
- Author: catherine yronwode
- Contributors: Dr. E., Lukianos, Papa Newt
- Images: Unknown Sculptor, Moibalkon, sourced and photo-edited by catherine yronwode
See Also
- Religious Traditions
- Magical Traditions
- Divination, Fortune Telling, and Oracles
- Hoodoo, Conjure, Witchcraft, and Rootwork
- Working with Spirits
Pages in category "Wheel of the Year"
The following 8 pages are in this category, out of 8 total.
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